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Featured Collection Introduction: National Water Model IV

In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established the Office of Water Prediction (OWP) in the National Weather Service (NWS). The mission of the OWP is to “collaboratively research, develop and deliver timely and consistent, state-of-the-science national hydrologic analyses, forecast information, data, guidance, and decision-support services to inform essential emergency management and water resources decisions across all time scales” (NOAA 2022). The OWP team works to create a consistent and unified NWS hydrologic program with a goal of supporting a “waterready nation” capable of addressing the nation’s water challenges. To support the mission of the OWP, the NWS also established the National Water Center (NWC), which first opened its doors in May 2015. The NWC, located on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, was created to deliver a new generation of water information and services to the nation that is strengthening the nation’s water forecast capabilities for floods and droughts and improving preparedness for water-related disasters. In 2015, the NWC, in partnership with the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) created the Summer Innovators Program Summer Institute (SI) to engage the academic community in research to advance the mission of the NWC (CUAHSI 2018, 2022). The National Water Model (NWM) is the current basis for continental-scale water predictions by the NWS OWP. The NWM first became operational on August 16, 2016 and delivers 18-h streamflow forecasts for about 2.7 million stream reaches in the continental United States (U.S.), as well as 10and 30day ensemble forecasts. The NWM is based on the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s WRFHydro framework (NCAR 2022). The SI is a seven-week residential program at the NWC, during which graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, faculty advisors, NWC staff, and other water professionals collaboratively conduct projects related to the NWM and water prediction. The fifth annual SI was held during June 10–July 26, 2019 and involved 18 graduate students from 16 unique universities. Cumulatively, from 2015 to 2021, 160 students from 82 unique universities participated in the SI. In addition to the students, 66 individuals have participated in the SIs as instructors and/or mentors, representing universities; federal, state, and local agencies; the private sector; and nonprofit organizations. The 2020 SI was canceled due to the pandemic and the 2021 SI was held as a scaled-down a virtual event. SI participants self-form teams of two to five participants, and each team conducts research on a project related to one of the predetermined SI themes that seek to advance some aspect of continental-scale water prediction. Themes for the 2019 SI were (1) Coupled Inland-Coastal Hydraulics to support total water prediction, including compound floods from