NOAA: Weather satellites are in jeopardy

[nofurylike]

By John D. Sutter, CNN
August 24, 2011

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/...rediction/

It's easy enough to take for granted how much we know about the weather these days. Take Hurricane Irene: There are plenty of weather maps showing the path of that storm, which is churning through the Caribbean on its way to the East Coast of the United States. We have a pretty good idea of where Irene is heading and how strong it will be when it hits land.

-snip-

How do we know all this stuff? Because satellites are watching.

That's the point the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been trying to make lately as it campaigns to avoid budget cuts to its program for monitoring the Earth's oceans and weather from above the atmosphere.

-snip-

"The information those satellites collect is also key to understanding climate change -- an unpopular topic on Capitol Hill -- but the agency has downplayed that aspect as it presses lawmakers for more cash," that magazine writes.

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[Julie]

Aww, who needs to know about oncoming hurricanes and blizzards that will shut cities down? What a waste of money! We could cut that spending and give it to those who need it most; the rich!

Julie

[nofurylike]

(08-25-2011 06:57 AM)Julie Wrote:  Aww, who needs to know about oncoming hurricanes and blizzards that will shut cities down? What a waste of money! We could cut that spending and give it to those who need it most; the rich!

Julie

of course! yes! let's give it to the rich!! they'll have lots of use for all their new big money when the rapidly warming planet releases its methane and suffocates them all!

but, without satellites showing it is happening, they won't have to even think about it one bit.

thank you, Julie!!

[RoyGBiv]

(08-25-2011 03:03 AM)nofurylike Wrote:  "The information those satellites collect is also key to understanding climate change

Ah, yes, the "cat hiding under the bed with its tail poking out" strategy.

If I can't see it, it doesn't exist.

[nofurylike]

(08-26-2011 09:25 AM)RoyGBiv Wrote:  Ah, yes, the "cat hiding under the bed with its tail poking out" strategy.

If I can't see it, it doesn't exist.

YES!!
"the 'cat hiding under the bed with its tail poking out' strategy" should be in anthropology textbooks as a fundy characteristic! well, admittedly, as a human one, ah?

thank you, Roy!