Sudden loss of key US satellite data could send hurricane forecasting back ‘decades’
by Eric Holthaus from Environment | The Guardian on (#6Y9S3)
Scientists left scrambling amid hurricane season after irreplaceable program is slotted to be shuttered
A critical US atmospheric data collection program will be halted by Monday, giving weather forecasters just days to prepare, according to a public notice sent this week. Scientists that the Guardian spoke with say the change could set hurricane forecasting back decades", just as this year's season ramps up.
In a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) message sent on Wednesday to its scientists, the agency said that due to recent service changes" the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) will discontinue ingest, processing and distribution of all DMSP data no later than June 30, 2025".
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