←back to thread

Loss of key US satellite data could send hurricane forecasting back 'decades'

(www.theguardian.com)
312 points trauco | 2 comments | 29 Jun 25 17:39 UTC | HN request time: 0.448s | source
Show context
JumpCrisscross ◴[29 Jun 25 17:48 UTC] No.44414925[source]▶
“Researchers say the satellites themselves are operating normally and do not appear to have suffered any errors that would physically prevent the data from continuing to be collected and distributed, so the abrupt data halt might have been an intentional decision.”

Wait, the U.S. aren’t even going to try selling the satellites? We’re just scrapping them?

replies(6): >>44415099 #>>44415117 #>>44415214 #>>44416270 #>>44416880 #>>44417912 #
toomuchtodo ◴[29 Jun 25 18:14 UTC] No.44415117[source]▶
The intent is to disable the capability to ignore the data. If you allow access to someone else, you're not preventing the data capture and dissemination. If the data shows hurricanes are intensifying in strength due to climate change, and you no longer capture the data, you can say with a straight face "No it isn't and you can't prove it."

How large systems with exposure to these places (insurance, capital markets) respond is what you should look to next. What do you do when you don't have the data to accurately price risk?

Relevant comments:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43366311

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42450680

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41664750 (top comment of this thread aggressively relevant)

replies(6): >>44415236 #>>44415334 #>>44415686 #>>44418741 #>>44422758 #>>44432823 #
1. tekknik ◴[30 Jun 25 13:00 UTC] No.44422758[source]▶
To what end? What is the benefit of shutting down and ignoring data when for the last decade and a half even with data didn’t matter? I didn’t matter before why would it now?
replies(1): >>44423599 #
2. JeremyNT ◴[30 Jun 25 14:17 UTC] No.44423599[source]▶
This is a very reasonable question.

When you control the propaganda that lies between the data and the public, the underlying availability of the data is irrelevant. The propaganda already overwrites the data.

Honestly I would suspect that limiting the data is a strategic asset. The US can use its knowledge of weather events as leverage to cow other countries, or a weapon against countries it dislikes.

"Hello <other_country>, are you worried about the impact of weather on your population? Lower your tariff rate on us and we will be glad to help give you advanced warnings so you evacuate your people"

And likewise they would completely withhold such data from "enemy" countries.