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Global
Systems
Laboratory
Forecast systems that deliver solutions
Explore GSL
Who we are
In a world where technology and Earth system science are advancing rapidly, the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) stands at the forefront of atmospheric research. The core of GSL's culture is a dynamic and forward-thinking spirit that drives our investment in people, partnerships, and organizational performance. GSL is a space where innovation and science converge in a hybrid and collaborative environment.
GSL is one of ten NOAA Research Laboratories and is located in Boulder, Colorado. Our research improves environmental prediction models, develops state-of-the-science decision support tools, visualization systems, and uses high-performance computing technology and artificial intelligence research to support a Weather-Ready, Fire-Ready Nation.
Our Research Serves The Nation
The research we do improves weather data, forecasts, and computing techniques used by industry, decision-makers, and stakeholders. Our work makes the nation's operations safer and more efficient, helps protect lives and property, and promotes economic prosperity.
Public Safety
Aviation
Energy
Fire Weather
News from GSL
In 2025, NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) continued to advance “forecast systems that deliver solutions” to support commerce and protect lives and property. Through more than 20 public code releases, over 50 scientific publications, and multiple research transitions to operations, GSL continued to advance decision support capabilities, Earth-system prediction,...
In early January 2026, GSL released an update to the Dynamic Ensemble-based Scenarios for Impact-based decision support (DESI) that included several model additions. In support of NOAA’s expansion of artificial intelligence (AI)-based weather modeling, the National Weather Service’s three AI models that were recently integrated into operations have been...
GSL will have a large presence at the 106th American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting. Each year, this event brings together thousands of leading scientists, developers, communicators, and vendors from across the public, private, and academic sectors of atmospheric science. In 2026, it will convene January 25-29, 2026, in...
DESI Digest: Turning Forecasts into Visual Insight
DESI Digest showcases powerful visualizations from NOAA's Dynamic Ensemble-based Scenarios for IDSS (DESI) project. These quick, impactful videos turn complex forecasts into clear insights that support emergency managers, forecasters, and the public.
Check back often for fresh, scenario-driven updates on the nation's evolving weather.
On Friday, January 16, 2026, high winds spread over much of the Northern and Central Great Plains, with widespread wind gusts of 50-70 MPH across eastern Wyoming and Colorado. At the same time, isolated snow squalls developed across southern South Dakota and northern Nebraska, causing locally hazardous driving conditions. This animation from the 0000 UTC January 16, 2026 forecast cycle of GSL's experimental Model for Prediction Across Scales-based forecast system initialized from the pre-operational version 1 of NOAA's Rapid Refresh Forecast System depicts instantaneous 10-m wind gusts (barbs and semi-transparent shading) and 1-h predicted snowfall (opaque shading). This forecast accurately captured the timing, location, and severity of these high-impact weather events.
Our Goals
Our Mission
Lead research and directed development through the transition of environmental data, models, products, tools, and services to support commerce, protect life and property, and promote a scientifically literate public.
Research Areas
Organizational Excellence, Earth System Prediction, Advanced Technologies, and Decision Support are the foundation to achieving the GSL Grand Challenge: Deliver actionable global storm-scale prediction and environmental information through advanced technologies to serve society.
Global Systems Laboratory
