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President Trump has been accused of deliberately obstructing research on global warming after it emerged that a critically important technique for investigating polar sea-ice extent and concentration is being blocked.
A key polar satellite used to measure the arctic ice cap failed a few days ago, leaving the US with only three others, and those have lived well beyond their shelf lives. Scientists say there is no chance a new one can be launched until 2023 or later. None of the current satellites will still be in operation then. This will put an end to nearly 40 years of uninterrupted data on polar ice.
It seems like there would be a backup satellite, right? In fact, there was a backup satellite ready to go. Then the Trump Administration destroyed it earlier this year, by order of the US Congress. They said the storage costs were too high.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 19 2017, @07:34PM (7 children)
Here's what will happen if another country starts collecting data:
1. Other country designs and launches satellites.
2. Satellites start returning data.
3. Data doesn't precisely line up with current known data as the sensors are both more precise and need to be calibrated. This is expected. The anti-science conservatards will all start screaming that the new satellites are nothing but tools to further the "liberal agenda" and all the new data should be disregarded.
4. Calibration is applied to the data such that it more properly aligns with current data. This is all done according to pre-planned procedures that were written during the design stages of the satellites. The anti-science conservatards start screaming that the scientists are "cooking the books" to make things look worse in order to feed the "liberal agenda."
5. Newer sensors, being more precise, "see" things the old sensors "missed" and show that things actually ARE worse than we thought. The anti-science conservatards scream that we can't even launch a calibrated satellite so everyone should disregard everything the scientists say as the scientists are all part of the "liberal agenda."
The problem isn't us footing the bill. The problem isn't another country footing the bill. The problem is anti-science conservatards. The problem is the talking heads on Faux News and all the idiots watching them. The problem is what those people will do once another country tries to pick up where we left off.
Oh, you're one of those people... *sigh* No, idiots like you who think that data can be used to attack an economy are dumb. Turn off the Faux News. It's rotting your brain.
Why? So dipshits like you can scream about bias? Again, turn off Faux News before it rots your entire brain. At this point you need everything you've got left.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 19 2017, @08:21PM
ICBW
YHBT
HTH
HAND
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Sunday November 19 2017, @09:23PM
Need a +1 Depressing mod.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 19 2017, @10:04PM
Fox has been caught cooperating with CNN to stage protesters all around Londonistan. Probably CNN instigated it, but Fox cooperated and thus shares guilt. Fox is almost liberal anyway; they have always hated our president. Fox tried to ruin Trump in the primary, and now very grudgingly accepts him as president.
Breitbart and Infowars are way better than Fox. For the fastest breaking news amid a sea of nonsense, r/The_Donald is best.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday November 20 2017, @04:47AM (2 children)
Ooops. Too late.
You should have offered this advice some, like, 10-15 years ago (and he should have taken it).
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 20 2017, @08:31AM (1 child)
I have never owned a TV. When I moved away from my parents, I lost Fox. I have seen the web site, so I'm not completely pure, but I'm pretty close. Fox is liberal nonsense, so I don't miss it.
Breitbart is way better than Fox. Infowars and RedState are OK too. For the fastest breaking news amid a sea of nonsense, r/The_Donald is best.
Studies show that liberals are more often depressed than conservatives. Maybe your news sources are making you miserable. Try my choices for 90 days to see if your mood improves.
(Score: 2) by quacking duck on Monday November 20 2017, @02:30PM
I'd rather be depressed from real(er) news than deluded with right-wing rage fueled by fake news. At least depression is rooted in reality, and the resulting apathy doesn't harm innocent people.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 20 2017, @03:02PM
Neither dems nor republicans are anti science. They both are selective.