Some Ways NASA Earth Science Benefits You That You Don't See

Republicans are trying to cut back the NASA Earth Sciences program, because they don't like the fact that it shows the fact that global warming is happening, and its effects.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/DrShepherdWxGeeks/comment.html?entrynum=56

By: Dr. Marshall Shepherd , 6:56 PM GMT on May 15, 2015

As a fresh debate wages about whether NASA should be doing Earth Sciences, 4 things have become apparent to me:

a. Most people haven't read the Space Act that Congress actually passed creating NASA. If so, it clearly gives NASA a mandate to study space and our planet. I wrote about that in the Washington Post Capital Weather Gang recently (Link).

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c. Those that say other agencies should be doing Earth Science work do not understand the unique and complementary missions of different agencies. We need service, operational, and innovative research/development agencies as any good company has. Advances like weather satellites, iPhones, or improved heart surgery procedures do not just pop out of thin air. NASA advances technology and understanding that NOAA, USGS, FEMA, and others can use.

d. Anyone that says that kids are inspired only by planets and stars has not stood in a classroom watching the awe and wonder in a child's eyes as I speak about hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis, or tornadoes. Or they haven't seen the letters or emails that I get about something we showed on Weather Geeks on the Weather Channel.

At the end of the day, valuable NASA activity that peers outward and homeward are both essential. It is not an "either/or" proposition.

An ill-posed argument has gained traction on what NASA's Earth Sciences Program is or isn't. To clarify, I decided to briefly list 15 ways NASA's Earth Sciences Program is benefitting you now that you may not see.

1. STEM Education: NASA's Earth Observatory (Link) and Eyes on Earth (Link) websites/apps are providing some of the best science, technology, engineering, and math resources out there for students and educators (and there are other great sites too). Our broader education system suffers if NASA Earth Science suffers. Period.

2. Improved Weather Forecasts: •••

3. Hurricanes: •••

4. Drought and Water Supply: •••

5. Wildfires: •••

6. Pollution: •••

7. Volcanic Ash and Aviation: Along similar lines, volcanic ash can be a significant aviation hazard as we are zooming around the world in commercial or military aircraft. NASA satellites contribute to our ability to monitor these ash plumes.

8. Sea level Rise, Warmth, and Salinity: •••

9. Ozone Hole: •••

10. Polar regions: The polar regions are just tough to operate in. •••

11. Land changes: We know that agricultural productivity, forested land scales, and landslides affect human life. •••

12. Agriculture and productivity: •••

13. Jobs: As a former NASA scientist, I worked beside colleagues from top aerospace companies and academic consortiums. Missions like the one I was Deputy Project Scientist for (and others) had some civil servants working on them in pre- and post-launch roles, but a team of private contractors, students, and academic professionals. It is likely that a student or scientist in your state has some project related to a NASA Earth Sciences mission and thus, your state benefits with revenue, academic capital, and knowledge. Further, vibrant US aerospace companies play key roles in the program and would also be affected if NASA's Earth Science program is not healthy.

14. Earthquake prediction: Given the devastating Earthquakes in Nepal, someone asked if NASA is doing research or monitoring to improve prediction capability. Why yes, yes it is. Check out the NASA-funded QuakeSim at this link:

15. Societal Applications: If you want more information, here is a good website showing all of the societal applications that NASA's Earth Sciences Program is engaged in ranging from Aviation Turbulence forecasting to Water Resources to Public Health: Link

Now look, I didn't cover everything. My point was to show that people may not understand what the program is and what it does. I would simply asked people to do the research and understand Agency missions. It is more complex and nuanced than a sound bite or twitter discussion.