A not-for-profit research lab advancing how we access, understand, and act on data about our world.

Why we exist

Prior to dynamical.org, we (Marshall and Alden) spent a lot of time forecasting rivers. Unsurprisingly, weather data was essential, and consumed a significant share of the engineering work.

We saw that our peers had the same challenge so we thought, "What if we do it once, really well, for everyone."

So, we started dynamical.org with the goal to make weather data easier to work with.

How we work

We work on two interlinked fronts:

  1. Open research
  2. A public data utility

Research

How should a dataset be designed? Which forecasts should you trust for a given decision? When is a forecast actually ready? We work through these questions and more, publishing what we learn in our lab notes and updates. Sometimes this exploration results in tools or software products.

A data utility

We apply our research to an open, live-updating, cloud-optimized weather and climate catalog. It is free for anyone to use. A researcher or engineer can load a dataset in one-ish line and build on it in production. The catalog is where that work lives today.

Built to last

Open infrastructure only matters if people can trust it to stay open. We designed dynamical.org for long-term operations and stewardship using what we call "Public Benefit Corporation, Hardcore Mode." We:

  1. prohibit the sale of the organization;
  2. reinvest any profit in the organization’s purpose; and
  3. give active members and users a role in setting priorities through groups such as our steering committee.

The result is an independent stewardship organization built to outlast any one project, funder, or founder. (We may convert to a full 501c3 in the future - it's just a lot at the beginning.)

Want to support our work? Radient Earth Foundation is our fiscal sponsor. Are you a commercial entity benefiting from dynamical.org's work? Consider procuring an SLA. In either case, reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

Steering committee

The steering committee brings users and domain experts into that work. Its members advise on project priorities, connect open-source development with real-world needs, and help keep our data and tools useful over time.

Meeting notes are public.


Explore the catalog, read our research, or tell us what you need at [email protected].

Low-latency HRRR, with all variables and levels, now in the catalog