Scientists have suggestions on how to study the Earth from space — if Congress will let them

The Verge --------- For the next 10 years, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the US Geological Survey (USGS) should focus their space-based observations of Earth on answering key questions about our planet: How much will sea level rise in the future? Why do certain storms and clouds occur exactly when and where they do? And how is the diversity of life changing? These are among the science priorities recommended in a new report released today by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. But the funding priorities are set by Congress, so whether or not US agencies will follow through on the recommendations is an open question. The Trump administration has been vocal about wanting to cut NASA’s Earth Science program, as well as reduce funding for geostationary satellites used to track storms. But Bill Gail, chief technology officer at the Global Weather Corporation and one of the authors of the report, says that the National Academies report makes its recommendations based on realistic budgets, and Congress “has historically given a lot of respect to the recommendations.” To learn more click on the picture below to read the article.