Trump administration removes ocean and atmosphere pollution surveillance from upcoming weather satellite projects
NOAA's Proposed Satellite Overhaul Sparks Controversy
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is facing criticism for its proposal to revamp its upcoming satellite programme, the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO), which could result in a significant reduction of research capabilities.
According to a report, the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget request includes a proposal to close NOAA's extensive research facilities, including its greenhouse gas monitoring network. This revamp is aimed at curtailing costs and is due in part to the perception that some of the instruments were going to be focused on gathering data to study climate change.
The changes, which have been met with opposition from some scientists, will see the GeoXO series reduced from six satellites to four. This move, according to NOAA, will lower the cost of the satellites, with each costing a maximum of $500 million per year for a total of $12 billion.
Two planned instruments, one measuring air quality and another observing ocean conditions, are no longer part of the project. The atmospheric composition instrument, which would have enhanced US capabilities for air quality monitoring and forecasting, emissions of greenhouse gases, and smog pollutants tracking, has been dropped. This instrument, according to a report on its value, is fundamental to understanding changes in air quality, the stratospheric ozone layer, and climate, as well as their impacts on human health and natural ecosystems.
The atmospheric composition instrument, if included, would have also enabled scientists to more precisely measure air pollutants, reducing health risks from wildfire smoke events. Its exclusion from the GeoXO series raises concerns about the US falling behind other countries' air quality monitoring capabilities, potentially jeopardizing America's longtime leadership in Earth observations.
Furthermore, the satellite series is also set to lose an instrument that measures ocean color, providing insights into fisheries populations, algal blooms, ocean productivity, and water quality. This could impact the nation's ability to monitor and manage its marine resources effectively.
Having fewer satellites in the sky means less redundancy and raises the risk of critical data outages. For instance, without the atmospheric composition instrument on GeoXO, the US could face challenges in maintaining its weather forecasting accuracy and reliability, especially during critical periods like the ongoing hurricane season.
Some scientists argue that the cheaper up-front price would come at a cost to those who would have benefited from the air and oceans data. According to a Trump administration budget document, weather forecasting should be the "exclusive" focus of the satellites. However, critics contend that this narrow focus could lead to a lack of comprehensive data that is crucial for understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The cancellation of already contracted instruments, in part due to the administration's determination to focus NOAA more narrowly on weather forecasting, stands out in the history of NOAA satellite programs. Congress is currently considering the Trump administration's proposal to close NOAA's research facilities, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for the nation's understanding and management of its environment.
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