In support of the NOAA precipitation prediction grand challenge (ppgc), and as part of the tepex-east field campaign, this project will deploy a strategic line of ocean sensors at 140W across the…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a cooperative agreement of $539,000 to Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego on July 1, 2026, under the Cooperative Institute (Inter-Agency Funded Activities) program (CFDA 11.405) to support the NOAA Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge and the TEPEX-East field campaign.

Scripps will deploy 15 specialized chipod sensors on five existing moorings positioned at 140 degrees west across the equator to measure small-scale turbulence in the Pacific cold tongue. These observations will provide data to refine ocean-mixing physics in NOAA's predictive models and improve seasonal forecast accuracy. The project includes designing durable hybrid instruments combining chipods with epsilometers for long-term seasonal monitoring and transferring technical expertise from Oregon State University to Scripps to ensure continuity of the observational infrastructure.

Performance takes place in La Jolla, California with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.

In support of the NOAA precipitation prediction grand challenge (ppgc), and as part of the tepex-east field campaign, this project will deploy a strategic line of ocean sensors at 140W across the equator to better understand the pacific cold tongue, a region that fundamentally dictates global weather and precipitation patterns. By installing 15 specialized chipod sensors on five existing moorings to measure small-scale turbulence, the team provides the critical data needed to refine the ocean-mixing physics in noaas predictive models, directly addressing the ppgcs goal of improving seasonal forecast accuracy. The initiative further bolsters the ppgcs mission by designing durable, hybrid instruments that combine chipods with epsilometers for long-term seasonal monitoring and by transferring technical expertise from oregon state university to the scripps institution of oceanography to ensure this vital observational infrastructure remains uninterrupted. This integrated effort ensures that the precise ocean-atmosphere interactions driving extreme weather are captured and translated into more reliable precipitation outlooks.