Appendix B: Performance Goals and Measures that Have Been Discontinued or Changed

Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet America’s economic, social, and environmental needs

Performance Goal: Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond (NOAA)
Corresponding Measure	U.S. temperature forecasts (cumulative skill score)
Change	Measure reworded as “U.S. temperature forecasts (cumulative skill score computed over the regions where predictions are made)”
Justification	New wording narrows the scope of the measure.
Corresponding Measures	Reduce the uncertainty in model simulations of the influence of aerosols on climate Reduce the error in global measurement of sea surface temperature Improve society’s ability to plan and respond to climate variability and change using NOAA climate products and information
Change	New measures
Justification	Measures better reflect the outcomes of NOAA programs.
Corresponding Measures	New climate observations introduced Assess and model carbon sources and sinks globally
Change	Measures deleted
Justification	Measures reflect outputs rather than outcomes.