(CNN) — A top American research lab is about to lose a key supercomputing hub, as revealed in a letter from the National Science Foundation.
This change is part of the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, a leading institution in climate and weather studies. The administration believes NCAR spreads alarmist views on climate change.
The supercomputing facility supports roughly 1,500 researchers from over 500 universities. It’s vital for predicting extreme weather events, turbulence in aviation, and other crucial forecasts. Losing this center might hinder access to advanced computing resources, much like how AI needs substantial computing power for accurate simulations.
For instance, NOAA is updating its weather models with a system created by NCAR. This reliance highlights how essential high-performance computing is for accurate forecasts that our weather apps rely on every day.
In January, the White House expressed its intention to “break up” NSF NCAR, raising concerns among Colorado officials. Some view this as a political tactic aimed at pressuring Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, to grant clemency to Tina Peters, a figure tied to election misinformation.
Everette Joseph, NCAR’s director, addressed the team, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the transition. “We don’t yet know who will manage the center or the timeline for changes,” he shared. He promised to gather more information and update the team soon.
Moreover, NSF has called for proposals on how to reorganize NCAR and the nation’s weather research resources. While there is some support for NCAR’s weather programs, climate research seems to be left out, which is worrying for scientists. Recent studies indicate that effective climate monitoring is crucial; yet U.S. weather models often lag behind those of other countries.
Leading voices in atmospheric science are urging for the preservation of NCAR’s current structure. In a letter to NSF, former NCAR director James Hurrell and his colleagues warned that dismantling the center could compromise NOAA’s ability to improve its weather modeling, falling further behind international standards. This situation underscores the importance of unified research facilities in tackling pressing global challenges.
As the debate continues, the future of climate research and accurate weather forecasting hangs in the balance.
