COPC - Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

COMMITTEE FOR OPERATIONAL PROCESSING CENTERS (COPC)
RECORD OF ACTIONS 2011-01 MEETING
17-18 May 2011
FNMOC, Monterey CA
MEMBERS PRESENT
AFWA: Col Robert Russell
FNMOC: CAPT James Pettigrew
NAVOCEANO: Mr. Thomas Cuff (for CAPT Brian Brown)
NOAA/NESDIS Ms. Kathleen Kelly
NOAA/NWS/NCEP: Dr. Louis Uccellini [Phone]
Mr. Ken Barnett, COPC Executive Secretary
PARTICIPANTS/OBSERVERS
AFWA: Mr. Mike Howland
Mr. Chris Finnigsmier [Phone]
Mr. Evan Kuchera (JAG/OCM Chair) [Phone]
Mr. John Zapotocny [Phone]
CNMOC Mr. Kevin LaCroix
Mr. Steven Payne
DWSS: Mr. John Baldonado
Mr. Kevin Rosenberg
Mr. (Craig) Thomas Plummer
FNMOC: Mr. Mike Clancy
Mr. John Ertl
Mr. Barry Flanders
Mr. Mark Swenson
Mr. Jim Vermeulen (JAG/ODAA Co-Chair)
JCSDA: Dr. Jim Yoe [Phone]
JPSS: Mr. John Furgerson
Mr. David A Miller
NAVOCEANO: Mr. George Mason
Mr. Lamar Russell
NOAA/NESDIS: Ms. Selina Nauman
NOAA/NESDIS/STAR: Mr. Mitch Goldberg
NOAA/NWS/NCEP: Dr. Brad Ballish (JAG/ODAA Co-Chair) [Phone]
Mr. Allan Darling (WG/CSAB Chair)
NOAA/NWS/TOC: Ms. Michelle Detommasso [Phone]
NUOPC: Mr. Dave McCarren
Mr. Frederick.Toepfer
Mr. Steve Warren

1. OPENING REMARKS
CAPT James Pettigrew chaired the meeting and welcomed participants. Mr. James Vermeulen provided
logistical and administrative remarks.
2. AGENCY UPDATES
FNMOC
CAPT James Pettigrew presented. CAPT Erika Sauer, the current XO, will become the FNMOC CO on
the 5 th of August. Additionally, Mike Clancy the FNMOC TD will be retiring from federal service on the
4 th of August. CAPT Pettigrew provided an overview of FNMOC’s operational vision of providing
operational meteorology and oceanography products to support fleet safety. FNMOC is now involved
with the Information Dominance Program which partners with other groups including the intelligence,
information warfare, network/communications, and the METOC groups. This program will allow the
METOC information to be layered over other information to assist decision makers. FNMOC works with
the partners and stakeholders in National NWP capability and is continuing to move NUOPC forward.
The near-term goals include increasing the connection between forecasts and decisions and understanding
and accounting for uncertainty in forecasts. FNMOC’s mission is the same as past years and one area that
makes FNMOC different from the other centers is their support for global submarine weather. The
submarines are very susceptible to weather impacts when they come up near the surface.
The models, COAMPS and NOGAPS continue to be the FNMOC core base, with NAVDAS-AR
ingesting new data sources and getting good feedback about the dust predictions providing good tactical
information from NAAPS. They are still running GFDN as their tropical cyclone model but they hope to
transition to COAMPS TC within the next year to year and a half. One of the biggest efforts, especially
working with the other COPC partners, is moving the ensemble forecasts (EFS) to operations. Ensemble
forecasts are tied to the effort of the watch floor of the future, which will allow the more experienced
forecasters to focus on the areas with the most uncertainty. The large effort this year will be the transition
from NOGAPS to the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM).
Satellite products (remotely sensed data and imagery) are a core part of the FNMOC process and they
continue to work with NRL for the algorithms to use this data. FNMOC’s HPC systems are running at
about 46 Teraflops and they have been migrating to Linux cluster technology. FNMOC is working with
CNMOC for a path to develop an enterprise cross domain solution.
NUOPC IOC was a good accomplishment and the continued advancement is a large part of FNMOC’s
future effort creating new products. (For example, threshold product METCAST/JMV and JMBL
distribution in June 2011 and Verification and validation [NUOPC Metrics Committee] with web page
integration in August 2011.) CAPT Pettigrew called out the special support the Navy and FNMOC
provided for the Sendai – Fukushima incident including the NUOPC mean winds and gale probability
data.
CAPT Pettigrew reviewed the NAVGEM transition and discussed how they reached the limit with
NOGAPS and the benefit from increased resolution input. NAVGEM allows FNMOC to see good
returns on higher resolution input. FNMOC is establishing a bridge concept to deal with the transition
from the current environment until the future ESPC IOC is realized. The transition solution uses running
NAVGEM extended forecasts at NAVO DSRC and continuing data assimilation and product
dissemination at FNMOC.

