NASA imaging.jpg

This image from the NASA Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) radar and radiometer shows the three-dimensional structure of rainfall within Hurricane Gaston near Bermuda on August 30, 2016. This satellite overpass captured part of the eyewall replacement cycle, helping scientists to better understand hurricane dynamics

(NASA)

Dr. Clay Blankenship

By Clay Blankenship, Ph.D., an atmospheric research scientist in Huntsville, Alabama

Recent news stories report that President Trump and some of his appointees have plans to defund NASA's Earth Science budget and focus it on planetary exploration only. Two reasons are given: to return NASA to its "original mission", and a skepticism of climate research. I believe these are both misguided, and I would like to explain why I think NASA's Earth Science research is important.

First, NASA's original mission does indeed involve the study of the Earth. The 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act establishing NASA calls for the expansion of human knowledge in the atmosphere and space. Ever since the TIROS-1 satellite launched in 1960, NASA has used satellites to study the Earth's weather, land, and oceans. The fact is that satellites offer the most cost-effective and extensive way to observe the entire planet at once, and NASA is the agency with the most expertise in designing and launching new satellite systems. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates many environmental satellites including the GOES and POES constellations, NASA has been and continues to be the main developer of cutting-edge Earth observation systems.

Second, the benefits of NASA Earth Science are far-reaching and have tremendous scientific and economic impact. Before even getting into the politically charged topic of climate change, I would like to point out the broad range of activities and applications for which NASA satellite data is important. A number of NASA satellites including Aqua, Aura, Terra, and the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) are used to improve your everyday forecasts, as their observations are incorporated into weather prediction models. These satellites measure dozens of geophysical phenomena including rain, snow, clouds, wildfires, atmospheric dust, air pollution, vegetation health, land and sea surface temperature, and winds. These data are to identify aviation risks such as volcanic ash plumes, icing, and clear-air turbulence. NASA data and models help monitor resources such as crops, vegetation, snowpack and fresh water, and are used to predict and respond to disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfire.

The GPM satellite measures rainfall and lightning all over the globe and is used to observe and predict threats like hurricanes and floods. The SMAP satellite observes soil moisture which is valuable for agriculture, flood forecasting, drought monitoring, fire risk, and for public health issues like monitoring mosquito-borne diseases. GRACE tracks the storage and depletion of groundwater which is critical for agriculture and urban water needs, and is a potential major source of international conflict in the coming decades. NASA data are invaluable to our armed forces for weather prediction and for monitoring operating conditions. For example, soil moisture is used to assess ground conditions for tanks and other vehicles.

Finally, climate research should not be ignored. All of the aforementioned instruments are used for climate monitoring as well as immediate applications. In fact, climate monitoring is nothing more than observing the changes in weather and other geophysical properties over an extended time. While there is much uncertainty in future climate projections, the link between greenhouse gases and increasing temperatures has been known for over a century. Alexander Graham Bell even warned about it in 1917. Even if one believes that all climate change is part of natural variability, shouldn't we observe and study those natural changes to be better prepared for the future?

Data from these satellites are used at NASA and UAH here in Huntsville as well as other universities, weather forecast offices, utility companies, private enterprises, and government agencies throughout the nation. Earth observing satellites are one of the best investments our government makes and it would be a mistake to defund this important area of research and operations in which America has led the world for six decades.