WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has ordered the removal of several key satellite instruments that monitor climate-related data, drawing criticism from scientists who warn that the shift to a weather-only focus threatens to impair critical weather prediction capabilities.
Climate Data Cuts From GeoXO and Carbon Observing Instruments
Budget documents reveal that two instruments aboard the GeoXO satellite program—intended to track air pollution hourly and monitor coastal and Great Lakes water clarity—have been removed. Meanwhile the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) instruments that monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are slated for termination by the end of the current fiscal year. The rationale: the instruments are seen as exceeding the satellites main mandate, which is now limited to weather forecasting only. Science and climate data collection are being de-emphasized.
Scientists Warn That Weather Forecasting Depends on Climate Data
Experts say splitting climate from weather is both scientifically flawed and dangerous. Lars Peter Riishojgaard, director of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at the University of Maryland, puts it plainly:
“This is a complete fallacy, weather versus climate. It is one and the same. The earth system is wrapped together in its intricacy in ways that do not align with any particular political agenda.”
Climate data helps model and predict extreme weather events such as wildfires, harmful algal blooms and sudden storm intensification. When warming trends alter baseline conditions, weather forecasts lose predictive power if that context is missing.
Administration Positions Itself as Streamlining Operations
NOAA has declined to comment on the specific instruments slated for termination. However, a spokeswoman for the agency emphasized a streamlined direction: “Prioritizing next-gen weather and Earth observation capabilities,” she said, reiterating that NOAA’s mission still includes climate and ocean understanding.
The Broader Impact on Weather Modeling and Public Safety
Satellite data archives, some spanning nearly five decades, are vital for calibrating weather models that meteorologists rely on today. Experts warn that losing continuity could degrade forecast lead times and accuracy—both crucial for public safety.
This not only affects severe weather warnings but also everyday climate-sensitive planning. Removing climate-tracking tools may blind scientists to gradual environmental shifts that influence heat waves, droughts and flood patterns.
The Stakes: Lives, Livelihoods, Ecosystems
Beyond theoretical concerns, the stakes are tangible. Coastal fishing communities rely on accurate ocean condition data. Public health officials track pollution and smoke from wildfires. Without these tools, preparation and response risk falling short.
At a time when extreme weather events are more frequent, critics say these cuts undermine resilience efforts—and diminish the nation’s ability to anticipate and react to threats.
Ways Forward and Reversals Already in Motion
Some pushback has already led to partial reversals, such as the Pentagon restoring vital satellite data sharing, and the National Weather Service receiving approval to hire additional staff. Still, scientists caution that restoring redundancy once lost is slow and costly.
Outlook
With the budget pending, some reversals may still be possible. But unless climate data gets reinstated as a core priority, weather forecasts may lose their predictive power over time. As one NOAA scientist put it, “You now cannot do weather prediction without understanding the climate. If you ignore the past, it is like you are looking out the window in the morning and asking, ‘What is going to happen?’”