Recent advancements: FNMOC has seen great use of the online ACAF (Advanced Climate Analysis and
Forecasting) system for climatologic product distribution/capabilities. FNMOC has also completed a
MILCON project which increased their SCIF, OPS and Computer Center space and will be celebrated
along with the FNMOC 50th Anniversary.
NAVOCEANO (NAVO)
Mr. Tom Cuff (for CAPT Brian Brown) presented. He reviewed the NAVO leadership changes
with CAPT Brian Brown departing for Navy HQ Staff as the executive assistant to the Oceanographer of
the Navy. CAPT Oosterling assumes command 08 July 2011. CAPT Dean Sadanaga is new Executive
Officer.
Mr. Cuff reviewed the NAVO mission, “To optimize sea power by applying relevant oceanographic
knowledge in support of U.S. National Security.” NAVO will assure the Navy’s oceanographic
knowledge superiority and reduce risk by providing the forecast battlespace through: smart collection,
responsive delivery, and focused analysis. Mr. Cuff reviewed the core competencies and how the data
(initial conditions) is processed (obs/satellite products), assimilated (envir predictions), and incorporated
(fleet ops) to allow for better decisions faster than the adversary.
Mr. Cuff reviewed some of NAVO’s collection and processing assets including 150 targeted ocean gliders
in operations. This glider data will not be available outside of DOD but it will be incorporated within the
ocean models. NAVO is increasing its use of high performance computing at the DoD Shared Resource
Center (DSRC). The DSRC can: handle 233 trillion operations per second; has a secure and scalable data
management and archival capability; and has connectivity via Defense Research & Engineering Network
(DREN) to all major nationwide government, industrial, and academic networks. NAVO’s ships need to
separate from the intelligence community to allow further data gathering in all parts of the world. Mr.
Cuff reviewed the National / Naval Ice Center (NIC) and mentioned an upcoming ice related conference
[Implications of an Ice Free Artic] to be held in Washington D.C. on June 20-22, 2011.
Mr. Cuff reviewed the current status of NAVO’s ocean modeling and where they hope to go in the next
few years. NAVO’s ocean models were used to assist in oil dispersion forecasts for the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oil spill incident. The current Global Navy Coastal Ocean Model (G-NCOM) contains daily 3D
forecasts of ocean temperature, salinity, currents, and sea surface height. The next generation Global
Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (G-HYCOM) will forecast 3D temperature, salinity, currents, and
elevation with a resolution 1/12 deg in 2012 (final resolution of 1/25 deg in 2014). In support of the NIC
NAVO is undergoing validation of the Arctic Cap Nowcast / Forecast System (ACNFS 3.0) which will be
ESMF coupled. Additionally, for coastal modeling, NAVO is working with NRL to improve their
version of the Delft-3D model. NAVO will be cutting over to Wave Watch 3 sometime next year once
architectural changes are made.
Notional Ocean Modeling Timeline
• SWAN remains coastal wave and surf forecasting system (COAMPS-OS).
• 2011:
o SWAFS replaced by regional NCOMs and retired.
o Arctic Cap replaced with HYCOM & CICE.
• 2012:
o WAM replaced by WW3 multi-grid.
o 1/8 Global NCOM replaced by 1/12 Global HYCOM (unclassified only).
o COAMPS-OS begins replacing some regional and coastal NCOMs.

• 2014/2015:
o 1/12 HYCOM replaced by 1/25 HYCOM.
o PCTIDES for rapid coastal response and inundation replaced by DELFT3D.
• 2018: Coupled global system (with a HYCOM ocean)
During the open discussion/questions, NAVO’s (all of DOD’s) concern with the coming IA security
issues and continued sharing of data with outside DOD partners was raised. The OPCs need to
understand and develop strategies to keep the data flowing between the Centers.
NESDIS
Ms. Kathy Kelly presented. She began her presentation with an update on the reorganization,
where Ms. Kelly is the director of the Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO). OSPO has now
consolidated the command and control groups and the satellite products, analysis, and services.
GOES current status has five healthy satellites in service, two of which are in storage/stand-by. GOES-11
(GOES-West) will be decommissioned at the end of December 2011. It will be replaced by GOES-14, so
it will be taken out of storage in August 2011 and the transition process will begin in October 2011.
GOES-13 became operational as GOES-East in April 2010. GOES-15 is in stand-by mode but the solar xray
imager and x-ray sensor are being used by NWS SWPC. GOES-12 was moved to support South
American users and operations in May 2010. Ms. Kelly reviewed how the higher resolution imager on
GOES 14 and 15 allows for cleaner cloud edge images. Still a couple of years away, but GOES-R will
not have an equivalent GOES GVAR so GOES users must acquire new hardware or upgrade their
existing GVAR systems in order to receive GOES-R data.
An update on POES current status. NOAA-19 is the primary PM spacecraft with the Advanced Data
Collection System (A-DCS) transmitter turned off due to interference with alarm industry. Hopefully this
transmitter can be reactivated following further investigation of FCC regulations. Additionally, the MHS
channel H3 remains out of specifications on NOAA-19. MetOp-A is the primary mid-AM spacecraft and
A-HRPT coverage has been extended. NOAA-18 is the secondary PM spacecraft and HIRS remains red.
Ms. Kelly presented a good news story, with the Antarctic Data Acquisition (ADA) effort. To improve
timeliness reception of METOP Global Data Stream (GDS) data, EUMETSAT plans to use McMurdo
ADA for data recovery. ADA implementation will make use of a ½ orbit dump from ADA and ½ orbit
files from Svalbard (SVL). This may allow data at the NOAA Gateway about 49 minutes earlier than the
present situation. NESDIS has provided test ADA data to all the OPCs and the operational demonstration
phase will begin when NOAA has confirmation that key users are ready to accept the data.
On January 18, Eumetsat extended the coverage area of Metop-A AHRPT. NOAA requested that
Eumetsat extend Metop AHRPT coverage to help mitigate the loss of NOAA-17 AVHRR scan motor.
Eumetsat has implemented a turn-on turn-off strategy for the backup AHRPT transmitter after the failure
of the primary transmitter. ESPC is receiving Metop AHRPT data from Miami, Ewa Beach and Monterey
and plans to make the data available operationally the week of May 16-20, 2011. Hardware and software
changes are needed in order to produce AHRPT products from the data collected at the Wallops CDA.
This is expected to occur in the June – July timeframe.
Ms. Kelly said that NPP is still on track to launch in October 2011, if this happens as scheduled then the
NDE products will become available in 2012. 2012 products (as available) will include: ATMS radiances
in BUFR, CrIS thinned radiances, ozne profiles in BUFR, and VIIRS radiances in BUFR.

