Forecasting wild weather just got more difficult, thanks to Donald Trump

When Cyclone Alfred barrelled towards the Queensland coast in early March, authorities based their warnings partly on data from a powerful US satellite capable of peering through clouds.

Australia and other nations have long relied on these polar-orbiting microwave devices run by the US Defence Meteorological Satellite Program. They give us vital insights about wind-speeds over oceans and other data that improve weather forecasts – and they have few substitutes.

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