Following public backlash, the military is reversing its decision to halt the distribution of critical weather forecast data. The Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center confirmed it will continue to release information from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) beyond the previously announced cutoff date of Thursday. The government had earlier indicated that the data would no longer be available after that date.
For more than 50 years, DMSP has played a vital role in collecting weather data to support military operations around the world. Although it’s a military program, DMSP data is also heavily relied upon by the National Weather Service, NOAA, and international meteorological agencies to improve global forecasting, including hurricane tracking and severe weather prediction.
A key strength of the program is its use of polar-orbiting satellites, which allow near-complete coverage of the Earth several times each day, something many other satellite systems cannot achieve. Ending access to this data could significantly weaken the nation’s ability to monitor and forecast major weather events.
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