01-05-2025
NOAA research office could be eliminated under proposed budget cuts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Talks of cuts to the federal government continue in Washington D.C. In fact, the proposed 2026 budget from the current administration would eliminate most research done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA ocean research laboratories and cooperative institutes would reportedly close if the budget is enacted, which will then affect the operations of the National Weather Service.
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The American Meteorological Society, in conjunction with the National Weather Association, released a statement about the proposed budget cuts, which reads in part:
In Tennessee, detecting tornadoes and severe weather is a top priority for the NWS. Research by the NOAA developed the U.S. Doppler Radar Network in the mid-90s, which is what the NWS uses to detect tornadoes and severe weather to warn the public.
'Right now the Doppler Radar Network has a projected lifespan early 2030s,' explained Alan Sealls, president-elect of the American Meteorological Society. 'NOAA has been doing research with the next generation of radars to replace those in the early 2030s. Part of the budget plan is really throwing a wrench into all of that.'
Over half of NOAA's Regional Climate Centers' websites go dark due to 'lapse in federal funding'
NOAA's research into hurricane and tropical storm forecasting has made great strides, as well.
'A lot of people don't realize that the hurricane forecast cone over the last twenty years, the accuracy has increased, or basically, the error has decreased by 50%,' Sealls pointed out. 'Can you imagine that? If you were a major league pitcher and all of a sudden you could throw twice as many strikes as you used to have?
'That's what the Hurricane Center is doing. It's not just because they are good meteorologists, which they are, they're passionate, like all government meteorologists. But it's because of the research that has gone into that,' Sealls added. 'Same thing with tornado forecasting and warning. All of it is so much better, it's not perfect, but it's so much better because of the research that we vitally need to continue.'
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The American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association is asking people to contact their congressional representatives and senators to let them know how vital this research is.
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