Welcome

Surface analysis charts are often considered the original forecasting tool. Analyzing surface maps dates back to the mid-1800s, and has changed drastically through the years. This project tells the story of how analysis techniques and technology have evolved over the past 200 years and takes a look at where surface analysis could be headed in the future. Surface analysis and weather prediction not only directly connect to NOAA's National Weather Service's mission statement of protecting life and property, but they also contribute to some of NOAA's more public products.

Preserving NOAA History

For over 200 years, NOAA has played an integral role in America's science community. Whether it is responding to oil spills, monitoring extreme weather events, protecting resources in coastal waters, or researching affects of climate change, NOAA gets directly involved. Years of NOAA's advancements and achievements in the earth sciences have led to years of unwritten American history. In an effort to preserve our Nation's history and heritage, executive order 13287: Preserve America, was signed by George W. Bush in 2003. NOAA proudly responded to the order and started the Preserve America Initiative Internal Funding Program (PAIIF) in 2005. This project, "Surface Analysis: Where it has been, Where it is going", received funding in 2010 from the program, and shares PAIIF's goals of preserving, protecting, and enhancing historic NOAA properties and heritage assets.

A Project Funded by NOAA and the Preserve America Initiative