Authorities Cut Off Crucial Satellite Data Ahead of Thunderstorm Season — When Forecasters Need It The Most
Weather forecasting could look a little different in the future, with a recent step taken by the Department of Defense. This step would halt the incoming of some crucial data that helped weather forecasters in monitoring hurricanes heading towards the USA, as reported by NBC News. The update has arrived just a few months before the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, giving experts very little time to come up with an alternative solution. The Department of Defence claims they have halted satellite data due to cybersecurity concerns. On June 23, an announcement was made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which postponed these halts by a month.
Importance of Satellite Data
The data arrived from microwave sensors associated with three specific polar-orbiting satellites. It allows experts to gather insights about the center of storms, where rain and thunderstorms are created. The sensors work even in the absence of light, allowing forecasters to peer into layers of clouds, even during the night. Experts can monitor development and changes in the formulated storms. They also determine the storm's strength as well as the threat it can pose to specific areas. This information allows authorities to prepare accordingly and helps ensure as little damage as possible from the storm.
What Does This Loss Mean?
Losing the data leaves weather forecasters without a key tool in their assessment. "It's really the instrument that allows us to look under the hood. It's definitely a significant loss. There's no doubt at all that hurricane forecasts will be degraded because of this," said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher and senior research associate at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. "They're able to detect when an eyewall forms in a tropical storm and if it's intensifying — or rapidly intensifying." The three satellites gather data for both military and civilian purposes. They are operated jointly by NOAA and the US Defense Department, according to CBC News. These satellites stand apart from other conventional satellites, as they provide a 3D view of storms and what's inside them throughout the day.
Steps taken by NOAA
NOAA initially planned to cut off the data on June 30 to mitigate a significant "cybersecurity risk." There was no further explanation about this supposed risk. In the latest announcement, the date of closing has been postponed to July 31. The hurricane season typically starts from June 1 and continues until November 30. The US Navy confirmed the postponed date and shared that the data program no longer "meets our information technology modernization requirements."
No update was given regarding the reason for the delay. NOAA assured everyone that the loss of this particular satellite data would not put a huge dent in the hurricane forecasting system in place. The organization claims there is a "robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools" in the service of the National Weather Service. NOAA spokesperson claimed that these tools are more than enough to provide forecasters with apt data to maintain "the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve."