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Loss of key US satellite data could send hurricane forecasting back 'decades'
Scientists left scrambling amid hurricane season after irreplaceable program is slotted to be shuttered
Due to their unique characteristics and ability to map the entire world twice a day with extremely high resolution, the three DMSP satellites are a primary source of information for scientists to monitor Arctic sea ice and hurricane development. The loss of DMSP comes as Noaa’s weather and climate monitoring services have become critically understaffed this year as Donald Trump ’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) initiative has instilleddraconiancuts to federal environmental programs. The program, which had been the longest-running weather satellite initiative in the federal government, has since evolved into a critical source of information not just on the inner workings of hurricanes, but also on polar sea ice, wildfires, solar flares and the aurora.
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