We might mock weather forecasts, but in reality they have never been better. Be it an approaching storm, the chances of a sunny day, or the likelihood of flooding, most of us have access to reliable forecasts. And much of this improvement is thanks to satellite data. But weather forecasts could be set to go downhill, if US weather satellites give in to commercial pressure to share their bandwidth.
Last year during Hurricane Irma, river gauge readings collected by satellites enabled the Florida Department of Transportation to decide which highways were suitable evacuation routes. These readings came from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s new fleet of geostationary satellites, the first of which was launched in 2016. These satellites spot lightning, monitor storms (providing measurements every 30 seconds if needed) and image the entire northern hemisphere every 15 minutes.
Right now commercial users are petitioning to share a portion of the bandwidth reserved for federal use. The financial benefit of sharing is tempting, but meteorologist Jordan Gerth explains in the journal Earth and Space Science News why he thinks shared bandwidth will jam the airways and ultimately decrease the accuracy and precision of weather forecasts and warnings, potentially putting lives at risk.
