Need Heating Up for More Ocean Research
March 23, 2023
Sea surface temperatures recently hit a record high, as measured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, alarming many meteorologists and climate scientists. The findings may underscore Amitai Etzioni’s argument in Issues for placing more federal emphasis on ocean studies led by NOAA, with additional funding redirected from deep space exploration by NASA. He reasons that the study of faraway space typically yields few major discoveries and more overhyped claims. “By contrast,” Etzioni writes, “the oceans are nearby, and their study is a potential source of discoveries that could prove helpful for addressing a wide range of national concerns.”