Ms. Kelly reviewed the NOAA partnered satellite status.
• MetOp-B and MetOp-C developments are on schedule with both being manufactured and in
storage. MetOp-B is scheduled to launch April 2012 and MetOp-C to launch 4.5 years after
MetOp-B.
• NOAA continues routine operations of Jason-2’s Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)
including command and control through 2 U.S. and 1 European ground station.
• EUMETSAT secured funding and announced formal start of their Jason-3 activity on February 1,
2011.
• NOAA is assuming the partnership with NASA to refurbish the Deep Space Climate Observatory
(DSCOVR) satellite to meet Solar Wind mission.
o USAF will provide the launch vehicle.
o Launch is scheduled for FY 2014 and operations to run through FY 2018.
• Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) W-1 Status:
o The target launch date is February 2012.
o The GCOM W1 mission has been made part of the JPSS Level one requirements
document.
o GCOM satellite data reception capability is installed at Svalbard, Norway to collect all 14
GCOM revolutions/day per satellite and disseminate the data to JAXA and NOAA.
• Non-NOAA Satellite status:
o The SeaWiFS failure was declared unrecoverable in February 2011, so ocean color and
harmful algal bloom products must rely solely on MODIS.
o MTSAT-1R successfully transitioned to MTSAT-2 on July 2010.
o OSPO ESPC distributes the GPS Radio Occultation (GPSRO) data:
� CNOFS/CORLIS (USAF GPSRO Sensor) tested by the JCSDA and is starting to
be used for operational NWP.
ESPC is in the final phase of the CIP project. They will provide a back-up for IASI and ASCAT
products, conduct full fail-over test and deliver all required documentation. Ms. Kelly mentioned they
hope to conduct the fail-over test in late July 2011.
In the discussion, FNMOC asked if the hourly winds product could be moved from experimental to
operational.
NCEP
Dr. Louis Uccellini presented (via the telephone). He began his presentation with an overview of
the NCEP mission statement, and the focus on the delivery of science-based environmental predictions to
the nation and the global community. This COPC, NCEP is focusing as much on NCO efforts as
modeling efforts (with the new building, new supercomputing, and the AWIPS upgrade.) Dr. Uccellini
reviewed the different centers under NCEP and pointed out that they had slight growth in the contracting
budget but NCEP is starting to see the budgetary pressures and may see the contracting budget reduced in
the future.
NCEP’s test beds have shown great linkage with the outside community and NCEP just received word
that the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) has decided to setup a test bed that will be ocean
focused. Dr. Uccellini pointed out that NCEP will have to continue to collaborate with the Navy, IOOS,
and NOS because there is an incredible amount of interest in running operational regional and coastal
models. However we have to focus on collaboration and priorities to reduce redundancy of effort and
operational resources.

Model development and production suite include recent implementation of the NOS/NCEP collaboration
effort to operationalize the GLOFS for regional areas like the Chesapeake and Delaware. Model upgrades
include the GFS with higher resolution and better physics, the switch from CFSv1 to CFSv2 in March,
and improvements to the HYSPLIT v6 in response to the recent volcanic eruptions. Upcoming model
upgrades include: the HWRFv5 & GFDLv9 hurricane models (Q3FY11), NAM NEMS upgrade
(Q3FY11), the rapid refresh to replace the RUC (Q4FY11), real time global SST analysis, global
HYCOM (1/12 degree) with a goal of (Q4FY11), adding FNMOC data to Wave Ensemble v2.1.0
(Q4FY11), and the SWPC Enlil running in parallel (Q4FY11).
Dr. Uccellini reviewed NCEP’s computing capability. NCEP has completed the transition to the IBM
Power 6s and are already filling this capacity up. Work is underway to have a bridge contract to keep
these IBM machines going while they setup for the new supercomputer implementation/contract.
Interactions with DoD include NCEP working with the Navy. EMC has configured the NAVO global
HyCOM as the Global Ocean Model and hopes to be operational Q4FY11. To deal with maritime
incident responses like the oil spill and the earthquake, NCEP has worked with the Navy to disseminate
realtime NAVO Hi-Res GoM model data and to disseminate realtime NAVO Fukushima coastal model
data for plume modeling. NCEP serves as the single point of NAVO interface with the public for Navy
data and serves realtime NAVO operational ocean model data for SAROPS, coastal modeling and
forecasting applications. NCEP is working with FNMOC to ensemble the Wave Watch model with
GEFS. NCEP stays involved with NUOPC efforts and their assessment review of the new NOGAPS in
NAEFS. NCEP continues to work with AFWA through backup efforts including AWC and SPC by 15th
Operational Weather Squadron at Scott AFB and SWPC by 2nd Weather Group at Offutt AFB. Test Bed
work between NCEP and the Air Force has been ongoing including: the space weather prediction test bed,
WRF DTC, and JCSDA. Interaction of the COPC CONOPS through shared processing with NCEP
providing direct support to AF through GFS and for NA sector through WRF has continued. AF and
NCEP have interacted with model development of the Land Surface Model (NOAH). NCEP is very
appreciative of AF’s support for the hurricane and winter storms reconnaissance missions which are used
directly in Global Forecast System.
Dr. Uccellini finished with a quick review of the importance of the ESMF effort and how it is a stepping
stone for the future hope of a unified modeling effort like NUOPC. And finally, the legal obstacles have
been overcome so work has restarted on the new building (NCWCP.) . GSA’s most current estimate for
the building’s completion is March 2012, with move-in scheduled to start by July 2012 and complete by
September 2012.
AFWA
Col Robert Russell presented. Col Russell began his presentation with a quick review on
AFWA’s mission and organizational structure. The mission has not changed, “maximizing America’s
power through the exploitation of timely, accurate, and relevant weather information.” He noted the
organization is made up of the headquarters and the 1st and 2nd Weather Groups.
The 1st Weather Group focuses on NORTHCOM’s AOR, CONUS, and does most of the schoolhouse
follow-on weather skills and position qualification training. This training mission provides up-grade
training for over 60% of weather career field accessions (enlisted and officer). The training mission will
increase as DoD continues to reduce our Air Force and Army overseas presence. 1WXG backup
operations include the NCEP SPC/AWC backup mission (fully transitioned to 1st WXG 15 OWS at Scott

