The NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services (NESDIS) Commercial Data Program (CDP) assesses and acquires space-based observational weather data from the private sector to improve NOAA’s weather forecasts and explore ways to meet mission requirements more efficiently. The program consists of two lines of effort:
- Commercial Data Pilots demonstrate the quality and impact of commercial data on NOAA forecast models; and
- Commercial Data Purchases support operational weather forecasting.
NESDIS's authority to manage CDP is pursuant to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as amended authorizes NOAA/NESDIS to purchase weather data from commercial providers.