Pirhalla’s background and role in NCCOS is in satellite remote sensing and environmental impact assessment and modeling. As a physical scientist, Pirhalla leads projects and works to build new and progressive tools to better understand, prepare and adapt to present and future impacts in coastal systems. These tools will result in improvements in ecosystem service management, fishery/habitat resources management, and coastal water quality regulation and policy.
Pirhalla’s main professional experience and focus is about using multi- disciplined, collaborative science to understand and predict climate and weather-related impacts in coastal systems. He has led multiple projects to position NOAA for success and achievement of strategic goals by: expanding the use of NOAA, NASA, and other satellite data technologies through research and modeling; targeting new modeling approaches for tool development; uncovering, researching and developing better opportunities within and outside the federal sector to use NOAA products; and technological approaches to support a resilient, sustainable future.