AFB, IL) and the system infrastructure for SPC/AWC staff relocation in case of a catastrophic outage
which is retained at Offutt AFB.
The 2nd WXG does most of the “Center” type of work involving HPC and numerical modeling. Backup
operations done by the 2nd WXG include the backup of the NESDIS Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory
Center and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The 16th weather squadron is building
on needs from the recent volcanic ash events with initiatives including the Hybrid Single Particle
Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) transition to operations by Summer 2011 and the WRF-
Chem for Volcanic Ash data assimilation efforts [with ensemble mode under investigation to provide
uncertainty information.] Col Russell asked the COPC organizations to visit within the AFWA web
presence offerings for more examples of the dust modeling initiatives because there is a lot of good
collaborative work going into these efforts. Cloud forecasting remains a focus area for AFWA with
initiatives including, the Diagnostic Cloud Forecast Model’s (DCF) regional & global cloud cover
prediction, and forward new capability development to deliver Cloud Optical Properties (COP) algorithms
to improve cloud top and base height assignment and identify optically thin cirrus clouds (ice). Dr.
Uccellini would like JCSDA to look into AFWA’s cloud forecasting initiatives to see if they can be
incorporated to help with some of the issues facing the Joint Center.
AFWA continues to implement WRF enhanced capabilities. A noteworthy change will be near-term
operational ability to initialize WRF with the UK Unified Model. AFWAwill have constraints with
sharing the UM output data outside of DoD, but they can still share the derived products and resulting
WRF runs. AFWA plans is to condense the WRF domains with the Unified Model (UM) stand-up
allowing expanded 15km domains to expand to 144hr forecasts. AFWA will further reduce separate
WRF theater domains by moving to hemispheric WRF bands for each of the northern and southern
hemispheres and add a third tropical domain belt. These 15-20km hemispheric WRF domains will be
ensembled allowing higher resolution 4km nested ensembles to be run over focused high priority fixed
domains and also allowing floating contingency hi-res nests.
AFWA is producing Global Ensemble Prediction Suite (GEPS) products daily, which are post processed
data from a combination of GFS, GEM, and NOGAPS (NAEFS). This capability serves as a pathfinder
for the AFWA NUOPC post processing role. Additionally, the Mesoscale Ensemble Prediction Suite
(MEPS) which provides 4km resolution severe weather problistic products is planned to be used by the
AWC for a summer experiment.
AFWA Ops Center has established one point of presence for all your questions (operations focal point -
24x7x365.) Requirements emails AFWA.CC@offutt.af.mil and problem reports phone (DSN 271-2586 or
Commercial (402) 294-2586, or Toll Free (800) 250-1750.)
The Air Force Weather-WEB Services (AFW-WEBS) (https://weather.af.mil) brings all AF weather web
holdings/services under a common URL, mirrored at all three DoD security enclaves to provide content
and services in geo-located formats. AFWA has been working with Google to help create these services
based capabilities. Col Russell finished with a movie of these servicest showing a 3D fly-through of a
simulated B2 flight from Whiteman AFB to Afghanistan.
3. WG/CSAB and JAG UPDATES
WG/CSAB and JAG/CCM

Mr. Allan Darling presented the WG/CSAB briefing and some of the JAG/CCM actions’ status
because the JAG/CCM chair is vacant. CSAB membership changes were presented including Dr. James
Yoe replacing Mr. Allan Darling for NCEP and Ms. LaTanya Burton replacing Mr. Walter Smith for
TOC. For JAG/ODAA, Mr. DaNa Carlis to replace Dr. Brad Ballish for NCEP and on JAG/CCM, Mr.
Bernie Werwinski will be the TOC representative. The COPC sub-groups chairperson status was
reviewed. JAG/OCM Chair is valid through May 2012, CSAB and JAG/ODAA need new chairs named
because the current chairs have done their 3 year term, and JAG/CCM’s chair position is vacant.
Mr. Darling summarized the status of the COPC action items. CSAB recommended nine action items for
closure and three to remain open out of the twelve action items from the COPC 2010-02 meeting. Out of
the nine action items from prior COPC meetings, CSAB recommended two remain open and seven be
closed.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.6: Provide National Operational Processing Center Observational Data Workshop
scope, deliverables, date and location for COPC Directors’ approval.
o Workshop whitepaper provided for COPC to review. The OPCs will need to support certain roles: OPC
overview presenters, a panelist for 1st morning session, and a lead for one or more breakout sessions.
CSAB recommended this action be closed. COPC will discuss this action in the Executive Session.
• COPC Action Item 2010-1.2: Convene an invitation-only “Data Summit”.
o Pending closure of 2010-2.6 and the workshop execution, CSAB recommended this action remain open.
• COPC Action Item 2010-1.4: Develop and submit to COPC for approval a Unified Multi-Model Ensemble
Operations annex to the DAPE MOA to address NAEFS and/or NUOPC.
o Draft Annex in meeting packet was developed by JAG/OCM in collaboration with NUOPC. NAVY
(CNMOC) has expressed a strong desire for NUOPC operations management to occur outside of
COPC. CSAB recommends the decision of this action be deferred to the Executive Session.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.12: CSAB will clarify and document shared infrastructure at ADA site and identify
any potential for complementary efforts to improve latency.
o Kathy Kelly clarifying the McMurdo antenna installation on 11/8/2010 - at McMurdo, Metop and
DMSP do not share the same antenna for data receipt. CSAB recommended this action be closed.
• COPC Action Item 2010-1.5: The CSAB will ensure regular reporting on both NOAA and AFWA plans for
back-up. NESDIS will provide the NPP Data Exploitation (NDE) CONOPS.
o AFWA currently has no plan to back-up NPP data processing. NESDIS currently has no plan to backup
XDR’s produced by the IDP or NDE products as part of the ESPC CIP. The NDE CONOPS has
been provided and the NDE back-up study intended to take place in March 2011 has been deferred to
await the outcome of JPSS CGS backup analysis. CSAB recommended this action be closed.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.9: Brief requirements and design for delivering FNMOC Ensemble members via
NOMADS.
o FNMOC Ensemble products available via NOMADS in January 201. CSAB recommended this action
be closed.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.4: Each operational processing center will develop a detailed implementation plan
to achieve connection to the COPC Weather Enterprise Network (WE-Net.
o DISA requests concurrence to cancel project based on assertion that a new Federal DMZ will meet
requirements; AFWA has requested details before agreeing. CSAB recommended this action remain
open.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.2: Deliver a draft Annex to the DAPE MOA to establish a cost sharing mechanism
for the COPC Weather Enterprise Network.
o Work on this AI cannot conclude until design and cost for Weather Enterprise Network is determined
under AI 2010-2.4. CSAB recommended this action remain open.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.1: Provide a draft letter to be sent from COPC to NOPC stating the requirement for
the COPC Weather Enterprise Network.

