The abrupt loss of DoD microwave satellite data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program is deeply concerning and poses serious risks during this hurricane season and into the future. As detailed in reports, this data is crucial for detecting rapid intensification of storms and accurately pinpointing their centers, allowing for more precise forecasting and earlier warnings to save lives.
The timing could not be worse, depriving forecasters of this vital tool just before the peak of hurricane season when intense storms are most likely to develop. Without microwave data, there is a significantly increased risk of a catastrophic "sunrise surprise" where a storm has rapidly strengthened overnight without warning. This happened with the devastation of Hurricane Otis in 2023, which microwave imagery helped anticipate.
Failing to catch rapid intensification events in remote areas could be disastrous, especially for storms threatening coastal communities or shipping interests. This type of satellite data has a unique ability to "see through clouds" with 16 times better resolution than infrared, making it indispensable for nighttime monitoring and structure analysis. Its loss will cascade into less accurate hurricane position and track forecasts, putting more people in harm's way from these deadly storms.
This unacceptable gap in forecasting capabilities simply cannot be allowed during the height of hurricane season when lives are at stake. Resuming the full flow of this DoD microwave satellite data must be an urgent priority. Depriving forecasters of such a pivotal tool endangers public safety and risks compounding the damage from an underprepared hurricane strike. Robust atmospheric monitoring is vital, and this loss exacerbates the ongoing erosion of our weather prediction capabilities. Ensuring this data remains available is a matter of national resilience against natural disasters. The consequences are simply too severe to accept this shutdown.
First sent on June 29 by Coleman · 5,993 signers in
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