Turbulence Tops Injury Lists, but NCAR Keeps Flyers Safe (Image Credits: Cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net)
Boulder, Colorado — Plans by the National Science Foundation to restructure the National Center for Atmospheric Research have ignited fears over disruptions to essential weather, climate, and space weather research.
Turbulence Tops Injury Lists, but NCAR Keeps Flyers Safe
Clear air turbulence emerged as the leading cause of injuries on commercial flights in the United States, with NCAR’s pioneering work offering critical defenses.[1][2]
Researchers at the center developed detection and prediction techniques that airlines now use to reroute around hazardous currents, saving the aviation industry $100 million each year in damages, inspections, and delays. In the 1970s and 1980s, NCAR scientists identified microbursts—dangerous thunderstorm downdrafts responsible for deadly crashes—leading to FAA radar warning systems that virtually eliminated such fatalities. Fragmenting NCAR’s integrated teams, data systems, and partnerships with agencies like the FAA would slow these life-saving advancements. Air travelers numbering in the millions daily stand to lose reliable protections as a result.
Agricultural Heartland Faces Uncertain Harvests
NCAR’s CropSmart tool delivered actionable insights to farmers by combining weather forecasts, soil data, and crop conditions, helping conserve vital resources.[1]…