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.
* 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 reflects how well Manufacturing USA Institutes meets a real national need and is intended to measure the extent to which the industrial partners perceive that they are receiving value from the existence of the Institute. Non-Federal partners dedicate resources when they believe that there will be economic benefit. Non-Federal sources include industry partners of all sizes, state and local governments, economic development entities, institutions of higher education, private organizations and individuals. Investment includes cash and in-kind resources provided.

Visibility and cloud ceiling forecasts are critical for aircraft safety and efficient operations. When visibility or cloud ceilings are low, pilots rely on instruments to navigate instead of visual reconnaissance. The Federal Aviation Administration establishes Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) thresholds—visibility less than three statute miles and/or cloud ceilings at, or below, 1000 feet—for safety.

NWS assesses the quality of IFR threshold forecasts in response to these requirements. Fundamental statistical metrics, specifically Probability of Detection (POD) and False Alarm Ratio (FAR), are used to track IFR forecast performance. Probability of Detection (POD), also known as Accuracy, is a ratio that describes the number of times IFR is correctly forecasted compared to the total number of IFR occurrences. FAR is a ratio that describes the number of IFR forecasts when IFR was not observed compared to the total number of forecast attempts. These two metrics must always be used in conjunction, as one can be improved at the expense of the other. Greater accuracy and a minimized FAR result in safer flights and fewer flight delays; conversely, poorer accuracy and an increased FAR result in a greater incidence of unnecessary flight delays.

An Economic Benefit is a dollar value of all financial/contractual transactions, capacity investments and increases in sales to MBEs via the asisstance of MBDA programs, services and resources.

This performance indicator measures the number of EDA grants which help communities and regions be better positioned for foreign direct investment.

Proposed new indicator for FY 2022. Measure is under development.

The number of existing full time and/or part time employment positions created and/or retained as reported by a MBE client served.

This performance indicator measures the estimated number of jobs created and retained, by communities and regions, attributable to EDA investments made to support the travel and tourism sectors.

This measures establishes customized assessment targets for every managed fish stock and gauges success in meeting those targets. Using this approach, NMFS can more accurately measure incremental progress of its national stock assessment enterprise and the degree to which we are meeting NOAA’s fish assessment needs. This measure will eventually be replacing Adequate Assessments for Fish Stocks.

This performance indicator measures the number of EDA grants which help communities and regions be better positioned for foreign direct investment.