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Concern over proposed cuts to NOAA

Posted at 8:10 PM, Mar 16, 2017
and last updated 2019-03-26 09:55:36-04

A group of Florida scientists are fighting back against President Trump's proposed cuts to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

According to the Washington Post there could be cuts to satellite programs apart from coastal research. 

Satellites help forecast storms and even wildfires. 

FAU Astronomy Professor Eric Vandernoot says NOAA's satellite programs are critical and any cuts would be detrimental.

"Satellites are aging so they occasionally need to be replaced," says Vandernoot. 

He says satellites can predict drought index, which is a key tool in forecasting fires.

"We can actually do a lot more from outer space than we can do just by manually walking the ground and sampling each little square foot," says Vandernoot. 

Margi Helschien says the President's focus on defense spending is more important.

"These cuts are going to be helpful and useful to getting to getting done an agenda in what we need to get done."