UMD to Lead $175M Institute on Planet-People Interaction

The University of Maryland will host a new cooperative research institute to expand our understanding of how the atmosphere, ocean, land and biosphere components of Earth interact with each other and with human activities in a single, coupled system.

Called the Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS), the nationwide consortium of academic and nonprofit institutions will be led by UMD and NC State University and is funded by a five-year, $175 million award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For example, CISESS researchers will use environmental data from satellites to develop more accurate products that help NOAA improve weather and climate forecasts and build resilience to extreme events. The researchers will also monitor the oceans, the atmosphere and the cryosphere to inform environmental decision-making.