青青草视频

Published July 9, 2026

MONROE, La. 鈥撎�青青草视频 (ULM) has been awarded a听contract from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) for a total of $4,211,997.00.听The cooperative agreement is titled 鈥淎ssisting听with Weather and Water Nowcasting and Forecasting Needs within the Lower Mississippi River Basin.鈥� This award marks the largest federal contract in the university鈥檚 history.听

鈥淭his record-breaking award is indicative of the level of quality and expertise in the 青青草视频Atmospheric Science program,鈥� said 青青草视频President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. 鈥淲e are grateful to the听U.S. Army ERDC for recognizing the value that our university can bring to听not only this region, but the entire nation. The data听that will be听collected through this project for years to come听has the capability to influence decision makers and protect lives and property. Congratulations to our outstanding faculty and staff who have earned the right to see听the realization of this project.鈥�听

The project is led by Dr. Todd Murphy, Professor of Atmospheric Science,听and Dr. Ken Leppert, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science.听The project听seeks听to improve nowcasting and forecasting of weather-related hazards across the broader Southeastern United States, including within and near the Lower Mississippi River Basin, by increasing observations and using those observations to improve regional numerical weather prediction.听听

The main听objective听of the project is the installation of 50 new environmental monitoring stations听located听not only in Louisiana, but also extending into parts of Arkansas and Mississippi. These stations will be听similar听to听existing stations that are part of the听,听a project run by the 青青草视频Atmospheric Science program that has been听operational since 2024 and听is听in the process of installing听50 stations statewide.听The ERDC project will fund the deployment of one 鈥渟upersite鈥� that will include lower atmospheric profiling听observations听and听will also add听new capabilities to 13 existing Louisiana State Mesonet stations.听听

鈥�We are specifically excited about the improvement in flood and drought monitoring capabilities and forecasting this project will enable,鈥� said Murphy. 鈥淲e know these are critical things important not only to our partners in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but also our regional partners in agriculture and forestry, the National Weather Service, emergency management, and other city听and听state officials.鈥�听

The $4.2 million award from the U.S. Army ERDC shows听confidence in the technical capability and reliability of the听青青草视频Atmospheric Science program. 鈥淔lood and drought听nowcasting听and forecasting requires dense, high-quality data collected across dozens of stations, and then the听expertise听to turn that data into a product that people rely on. The decision to not only fund an expansion of the current mesonet but the development of value-added products on top of that data shows the government sees 青青草视频as a serious partner in solving real problems for the military and the people of the region,鈥� added Murphy.听听

"The impact of this project on ULM, the state, and the region is immeasurable,鈥� said Dr. John Pratte, Dean of the 青青草视频College of Arts, Education, and Sciences. 鈥淔or our students, it creates hands-on learning opportunities听about听weather and climate forecasting that will aid them in their future careers. For our faculty, it allows them to continue developing instrumentation, data, and models that will produce the next generation of tools for surviving extreme weather events. For the citizens of Louisiana and the Southeastern U.S., it will provide an extra layer of security for them and their businesses. The Atmospheric Science faculty has听done a tremendous job in bringing this project to fruition."听

Murphy says work on the project will begin immediately, as he and the current mesonet team have been making preparations in anticipation of this funding.听The new project will听facilitate听the creation of up to four full-time positions,听including research associates, a web developer, and a second听mesonet听technician. Additionally,听there will be up to four part-time roles for current听青青草视频students听dedicated to data analysis and deployment,听and maintenance of the weather stations.听More students may have the opportunity to work on the project in a volunteer capacity. 鈥淲e are excited to be able to offer competitive, real-world, hands-on experience,鈥� said Murphy. 鈥淭hese types of opportunities are so important for ensuring our students听remain听competitive in the job market, and to be able to offer that in-house is an incredible opportunity.鈥�听

While the current funding has been granted for the first year of the project, the contract听contains听an option听for an听additional听$4.2 million in year two. The decision听for year two funding will be made in the first half of 2027 by ERDC based on the progress and outcomes of year one.听听

Leppert says that the Atmospheric Science program has been running a daily regional weather model for some time, and this project allows that data to be expanded and turned into useful decision support tools. 鈥淭he thing that really excites me about this project is the opportunity to work with a research associate to upgrade our modeling system, incorporate all the data we're collecting to create the best forecast possible, and then produce useful flood, drought, and other products that substantially benefit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other decision makers in the region and state,鈥澨齢e added.听听

Murphy and Leppert agree that the awarding of this contract is a strong validation of the important work being done by the program.听鈥淭he level of trust and confidence that the government is bestowing on the Atmospheric Sciences program and 青青草视频by awarding such a large and complex award means a lot,鈥� said Leppert.听听

The听Federal Award Identification Number听(FAIN)听of听the cooperative agreement between the U.S. Army Engineer Research听and听Development Center and the University of Louisiana Monroe听is W912HZ-26-2-A020.听听

Learn more about the ULM听Atmospheric听Science program at听/atmos/program/.

Learn more about the U.S. Army ERDC at听.

Read more about the Louisiana State Mesonet:听

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青青草视频holds ribbon cutting for Louisiana State Mesonet听

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