NOAA Retires Extreme Weather Database
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the retirement of its billion-dollar extreme weather disasters database, a crucial tool that tracked the cost of natural disasters since 1980. This decision stems from staffing cuts and a shift in focus towards other climate-related services, leaving researchers and the public with less access to vital data on the economic impacts of extreme events, such as hurricanes and wildfires.
Key Points
- NOAA is retiring its billion-dollar weather and climate disasters database, which will no longer receive updates beyond 2024.
- The database has documented 403 disasters costing at least $1 billion in the US since 1980, amounting to over $2.945 trillion.
- This move is attributed to staffing reductions and a refocusing of NOAA’s services, particularly those related to climate.
- The retirement hampers public tracking of extreme weather costs, making it challenging for researchers and media to access standardised data.
- Experts express concerns that replicating damage trend analyses will be increasingly difficult without this resource.
Why should I read this?
If you’re interested in climate change and its economic impact, this article is a must-read. The retirement of a key database like this one could significantly affect how we understand and respond to extreme weather events. It’s a reminder of how crucial data access is in the fight against climate issues — and we’ve done the reading for you!