US Funding of Climate Change Studies Falling…

Funds provided to US climate change research are moving in the opposite direction of global average temperature. According to the National Academy of Sciences, NASA’s earth science budget has declined 30 percent since 2000. The Academy believes this trend will continue as funding is shifted toward a mission to Mars. At the same time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is having serious cost problems.

As a result, the panel said, the United States will not have the scientific information it needs in the years ahead to analyze severe storms and changes in Earth’s climate unless programs are restored and funding made available.

There is no reason for earth science budgets to decrease this much at such a critical time. First, we have the huge issue of global warming to monitor and study. Without satellites and other equipment, we run the risk of being in the dark on the eve of a massive environmental disaster. Secondly, even global warming denialists will admit monitoring the weather to prevent storm damage is essential. Saving lives from natural disasters is much easier when we have plenty of warning time. Without advanced earth science observation, warning time shrinks.

Furthermore, why should a trip to Mars take funding away from monitoring the health of the Earth? What good to the human race will come from a trip to Mars besides entertainment value? Anyone who believes we should divert funds from earth sciences to a trip to Mars needs to do some serious cost-benefit analysis.

I sincerely hope that the people who run our country realize how critical it is to monitor the health of the planet we live on. Let’s hope they make the right decision.