US NOAA Cuts Threaten India’s Weather Forecasting

India’s weather monitoring faces significant challenges following the US’s budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Anadolu Agency reported. With 880 workers laid off, experts warn that the reduction in NOAA’s support could compromise India’s ability to track cyclones and predict monsoons, which are crucial for agriculture and economic stability.

Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology noted that NOAA provides 40-50% of ocean observations in the Indian Ocean, essential for accurate weather predictions. The Indian government and opposition parties are concerned about the implications of decreased data availability on forecasting accuracy.

M. Ravichandran, secretary of India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized that reduced ocean observations would hinder predictability. Climate activists also fear the cuts will impact their research efforts, as many rely on NOAA-derived data. Experts call for enhanced international cooperation to address climate challenges, warning that weakening NOAA could have global repercussions.