Urgent Warning Issued as U.S. Forecasting Systems Face Major Cuts

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Scientists are raising alarms over significant cuts to vital climate measurement programs in the United States, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) historical data on sea ice and snow cover. The cuts, initiated by the Trump administration on May 5, have resulted in the scaling back of services provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center, according to the Alaska Beacon. This reduction may jeopardize essential tools for climate analysis used globally, which track changes in Arctic conditions dating back to 1850.

Rick Thoman from the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy expressed his dismay, stating, "I was completely blindsided" by the decision, which will affect infrastructure planning in Alaska and potentially erase invaluable historical data collections. The reduced services do little to address the ongoing climate crisis, as Arctic sea ice continues to diminish significantly, contributing to a self-reinforcing loop of global warming.

The issue has drawn attention from the Alaska Senate, which has urged NOAA to maintain its Marine Environmental Buoy Database, crucial for marine safety data.

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