o NOAA plan to modify network architecture to support WENet connection is established and executing
(AI 2010-2.3). DoD is fully engaged to support a WENet gateway. CSAB recommends an action to
draft a letter for NOPC or COPC to send to DISA stating the WENet requirement.
• COPC Action Item 2010-1.1: Exercise established processes to coordinate and capture telecommunication
requirements across COPC partners.
o Data collection, reconciliation and exchange completed. CSAB recommended this action be closed.
NWS Backup Gateway Refresh Design Project Update
Ms. Michelle Detommaso presented via telephone. Ms. Detommaso review the purpose of her
briefing to provide an overview on the scope of the National Weather Service (NWS) Booze, Allen,
Hamilton (BAH) Contract Task 1B for Technology Re-alignment Design for the NWS
Telecommunication Backup Gateway (BTG). The contract has three parts: 1A-Technology refresh to
meet the O&M and the coming GOES-R, NPP, Dual Pol, and Next-Gen efforts, 1B-To enhance the BTG
functionality, and 1C-To develop and implement a Gateway re-architecture roadmap to meet the internal
and external customer needs. The focus of the COPC action item relates to the efforts of 1B – Improve
BTG functionality at Mt. Weather (Design), the task commenced 4/13/2011 and is due 10/30/2011. They
will identify the top five BTG Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) requirements, develop the BTG
notional architecture, and develop the implementation plan. The FY11 funds have been identified for the
TG (1A) and BTG refresh (1B) implementation. The NWS Office of Operational Systems is working
with NOAA Procurement to develop a follow on contract for equipment implementation and system
integration (turn-key system) for completion in FY13.
• COPC Action Item 2009-2.3: The CSAB shall request from the NWS TOC the NWS Backup
Telecommunication Gateway (BTG) CONOPS.
o CSAB recommends this action be closed and TOC provide site update at future COPC meetings.
NOAA Network Upgrade and WE-Net Preparation
Mr. Allan Darling presented for Mr. Luis Cano. The project scope is to deploy a new DISA-
NOAA network interface through Suitland, MD. This will leverage existing Suitland DISA Mega C2 site
capabilities and NCEP high-speed WAN. It retires the existing end-of-life DATMS-U/ATM interface
between the Pentagon and NWS Telecommunication Operations Center (TOC) Silver Spring. This effort
deploys a new NCEP Point-Of-Presence (POP) at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in
Suitland, MD and connects NESDIS directly to the NCEP high-speed WAN and DISA Optical Transport
Network (OTN). The added benefits include: additional capacity and redundancy for COPC, connects
COPC directly to NCEP 7x24 NOMADS, provides needed capacity to support NESDIS NPP/NDE
dataflow to NWS (NCEP and TOC), provides initial WAN infrastructure to support upcoming GOES-R
dataflow to NWS (NCEP and TOC), and positions infrastructure to leverage DISA Defense Enterprise
Computer Centers (DECC) for future capabilities (i.e. Federal DMZ or WENet).
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.3: Provide a briefing on the NWS and NESDIS plans to establish connection to the
COPC Weather Enterprise Network gateways.
o CSAB recommends this action be closed.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.7: Deliver a design for access to NOMADS via DATMS-U that will support future
access via WE-Net. Solution should support primary and backup needs of OPCs.
o Solution provides direct access to the primary and backup NOMADS, CSAB recommends this action be
closed.
JAG/OCM
Mr. Evan Kuchera presented via the telephone. Mr. Kuchera quickly reviewed the membership
for JAG/OCM and stated there were no membership changes since the last COPC.

• COPC Action Item 2009-2.10: JAG/OCM shall propose a delineation of algorithm development
responsibilities among the OPCs.
o NCAR/DTC has released a unified post-processor that is able to process native NMM, ARW, GFS, and
CFS onto pressure and specialized levels. This allows for a number of new variables: dust, lightning,
echo tops, downdraft/updraft velocity, supercell, icing, low-level wind shear. This is portable with
support for UNIX and LINUX environments. A link to the full details: http://www.dtcenter.org/wrfnmm/users/docs/users_guide/V3/users_guide_nmm_chap7upp.pdf.
o JAG/OCM and CSAB recommend this action remain open. The next steps are to test and implement
(AFWA and NCEP only) and to try to entrain a wider community for additional new developers.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.8: Provided proposed amendments to IEMCO revalidating contents and extending
as appropriate.
o Questions for the COPC Executive Session include:
What level of collaboration and coordination is desired for mesoscale and ensemble atmospheric
modeling between the centers?
What is the desired “post-processing” role for AFWA in the national unified global ensemble?
Who should develop and own common software, and how will the research community be entrained
into its development?
JAG/ODAA
Mr. Jim Vermeulen presented. Mr. Vermeulen reviewed the ODAA membership and highlighted
the recent satellite data requests and status.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.5 Develop and semi-annually update a document depicting the availability of
environmental satellite data from current and planned, domestic and international satellites by: satellite, data
sets, and plans to acquire new data sets.
o The ODAA prepared a draft response to COPC AI 2010-2.5 and asked the COPC to review the catalog
draft that was in the meeting packet to see if it meets the COPC request. He pointed out that ODAA
and the Centers still need to complete the current status column that shows who is already acquiring the
data or has plans to acquire the data.
o JAG/ODAA and CSAB recommend this action be closed. COPC approved tasking Mr. Johansen the
JAG/ODAA-ESDA Technical Writer with contacting the ODAA members for the data to maintain this
catalog.
Mr. Vermeulen reviewed the GOES Experimental Hourly Winds Product. The feature track wind product
is being staged on a STAR server (thank you to Jamie Daniels), but this is not yet operationalized by
researchers in NESDIS/STAR and the cooperative institute (likely based on resources.) FNMOC
requested NESDIS look into moving this up in priority (moving to operational) because of confidence that
the product is solid and very useful.
For future products and impacts, the ODAA is working to: deliver the NAVO SST data to NCEP in a
BUFR format, understand the assimilation impacts from the coming radiosonde replacement system, and
incorporate possible advantages from the catalog features of the coming WMO Information System
(WIS). Coordination for future satellite readiness has been conducted with the OPCs attaining the proxy
NPOESS HD5 data created from level 1b MODIS and IASI data. ODAA is also looking into the
possibility of saving money by combining future efforts/contracts for replacement of the Weather
Products Management and Distribution System (WPMDS.)
4. STATUS UPDATES/DISCUSSION ON COPC SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS
Data Dropout Monitoring Tool Demo

