NOAA cancels monthly climate and weather update calls

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it is discontinuing its regular update calls due to staffing problems, but its researchers may also fear political retaliation for discussing climate change

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says it will “discontinue” its monthly calls updating reporters on seasonal weather forecasts and the state of the global climate.

A spokesperson for NOAA says staffing issues – due to recent cuts, resignations and retirements under the administration of President Donald Trump – mean the agency “will no longer be able to support” the calls. However, they say the monthly reports compiled by the National Centers for Environmental Information, which is run by NOAA, will continue to be published.

Another reason the agency is ending the calls may be because of employees’ fear of running afoul of the new administration by speaking about climate change, says Tom Di Liberto, a former climate scientist and public affairs specialist at NOAA who was fired during widespread cuts in February. “They don’t want to be stuck between telling the truth and getting on the wrong side of political appointees,” he says.

During the monthly calls, NOAA scientists provide updates on a range of forecasts and measurements produced by the agency. In addition to information about global temperatures on land and in the oceans, the briefings include seasonal weather forecasts for the US and information on droughts. These calls also give reporters a chance to ask questions in order to better understand the new information.

Cover photo:  Staffing cuts are affecting work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)