Senate climate deal includes NOAA spending boost
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
The fragile Senate climate deal would provide a funding infusion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including for its climate and weather forecasting capabilities.
Why it matters: Accurate weather and climate forecasts are even more critical as extreme weather events become more severe due to human-caused global warming.
Context: NOAA's supercomputing capabilities lag behind other countries, like the European Union.
- In addition, the agency's fleet of hurricane research aircraft, including one modified Gulfstream jet and two WP-3D Orion hurricane hunters, are in need of bolstering or replacement.
- These aircraft gather critical data for improving forecast accuracy.
Zoom in: The bill would provide $490 million for weather forecasting and research. This would include...
- $200 million for NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and forecasting for weather and climate.
- $190 million for new NOAA supercomputing capacity.
- $100 million for NOAA to acquire a G-550 hurricane hunter jet.
The intrigue: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee that oversees NOAA, pushed for the agency funding.
- Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) secured funding for the G-550 reconnaissance jet that would give NOAA fleet redundancy.
What they're saying: In a statement to Axios, Cantwell called the provisions "the largest-ever one-time investment in weather forecasting."
- “Improved weather forecasts save lives, jobs, and businesses by helping communities prepare better for extreme weather," Cantwell said.
