Pentagon Reverses Decision on Abandoning Weather Prediction System
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a vital tool for hurricane forecasting and tracking, has been given a reprieve. The program was initially scheduled to end in mid-2025 due to its satellites being more than a decade past their expected lifespan and significant cybersecurity risks. However, a last-minute request from NASA's Earth Science Division Director, Dr. Karen St. Germain, and the agreement by the Pentagon and Navy to continue sharing data have ensured its continuation.
The DMSP, equipped with the Special Sensor Microwave Image Sounder (SSMIS), captures microwave imagery of hurricanes, providing 3D X-rays of storm interiors. This data allows forecasters to observe a hurricane's eye and eyewall, enabling them to determine whether the storm is strengthening or weakening. Spotting early signs of rapid intensification can significantly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities, as rapid intensification can be deadly, drastically reducing the time available for communities to prepare and evacuate.
The Navy announced the shutdown of the DMSP in June 2022, with the program set to end on July 31, 2022. However, the extension ensures no interruption in critical hurricane forecasting and global weather analysis, while NOAA gradually transitions to relying on other satellites like the Joint Polar Satellite System and terrestrial weather monitoring assets.
The Pentagon's decision to continue the DMSP program for another year is a rare win for extreme weather preparedness under President Donald Trump. Despite the administration's efforts to gut NOAA's staff, propose major cuts to its funding, and reduce its research and data-sharing capabilities, the DMSP program will continue.
Scientists inside and outside of the U.S. government have expressed that the cancellation of the DMSP would be a significant loss. The continued operation of the DMSP program unfolds against a backdrop of increasingly aggressive attacks on U.S. climate policy, which will likely worsen extreme weather.
NOAA confirmed the change in a statement, ensuring that there will be no interruption to DMSP data delivery. The program was to be replaced by newer systems such as the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS), which was cancelled, and others like WSF-M and the Electro-Optical Weather System (EWS) intended to provide replacement data. However, the extension of the DMSP program means that these replacements will now have more time to be fully integrated and tested before taking over from the DMSP.
In summary, the DMSP was scheduled to end due to aging equipment and cybersecurity concerns but was extended to avoid gaps in critical weather data availability. The extension ensures that forecasters get to keep one of their sharpest tools for hurricane prediction and tracking, providing a valuable resource in the face of increasingly extreme weather events.
|Reason for Initial Shutdown|Reason for Continuation| |-|-| |Satellites outdated, beyond expected lifespan (~10+ years old)|Request from NASA's Earth Science Division citing short notice for shutdown| |Significant cybersecurity risks in continuing data ingestion|Agreement by Pentagon and Navy to continue sharing data through hurricane season and until fall 2026 for operational continuity| |Planned replacement by newer weather satellite systems (some canceled)|Ensure uninterrupted hurricane and weather forecasting capabilities during transition period|
- The continued operation of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) is crucial for the analysis of global weather, particularly hurricane forecasting and tracking, as the SSMIS onboard captures 3D X-rays of storm interiors.
- The DMSP extension ensures no interruption in critical weather data delivery, allowing forecasters to observe hurricane's eyes and eyewalls, which can help in determining whether a storm is strengthening or weakening.
- The Pentagon's decision to continue the DMSP program for another year provides a rare win for extreme weather preparedness, given the administration's efforts to cut NOAA's funding and reduce its research and data-sharing capabilities.
- The future of environmental and earth science relies on the continued use of technology like the DMSP, especially considering the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
