Temporary Reprieve for Satellite Data Essential to Hurricane Forecasting

The Department of Defense has decided to extend access to crucial satellite data used for hurricane forecasting until July 31, a reversal from its earlier plan to cease availability by June 30. This decision followed widespread outcry from meteorologists and climate scientists who warned that cutting off access would significantly impair the accuracy of hurricane predictions, thus endangering lives and properties during the active hurricane season. NOAA cited “significant cybersecurity risk” as the reason for the initial data unavailability but agreed to the extension upon request from a NASA scientist. However, experts emphasized that the brief extension won't cover the peak months of hurricane activity in late summer and fall, raising ongoing concerns about climate research across various disciplines, especially the study of polar sea ice.

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The Department of Defense on Monday reversed course, temporarily, on canceling the availability of satellite data that is key to monitoring hurricane movements and structures. The data will now be available to hurricane forecasters through July 31, rather than the previous June 30 deadline.

The National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration announced last week that data from three satellites jointly run by NOAA and the Defense Department would become unavailable for researchers and forecasters no later than June 30. “Recent service changes” was the only explanation provided.

An announcement from NOAA on Monday cites a “significant cybersecurity risk” as the reason for taking the data offline. The decision to continue supplying the data came in response to a request from a NASA scientist, according to the update.

Meteorologists and other climate scientists responded to the original announcement with confusion and dismay. Losing access to the data would immediately degrade the quality of hurricane forecasts, increasing risk to life and property in the United States and elsewhere, experts said.

The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to questions about the reason for the data cancellation, the reason for the delay or the reason for the timeline. NOAA declined to comment.

“The extension of this crucial data through July by direct NASA order speaks to how blindsided government forecasters were by the DoD’s sudden decision to terminate the data,” said Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert who has worked at the National Hurricane Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It unfortunately doesn’t get us to the peak months of hurricane season in August, September and October when our strongest hurricanes typically form and rapid intensification is most common,” he said.

Hurricanes forecasts would not be the only important climate research affected. The canceled data services are critical for researchers studying changes in sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic since the 1970s, said Sharon Stammerjohn, a senior research associate at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research.

Sea ice in the Earth’s polar regions melts in the summer and refreezes in the winter, helping the planet cool down by reflecting solar energy into space. At the planet warms, satellite imagery allows scientists to track the seasonal decline of sea ice.

“Without that record, especially for the Antarctic, because it’s so remote, we wouldn’t be able to observe these changes that are so critical to our global climate,” Dr. Stammerjohn said. “Most people are much more aware of hurricanes than they are of polar sea ice.”

While other satellite products, including ones maintained by the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, may be able to fill the gap, Dr. Stammerjohn said, there are challenges in accounting for variations in the data, such as differently-calibrated sensors and resolutions.

Sachi Kitaijma Mulkey covers climate and the environment for The Times.