# Weather and Air Quality Research (11.459)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/11-459-weather-and-air-quality-research/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated October 31, 2026.

Weather and Air Quality Research is run by Department of Commerce. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $132 million in 268 grants, about $492,654 per award.

## Objectives

Advance weather research, development, and transition to improve weather observations, modeling, computing, forecasts, warnings, social science, and communication for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. The goals are to: 1) Advance a collaborative weather research and development network with academic, governmental, nonprofit, and industry partners to continuously improve weather information, products, and services; 2) Improve high-impact weather forecasts, products, and services and their delivery, communication, use, and value to the public; 3) Contribute to the best-possible Unified Forecast System, including coupling to Earth system components and utilizing community-based research to transform weather forecasting skill; and 4) Strengthen the mission enabling, foundational infrastructure such as observations required for weather research and transitions to achieve next generation science and forecasting advances.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22.2 million | 103 |
| 2022 | $18.3 million | 104 |
| 2023 | $53.9 million | 120 |
| 2024 | $19.9 million | 73 |
| 2025 | $17.7 million | 42 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | Colorado | $25.3 million |
| University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | $16.6 million |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi | $15.9 million |
| Colorado State University | Colorado | $7.5 million |
| George Mason University | Virginia | $6.9 million |
| The Regents of the University of Colorado | Colorado | $6.1 million |
| University of Miami | Florida | $4.7 million |
| Texas Tech University System | Texas | $4.5 million |
| The Research Foundation for the State University of New York | New York | $3.9 million |
| University of Washington | Washington | $3.2 million |
| The University of Alabama in Huntsville | Alabama | $2.5 million |
| University of Wisconsin System | Wisconsin | $2.4 million |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | $2.3 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts | $2.3 million |
| University of Tennessee | Tennessee | $2.2 million |
| Howard University | District of Columbia | $2.0 million |
| Nurture Nature Center | Pennsylvania | $1.8 million |
| University of Utah | Utah | $1.5 million |
| Northeastern University | Massachusetts | $1.4 million |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Michigan | $1.2 million |