U.S. cutting back efforts to monitor global warming from space

[Kadie]

U.S. cutting back efforts to monitor global warming from space
Story Published: Jun 4, 2007 at 8:44 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jun 4, 2007 at 8:44 AM PDT
By Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. scientists will soon lose much of their ability in space to monitor for global warming, a confidential report to the White House warns.

As President Bush heads to a summit of industrial nations in Germany with a new initiative to reduce the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change, his administration is cutting back on efforts to measure the impact of the warming trend.

The problem is a costly and problem-plagued satellite system. Because of technology glitches and a near-doubling of its original $6.5 billion cost, the Defense Department has decided to downsize and launch four satellites paired into two orbits, instead of six satellites and three orbits.

The satellites were intended to gather weather and climate data and replace existing satellites as they come to the end of their useful lifetimes, beginning in 2010. The reduced system of four satellites will now focus on weather forecasting. Most of the climate instruments needed to collect more precise data over long periods are being eliminated.

Instead, the Pentagon and its two partners - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA - will rely on European satellites for most of the climate data. U.S. scientists worry they won't provide the data needed.

http://www.katu.com/news/tech/7824352.html

[jwirr]

1. If nothing else works kill the messenger or scientist in this case.

[Sapere aude]

2. By withholding information they can make the case that there is no evidence to prove whatever.

They do it all the time.