21世纪初，美国国家大气研究中心（Nat ionalCenterforAtmosphericResearch，NCAR ）专门组织人员撰写了它将来在研究、设施及教育上的规划报告。该报告围绕什么是要继续的、什么是阶段性的、如何开创新的研究方向、新方向的选择标准等作了阐述。介绍了该规划报告中关于下一个 10年新的研究方向，其中包括NCAR各分支机构之间联合研究的新研究计划，以及模式集成、先进的工具和方法以及将信息技术用于研究和教育等方面的新研究计划，同时还界定了新研究计划的选择标准。

At the turn of 21 century, the National Center for Atmospheric Research presented the strategic plan for its future activities in research, facilities and educational programs. It put forward what to continue, what to phase out, what new direction, and what criteria for selection of new direction, etc., which are new directions for NCAR in next ten years. They consist of integrating interdisciplinary scientific initiatives, integrating models, advancing tools and methods, and applying the benefits of information technology  to research and education, [WTBX]etc[WTBZ]. In the end, seven criteria used to select new initiatives are introduced.