Spring Break
Bush administration requesting millions more for hurricane research
Feb. 13, 2008
Martin Merzer - McClatchy NewspapersIssue date: 2/7/08 Section: MCT News
MIAMI _ Times are tough and budget pressures are intense, but the Bush administration is requesting millions of additional dollars for hurricane research _ part of a new effort to improve forecasts and warnings, a federal official said Tuesday.
Hurricane-hunter aircraft could fly more missions, researchers could work on more sophisticated forecast models and new buoys and satellite-based sensors would monitor conditions in the distant sea _ if the proposed budget is approved.
"I have spent 21 years in the weather service, and warnings and forecasts are our bread and butter," said Mary Glackin, the second highest ranking official in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Speaking as South Florida forecasters warned of the possibility of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, Glackin noted last week's deadly twisters in the Southeast.
"I take seriously the 50 people who were lost last week," she said. "Our warnings were very good, but I am not a happy person. We're going to go through it to find out what the next steps are that we have to take."
The intricacies of federal budgeting and the ability of federal agencies to move funds from one project to another complicate efforts to assess the total value of hurricane-related initiatives in NOAA's $4.1 billion budget request.
But, during a meeting with 40 NOAA researchers, local environmentalists and South Florida officials, followed by an impromptu news conference, Glackin pointed to these proposed projects:
_An additional $4 million to fund missions by hurricane-hunter and research aircraft, along with similar flights that assess winter storms and coastal changes.
_More than $5 million in additional funds to fast-track improvements in hurricane-forecast models.
_Other allotments to support the deployment of sensor-studded ocean buoys, add sophisticated Doppler radar to a hurricane-research jet, supplement operations at the National Hurricane Center in West Miami-Dade and otherwise fortify forecasting.
Hurricane-hunter aircraft could fly more missions, researchers could work on more sophisticated forecast models and new buoys and satellite-based sensors would monitor conditions in the distant sea _ if the proposed budget is approved.
"I have spent 21 years in the weather service, and warnings and forecasts are our bread and butter," said Mary Glackin, the second highest ranking official in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Speaking as South Florida forecasters warned of the possibility of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, Glackin noted last week's deadly twisters in the Southeast.
"I take seriously the 50 people who were lost last week," she said. "Our warnings were very good, but I am not a happy person. We're going to go through it to find out what the next steps are that we have to take."
The intricacies of federal budgeting and the ability of federal agencies to move funds from one project to another complicate efforts to assess the total value of hurricane-related initiatives in NOAA's $4.1 billion budget request.
But, during a meeting with 40 NOAA researchers, local environmentalists and South Florida officials, followed by an impromptu news conference, Glackin pointed to these proposed projects:
_An additional $4 million to fund missions by hurricane-hunter and research aircraft, along with similar flights that assess winter storms and coastal changes.
_More than $5 million in additional funds to fast-track improvements in hurricane-forecast models.
_Other allotments to support the deployment of sensor-studded ocean buoys, add sophisticated Doppler radar to a hurricane-research jet, supplement operations at the National Hurricane Center in West Miami-Dade and otherwise fortify forecasting.
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