Trump administration dismantles $368M deep-ocean monitoring system, alarming scientists amid climate crises
By
Laura Paddison, Ella Nilsen
FeedBagel synthesis
· 5 sourcesThe Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a $368 million deep-ocean monitoring system with over 900 instruments in the Atlantic and Pacific, according to multiple reports. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has initiated a "descoping" process to remove the instruments, with ships set to begin retrieval this month, Hacker News and other sources reported. Scientists are alarmed because the system tracks critical ocean currents like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is at risk of collapse, and its removal will create dangerous blind spots in climate monitoring during a period of record sea temperatures and an approaching super El Niño.
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Summary
The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a $368 million deep-ocean monitoring system established in 2016 that provides critical data on ocean conditions. Scientists are alarmed because this comes at a time of record-breaking sea temperatures, an approaching super El Niño, and fears that a key system of ocean currents could collapse. The decision removes vital monitoring capabilities just when they are most needed to understand and predict global climate disruptions.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe Trump administration has announced it will dismantle a $368 million deep-ocean monitoring system that provides critical data on the world's oceans.
The decision is sparking alarm among experts that US is taking eyes off the oceans at a dangerous time of record-breaking sea temperatures.
An imminent super El Niño and fears a critical system of ocean currents could collapse, ushering in global chaos.
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