Dr. Brad Ballish presented via telephone. Dr. Ballish quickly reviewed the COPC action item that
created the demoed product.
• COPC Action Item 2008-1.5: Develop a monitoring system to analyze differences between the NCEP and
FNMOC global models and the ECMWF global model in real-time and make this real-time system available to
OPCs as a daily tool.
o ECMWF-GFS forecast-forecast correlations are working very well and often predict GFS dropouts 5
days in advance
o GFS forecast-forecast correlations with previous cycle GFS not quite ready
o Extreme analysis difference code and related plotting codes are proving useful
o Code to plot maps of the time evolution of forecast divergence is not ready
o Password protected website http://origin.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/fcstdiv/
o Contact Bradley.Ballish@noaa.gov if you need access to this website
o Disscussion: Ensembles (because of averaging) are probably not impacted as much with the dropouts
and additionally people managing the ensembles may want to weight the GFS differently if the
monitoring tool shows a high condition for potential dropout.
HPCC Best Practices
Mr. Allan Darling presented on the COPC-HPCC meeting that was conducted to answer the
COPC Action Item 2010-1.3.
• COPC Action Item 2010-1.3: Coordinate at least one face-to-face meeting between OPC high performance
computing and communications (HPCC) system experts and senior staff to exchange best practices, tools, and
processes related to HPCC management, software engineering, and software (model) implementation.
o AFWA, NESDIS and NCEP participating in the March 14-15 meeting hosted by FNMOC.
o CSAB recommended this action be closed.
o COPC could consider having future best practices exchanges annually or bi-annually.
-All attendees endorsed the idea of future best practices exchange meetings.
-Attendees recommended consideration of inviting other HPC practitioners: UCAR, NASA,
DSRC.
-Possibly more top level design of the future agenda/topics.
o Presentations available at http://www.ofcm.gov/hpcc/meetings.htm
(SOAR) through JCSDA
Dr. Jim Yoe presented on the response to the COPC Action Item 2010-2.11. Dr. Yoe’s
interpretation of the scope of response is to assess the readiness to use NPP data. Readiness for each
Center will include: considering the maturity of the algorithms, adequacy of the IT systems and tools,
allocation and preparation of personnel, and the status of test and implementation plans. The briefing also
notes efforts supporting (or leveraging activities) in the JCSDA.
• COPC Action Item 2010-2.11: Provide an instrument crosswalk for ATMS, CrIS, and VIIRS from Satellite
Operational Algorithm Readiness (SOAR) through JCSDA.
o AFWA, NAVO, FNMOC, NESDIS, NCEP, and JCSDA status reviews all contained in the briefing
slides.
o OPCs are pursuing means to acquire, test, and implement NPP data for operations.
o Key Activities include use of test/proxy data to prepare the IT systems and the science systems for
advanced products and assimilation algorithms.
o Outlook path to operations is fairly clear with the pace dependent on resources.
o CSAB recommended this action be closed.
NPP Cal/Val Update
Mr. Mitch Goldberg (JPSS program scientist) presented on the NPOESS Preparatory Project
(NPP) calibration and validation status. Mr. Goldberg reviewed the NPP Cal/Val approach starting with

