NOAA layoffs threaten San Diego-based research, weather forecasts

The big picture: The NOAA layoffs come as climate change causes more intense and frequent weather and climate extremes.

State of play: As of Friday afternoon, Axios learned there were no cuts to the local NWS office, where 22 employees are responsible for around-the-clock forecasts for the San Diego region.

• The coverage area it is responsible for is home to the third largest population of any NWS field office in the country.
• San Diego's NWS office in the last 18 months has been responsible for warning residents of threats posed by extreme weather events like January's powerful Santa Ana winds, last year's destructive and historic flash floods, and the "rare and dangerous" Tropical Storm Hilary.

The intrigue: Scripps at UC San Diego, where modern climate science began and where some of the field's most significant research continues, received 14% — about $42 million — of its sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2023-24 from NOAA.

Zoom in: It's unclear what specific programs might be cut, but some NOAA-supported research at Scripps could be at stake if the federal government follows through with slashing the agency's budget.

• Their work includes improving atmospheric river forecasts to maintain safe water supply systems; tracking and predicting toxic algal blooms that can kill marine life; enhancing hurricane and drought forecasting technology; and assessing hazardous waste off the Southern California coast.

Yes, but: The Mauna Loa Observatory, a NOAA facility on the Mauna Loa Volcano on the island of Hawaii, had not been disrupted as of Friday morning, SIO's director of communications said.

• The Keeling Curve, a long-running record of carbon in the atmosphere directed by SIO researcher Ralph Keeling, relies on readings from the observatory.