Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

littlemissmartypants

(26,808 posts)
Sun Feb 16, 2025, 09:09 AM Feb 16

For-Profit Companies Can't Easily Replace NOAA's Weather-Forecasting Prowess

Wiedinmyer Kari Bowen
Science
Feb 15, 2025 8:00 AM

For-Profit Companies Can’t Easily Replace NOAA’s Weather-Forecasting Prowess


Replicating the abilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fleet of weather satellites would take time and a lot of money—and expose private companies to a large amount of risk.
Snip...

The forecasts can seem effortless, but behind the scenes, a vast network of satellites, airplanes, radar, computer models, and weather analysts are providing access to the latest data—and warnings when necessary. This data comes from analysts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, and its National Weather Service.

Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen, a former National Weather Service forecaster, explain NOAA’s central role in most US weather forecasts.

When people see a weather report on TV, what went on at NOAA to make that forecast possible?
Snip...
Much more:

https://www.wired.com/story/noaas-vast-public-weather-data-powers-the-local-forecasts-on-your-phone-and-tv-a-private-company-alone-couldnt-match-it/


❤️pants
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
For-Profit Companies Can't Easily Replace NOAA's Weather-Forecasting Prowess (Original Post) littlemissmartypants Feb 16 OP
Yeah, if they start cutting there it's gonna hurt... Wounded Bear Feb 16 #1
Original source on The Conversation erronis Feb 16 #2
MaddowBlog-Trump administration slashes NOAA staff, fulfilling Project 2025 goal LetMyPeopleVote Feb 28 #3
Trump and Elon Musk fired hundreds of employees who help protect us from the impacts of severe weather. LetMyPeopleVote Feb 28 #4

Wounded Bear

(61,516 posts)
1. Yeah, if they start cutting there it's gonna hurt...
Sun Feb 16, 2025, 11:01 AM
Feb 16

I can't live well without my morning dose of Jen Carfagno.

Oh, yeah, all that warnings and helpful hints stuff is important too.

LetMyPeopleVote

(159,712 posts)
3. MaddowBlog-Trump administration slashes NOAA staff, fulfilling Project 2025 goal
Fri Feb 28, 2025, 05:00 PM
Feb 28

A Democratic senator said the cuts could be “catastrophic” for the environment and the economy.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-administration-slashes-noaa-staff-fulfilling-project-2025-goal-rcna194223

In last year’s presidential election, voters might not have realized that they were voting for deep cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but as The New York Times reported, that’s what Americans are getting anyway.

The Trump administration has begun firing employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the world’s premier centers for climate science. The firings are expected to cost more than 800 people their jobs, out of a total of about 13,000 staff members, according to two people familiar with the situation who declined to be identified for fear of retribution. The notifications went out on Thursday afternoon.

The Washington Post reported that among the fired employees are those “responsible for producing critical weather forecasts, maintaining radar systems, gathering data from satellites and monitoring key commercial fisheries.”.....

As for why, exactly, this is a priority for the Republican administration, neither the White House nor the Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, have publicly shed light on the motivation for the cuts. That said, The Hill reported that the far-right Project 2025 blueprint called for “privatizing and reassigning” nearly all of the agency’s functions.

In fact, the document, published by the Heritage Foundation, specifically referred to NOAA as “one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry.”

In other words, NOAA officials provided the public with accurate information about the climate crisis; the authors of Project 2025 found those truths inconvenient; and now the Trump administration is undermining the agency in a way that’s likely to set it back years.

A Politico report noted last week that the White House’s “promised assault on federal climate policies” is advancing at a speed “that’s surprising even some of his supporters and critics — and could leave an impact on the planet’s future well after his presidency.”

That assault is ongoing.

LetMyPeopleVote

(159,712 posts)
4. Trump and Elon Musk fired hundreds of employees who help protect us from the impacts of severe weather.
Fri Feb 28, 2025, 08:38 PM
Feb 28

I live in hurricane country. I had Beryl pass right over my house which was weird (one minute strong winds and then utter calm). We need NOAA



Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»For-Profit Companies Can'...