Metric calculated as the percent of Climate Prediction Center extended (outlooks out to 14 days) and long range (monthly and seasonal outlooks) temperature and precipitation outlooks exceeding Heidke Skill Score (HSS) of 10 (10% better than a climatological forecast). Due to the scarcity of long range outlooks (six per month), scores are smoothed over a three year period. To better track results, three individual metrics are tracked – 1) All forecasts combined, 2) Temperature only, and 3) Precipitation only.

Metric calculated as the percent of Climate Prediction Center extended (outlooks out to 14 days) and long range (monthly and seasonal outlooks) temperature and precipitation outlooks exceeding Heidke Skill Score (HSS) of 10 (10% better than a climatological forecast). Due to the scarcity of long range outlooks (six per month), scores are smoothed over a three year period. To better track results, three individual metrics are tracked – 1) All forecasts combined, 2) Temperature only, and 3) Precipitation only.

Sound acquisition practices help guard against inefficiency and waste and improve the ability to obtain quality supplies and services that are on time and within budget. There are many ways to achieve savings through more effective acquisition practices, including: ending contracts that do not meet program needs; negotiating more favorably priced contracts; developing more strategic acquisition approaches; and reengineering ineffective business processes. This element will measure the Department’s progress in reducing spending through more effective acquisition practices.

This measure tracks the progress of ongoing or completed recovery actions included in NMFS approved recovery plans for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Recovery plans include a list of actions necessary to de-list the species. These include actions that may be completed in a year or that may take many years to complete or are ongoing. Recovery of a species may take decades. Completed recovery actions shows incremental progress.

Metric calculated as the percent of Climate Prediction Center extended range temperature and precipitation outlooks (outlooks out to 14 days) exceeding Heidke Skill Score (HSS) of 10 (10% better than a climatological forecast). To better track results, three individual metrics are tracked – 1) All forecasts combined, 2) Temperature only, and 3) Precipitation only.

The annual number of peer reviewed publications is an indicator of productivity and relevance and is tracked using online resources. Peer review is one of the important procedures used to ensure that the quality of published information meets the standards of the scientific and technical community. The Science Council method to determine the outyear targets is based on an average of the previous 3 years. * FY 2019 is the first year that we are reporting on both NOAA-authored publications (previously the only type of publication measured) and NOAA-funded publications.

The indicator measures the average number of days required by NTIS to fully execute the agreements on a per project basis between NTIS' Joint Venture Partners (JVPs) and Federal, State, and Local Agencies on a yearly basis. The lower the number of days required to fully execute a Joint Venture Authority agreement between NTIS, its Joint Venture Partners, and Federal, State, and Local Agencies, the more investments made by the Federal Government in technology.

New or improved PBL parameterizations will lead to improving the accuracy of atmospheric models and forecasts such as for precipitation lead time.