Eric J Anderson

@lakeographer.bsky.social

Associate Director for Science, CIRES | lakes, rivers, coasts

There's still time to pour one out for the #GreatLakes today on World Water Day (March 22)💧 Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario collectively hold ~20% of the planet's freshwater - 6 quadrillion gallons! That's enough to submerge the entire continental US in nearly 10 feet of water!

A graphic showing the percent of surface freshwater contained in the North American Great Lakes. Data comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and illustration is done by Sean Quinn.

I worry that the focus on NOAA's weather predicting value is ignoring the millions of other ways NOAA researchers enrich communities and local economies. There are no oysters without NOAA. There are no blue crabs without NOAA. NOAA trains teachers. NOAA is the lifeblood of coastal communities.

The firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are “going to affect safety of flight, safety of shipping, safety of everyday Americans,” Admiral Tim Gallaudet, who was acting NOAA chief during the first Trump term, told the AP. “Lives are at risk for sure.”

Firing workers from US weather and oceans agency risks lives and the economy, former agency heads warn

NOAA's 301 billion weather forecasts every year reach 96% of American households.

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