sensor performance and characterization being the cornerstone of all data products. The NPP and JPSS
programs look to exploit experience and resources from past operational and science missions and achieve
customer and user satisfaction through participation in the Cal/Val process. EDR performance and
corrective actions will be handled in accordance to customer/user priorities.
JPSS is transitioning to using integrated teams. This approach specifically involves the integration of
efforts between the Cal/Val (Heritage cal/val teams) which deals with the validation of the SDR and EDR
products, and the algorithms (NOAA STAR leads) which is responsible for updating, improving and
maintaining the algorithms.
Mr. Goldberg reviewed the GRAVITE system which is a government resource for algorithm verification,
and independent test and evaluation.
• NSIPS – NOAA SIPS - NOAA Science Investigator-led Processing System, a Linux Xenon blade
production system: Runs PGEs.
• G-ADA – GRAVITE Algorithm Development Area, an instance of the IPDS environment running on
IBM Power hardware and AIX: runs Algorithms.
• ICF – Investigator Computing Facility, on GRAVITE a commodity Linux system for general
computing; Generically Alg/Val teams institutional computing facilities: runs “investigative code”.
NUOPC Update
Mr. Frederick Toepfer presented. Mr. Toepfer quickly reviewed the NUOPC goal and originating
concept. NUOPC is an Air Force, Navy, and NOAA partnership to enable an advanced U. S. national
global weather forecast system supporting each agency’s mission. It was to be focused on nextgeneration
systems for global numerical weather prediction allowing for possible later expansion into
other areas of numerical prediction.
Mr. Toepfer reviewed the status of the proposed management agreement within a draft Annex to the
existing Data Acquisition, Processing, and Exchange (DAPE) MOA. He also reviewed the status of the
common model architecture, the efforts to use some form of the ESMF, and a post-processing plan.
Mr. Toepfer reviewed the NUOPC next steps including: working with the planned upgrades to the
NAEFS baseline, continue implementation of the National Unified Ensemble (NUE) system, development
of the post-processing toolkit, NUOPC/ESMF model architecture through continued incorporation of
NUOPC standards in ESMF, and continued community outreach activities. Additionally NUOPC will
work to further coordinate the NUOPC ESPC relationship.
DWSS Update
Mr. John Baldonado the Acting Director (DWSD) and Mr. Craig Plummer the Deputy Program
Manager (DWSS) presented. The Defense Weather Satellite Systems (DWSS) mission description is to
provide an early morning polar orbital plane data for the weather mission based on NPOESS IORD-II as
modified by JROCM 101-06. DWSS is leveraging as much as possible from the old NPOESS program.
DWSS responsibilities include: DoD’s operational requirements, two early morning orbit satellites,
DWSS-1 and 2 with VIIRS, SEMS-N and microwave. Possible launch readiness dates are FY 2018 and
FY 2021. DWSS is not budgeting for a ground station solution and will rely on the Common Ground
System (CGS) and the IDPSs. It was pointed out that funding and planning presented are pre-decisional
and the specifics will continue to be determined by DOD. COPC members need to understand that the
items briefed are still being negotiated and could change completely from what is presented here.

In summary:
• DWSS is on contract and executing.
o Requirements are clear (ADM and IORD were good and AFSPC has supplemented with
DoD subset of IORD).
• Schedule will be funding driven, but still shooting for late 2018 or early 2019 for the first launch.
• AF is looking for ways to implement efficiency program to bring costs down.
Review of Outcome from the Executive Session not covered within the New COPC Action Items.
IEMCO
• COPC agreed that the IEMCO still contains useful and implemented sections.
• The Technical Directors agreed to meet to adjust the document.
o Work with NCEP’s CAPT Barry Choy.
• The COPC Action Item 2010-2.8 will be changed:
o TDs as advocates.
o Suspense: July 15, 2011.
WG/CSAB AND JOINT ACTION GROUP CHAIRS - MEMBERSHIP
• Designation of a JAG/CCM chair.
o No recommended chair.
o NCEP agreed to revisit this issue and get back to COPC by June.
o Mr. Bernie Werwinski joins the JAG as the NWS/TOC representative.
• Designation JAG/ODAA chair(s).
o Satellite Data/Assimilation: Mr. Dennis Hobson AFWA
o Conventional: Mr. Kyle Rushing NAVO
o Mr. DaNa Carlis replaces Dr. Bradley Ballish as NCEP representative for conventional data.
• Designation of an incoming WG/CSAB chair.
o Allan will be replaced by Jim Yoe but will be ending the chair role.
� Allan will stay involve for a good hand-off to the next chair.
o NESDIS and NAVO agreed to revisit this issue and get back to COPC by June 15th.
o CNMOC asked if COPC would consider Dave McCarren as chair.
o Ms. LaTanya Burton replaces Mr. Walter Smith as the NWS/TOC representative.
NEXT MEETING
• NAVO will host the fall 2011 COPC.
• NAVO will pick a location and date range.
o Aiming for the last week in October or the first two weeks of November.
� Tuesday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Thursday.
� OFCM will coordinate with COPC to select the exact date.
ADJOURN
Attachments
1. New COPC Action Items
2. Old COPC Action Items Status

COPC Action Items
Spring 2011 Action Items
COPC Action Item 2011-1.1: Utilize DoD IA Managers and JAG/CCM to develop a plan to
address DoD mandated NIPRNET DMZ program requirements (CTO 10-21) to allow current
and future data exchange via WENet.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: August 2011
COPC Action Item 2011-1.2: Plan and execute a coordinated test of the ESPC-CIP failover
capability as NESDIS infrastructure augmentation allows.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: October 2011
COPC Action Item 2011-1.3: Review and provide preferred priority of work associated with
ESPC thaw with particular attention to the GOES experimental hourly winds.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: 2011 Fall COPC Meeting
COPC Action Item 2011-1.4: Host a DISA technical briefing on the proposed Federal Gateway
and based on that briefing draft a letter from COPC to DISA to 1) identify OPC communication
requirements as related to the Federal Gateway and 2) request a DISA brief presented at the Fall
COPC meeting.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: October 2011
COPC Action Item 2011-1.5: Each operational processing center will develop and execute a
coordinated implementation plan to connect to the NOAA Network as it is upgraded for COPC.
The plan will meet current data exchange requirements and support OPC non-internet access to
NOAA NOMADS systems. Implementation plan will include connectivity details, information
assurance requirements, transition details and implementation schedule.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: November 2011
COPC Action Item 2011-1.6: Establish a code repository hosted by a Federal entity to support
shared algorithm development among OPCs.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/OCM
Suspense: 2011 Fall COPC Meeting

COPC Action Item 2011-1.7: OPC Technical Directors will refine the Observational Data
Workshop whitepaper to meet OPC needs and support preparation and execution of the
workshop in early September 2011.
Priority: H
Advocate: Technical Directors
Suspense: Early July
COPC Action Item 2011-1.8: OPCs will staff a JAG/HPC for six months every two years to
coordinate and plan a bi-annual high performance computing (HPC) best-practices meeting. At
the 2011 Fall COPC meeting, the OPCs will identify appropriate system experts and senior staff
for JAG/HPC who will identify shared challenges and best practice of interest to multiple OPCs,
develop a meeting agenda, conduct the meeting and generate a meeting report and any proposed
action to be presented at the 2012 Spring COPC meeting.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: 2011 Fall COPC Meeting

