Scientists Push Back on Trump's Plan to Dismantle a Critical Climate and Weather Center
The Trump administration's proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, has sparked concern among experts and scientists. This move, announced by White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, is seen as a threat to the accuracy of forecasting and prediction systems. NCAR, founded over six decades ago, has been a vital hub for collaborative research on global weather, water, and climate challenges, providing universities with expertise and resources.
The plan has faced a swift political backlash, with Colorado Governor Jared Polis warning of public safety risks and science attacks. Senators and representatives from Colorado have criticized the decision as political brinkmanship, especially in light of the state's refusal to release Tina Peters, a former Mesa County clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence for election tampering. The Trump administration's history of clashing with the science community, including dismissing climate report authors and removing climate and weather scientists from their posts, further adds to the controversy.
NCAR's contributions to climate and weather science are extensive. In the 1960s, it developed dropsondes, instruments released from aircraft to measure various atmospheric parameters. In the 1980s, it helped refine technology to monitor wind shear at airports, contributing to decades without passenger plane crashes caused by such events. NCAR's tools, like the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), are widely used for predicting thunderstorms, hurricanes, and frontal systems.
Scientists like David Stensrud, President of the American Meteorological Society, emphasize the importance of NCAR's work in improving weather predictions. Ken Davis, a professor of atmospheric and climate science, highlights NCAR's role in providing cutting-edge resources and expertise that no university can offer alone. The center's impact on atmospheric science research is profound, and its dismantling could significantly hinder progress in understanding weather and climate.
The controversy surrounding this decision highlights the ongoing tensions between political leadership and scientific expertise. As the Trump administration's plan faces scrutiny, the scientific community's concerns about the potential consequences for weather forecasting and climate research are at the forefront of the debate.
