USA operates the best observatories in the world, on ground and in space, that study our planet, Earth. That's about to change. Trump's budget, passed by the Republicans in Congress, cancels programs that produce unparalleled scientific information.
Two Orbiting Carbon Observatories, costing $750 million to develop and launch, have been sending highest-quality data, measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, for years. They will be shut down in October, saving a paltry $15 million. Four land-based observatories, in Hawaii, Alaska, Samoa, and Antarctica, that have been measuring atmospheric pollution for 70 years, will close, saving a minuscule $164,000.
Scientific understanding about our changing climate will be blinded. And that's the reason these observatories will be terminated. When interrupted, our ability to manage long-time trends will be stunted.
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Shutting down observatories is like poking pointed sticks into our eyes. We won't know what hits us next, until it does.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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