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Home » Impacts » Industry and the Economy

Industry and the Economy

GSL research improves weather data, forecasts, and computing techniques used by industry, decision-makers, and stakeholders to make operations safer and more efficient, thus protecting lives, property, and promoting economic prosperity.

air traffic

How can GSL research help air traffic operate more efficiently?

light blub

How can we forecast wind and solar conditions to make better decisions about clean energy production?

What can we do to help decision-makers?

GSL Economic Studies:

NOAA wind forecasts result in $150 million in energy savings every year

Evaluating the economic impacts of improvements to weather models

Better forecasts lead to smaller losses in work time

Impacts on Industry

Agriculture:

Both short- and long-term forecasts are essential in agriculture production.
HRRR predictions support better localized precipitation forecasts.

Aviation:

The FAA requires airlines to carry enough fuel for an aircraft to fly to an alternate destination if weather conditions fall below certain thresholds.
The HRRR model is the largest contributor to the FAA's NextGen Air Transportation System that supports strategic traffic flow management.
69% of aviation flight delays are caused by weather costing air travelers billions of dollars each year.
GSL weather models help reduce weather aviation flight delays that cost air travelers billions of dollars each year.
"The most recent transition of the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model to NWS operations improves aviation forecasts at air terminals and aloft, reducing air traffic delays which cost the airline industry billions of dollars annually." - FAA

Energy

Cost estimates from storm-related power outages to the U.S. economy are between $20B and $55B annually.
"NOAA's continual advancement of forecast skill in weather models improves the stability of our electric grid." - Vaisala Corporatio
The American public collectively receives $31.5B in benefits from forecasts each year
"GSL's development of foundational and pragmatic state-of-the-science technologies to improve predictions of weather and its impacts on society has been one of the nation's true success stories that is significantly under-appreciated given the enormous value it returns to the nation." - The Weather Company

Our Values