COPC Action Items Status
Fall 2010 Action Items
COPC Action Item 2010-2.1: Provide a draft letter to be sent from COPC to NOPC (with
courtesy copy to member organizations) stating the requirement for the COPC Weather
Enterprise Network and citing data exchange requirements, current and future capabilities the
network will support, and resources required for implementation.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: 01 December 2010
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close – open a new action COPC 2011-1.4
COPC Action Item 2010-2.2: Deliver a draft Annex to the DAPE MOA to establish a cost
sharing mechanism for the COPC Weather Enterprise Network.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: CSAB
Suspense: Fall 2011 COPC Meeting
Status as of 18 May 2011: Open.
COPC Action Item 2010-2.3: Provide a briefing on the NWS and NESDIS plans to establish
connection to the COPC Weather Enterprise Network gateways.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: February 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-2.4: Each operational processing center will develop a detailed
implementation plan to achieve connection to the COPC Weather Enterprise Network (WE-Net)
gateways to meet current data exchange requirements. Plans will include connectivity details,
information assurance requirements, transition details and implementation schedule.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: Fall 2011 COPC Meeting
Status as of 18 May 2011: Open.
COPC Action Item 2010-2.5: Develop and semi-annually update a document depicting the
availability of environmental satellite data from current and planned, domestic and international
satellites by: satellite, data sets, and plans to acquire new data sets.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/ODAA
Suspense: April 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-2.6: Provide National Operational Processing Center Observational
Data Workshop scope, deliverables, date and location for COPC Directors’ approval.

Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/ODAA
Suspense: 01 December 2010
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close –open a new action for the TDs to refine the ODW scope and execute
the meeting in early September 2011.
COPC Action Item 2010-2.7: Deliver a design for access to NOMADS via DATMS-U that will
support future access via WE-Net. Solution should support primary and backup needs of OPCs.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: April 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-2.8: Provided proposed amendments to IEMCO revalidating contents
and extending as appropriate.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: Technical Directors
Suspense: 2 Aug 2011
Status as of 18 May 2011: Open.
COPC Decision: Change Advocates to the TDs and they will address the necessary changes.
COPC Action Item 2010-2.9: Brief requirements and design for delivering FNMOC Ensemble
members via NOMADS. If requirements are resource neutral, implement as soon as possible
after briefing.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: CSAB
Suspense: 14 December 2011
Status as of 20 January 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-2.10: CSAB will provide a report on NPP Cal/Val responsibilities and
the timing of when the data will be available to the JCSDA.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/ODAA
Suspense: April 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-2.11: Provide an instrument crosswalk for ATMS, CrIS, and VIIRS
from Satellite Operational Algorithm Readiness (SOAR) through JCSDA.
Priority: (H)
Advocate: JAG/ODAA
Suspense: April 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close

COPC Action Item 2010-2.12: CSAB will clarify and document shared infrastructure at ADA
site and identify any potential for complementary effort to improve latency.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: CSAB
Suspense: April 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-1.1: Exercise established processes to coordinate and capture
telecommunication requirements across COPC partners, including NUOPC and JPSS related
requirements. These requirements will identify current and future data flows including source,
destinations, volume, latency requirement, schedule of when new data will be or needs to be
enabled, encryption requirements, other data restrictions, and related COPC business functions.
This information will be used to validate technical designs and resource estimates for new
network infrastructure initiatives.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/CCM
Suspense: 14 January 2011
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-1.2: Convene an invitation-only “Data Summit” of DoD and Federal
Agency data users to discuss and exchange information about new data sources, quality issues,
station metadata standards and consistency, and other issues related to the exchange and use of
conventional and satellite data.
Priority: M
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: September 2011
Status as of 18 May 2011: Open.
COPC Action Item 2010-1.3: Coordinate at least one face-to-face meeting between OPC high
performance computing and communications (HPCC) system experts and senior staff to
exchange best practices, tools, and processes related to HPCC management, software
engineering, and software (model) implementation.
Priority: M
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: October 2010
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-1.4: Develop and submit to COPC for approval a Unified Multi-
Model Ensemble Operations annex to the DAPE MOA to address NAEFS and/or NUOPC
operations management, alignment of performance requirements, change management, and data
dissemination.
Priority: H
Advocate: WG/CSAB, JAG/OCM, and JAG/CCM
Suspense: October 2010
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close

COPC Action Item 2010-1.5: The CSAB will ensure regular reporting on both NOAA and
AFWA plans for NPP back-up. NESDIS will provide the NPP Data Exploitation (NDE)
CONOPS, including the NDE definitions of operationalizing data to the other OPC’s.
Priority: M
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: October 2010
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2010-1.7: CSAB will report on the status of NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite
System and the Air Force Defense Weather Satellite System to include data flows, processing
architecture, and plans for operational back-up.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: WG/CSAB
Suspense: Nov 2010 COPC Meeting
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2009-2.3: The CSAB shall request from the NWS TOC the NWS Backup
Telecommunication Gateway (BTG) CONOPS document to include a description of the data
flows as it relates to COPC.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: WG/CSAB – [Walter Smith]
Suspense: Spring 2010 COPC
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close
COPC Action Item 2009-2.10: JAG/OCM shall propose a delineation of algorithm
development responsibilities among the OPCs for variables of shared interest, and a plan for how
these algorithms could be incorporated into operations.
Priority: (M)
Advocate: JAG/OCM – [Evan Kuchera]
Suspense: Fall 2011 COPC Meeting
Status as of 18 May 2011: Open.
COPC Decision: Open and a new action COPC 2011-1.6 to establish a Federal code repository.
COPC Action Item 2008-1.5: Develop a monitoring system to analyze differences between the
NCEP and FNMOC global models and the ECMWF global model in real-time and make this
real-time system available to OPCs as a daily tool.
Priority: (M)
Advocate(s): JAG/ODAA – [Mr. James Vermeulen, Dr. Bradley Ballish]
Suspense: Spring 2009 CSAB meeting for status update
Status as of 14 April 2011: Recommend Closure.
COPC Decision: Close