DMSP Satellite Imagery Ending

[Boris Konon]

It was announced Wed that imagery from the three DMSP polar-orbiting satellites will no longer be distributed effective 6/30/25. And atypically short notice as this imagery is very important for TC fixes and intensity estimates worldwide.

The key is microwave imagery (SSMIS), which allows us to see through clouds to assess TCs better. Thick cirrus often obscures TC structure and the center. Microwave imagery shows us where the true deep convection is, sprial banding, and often will show an eye present when conventional imagery does not.

There are other microwave satellites up there, but the loss of these three DMSPs cuts it back by about 40%.

DMSP is run by the DoD. They cite cybersecurity risks, a platform that can no longer be updated, and the DMSP program is scheduled to be ended no later than Sep 2026. I agree wholeheartedly w/ the cybersecurity risks, as threats are rife and hacker methods are evolving at an alarming rate. However, we couldn't wait until at least the end of this hurricane season?

This is not crippling to TC analysis or forecasting, but significant. It will have an immediate impact. Accurate TC center fixes and intensity are key for model forecasts.

More in-depth can be found here:

Critical Hurricane Forecast Tool Abruptly Terminated

U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday it would no longer process and deliver data essential to most hurricane forecasts

michaelrlowry.substack.com

 

[Dave C]

Since this program was canceled by congress 10 years ago, it seems very poor planning by any users to continue relying on defense satellites that are perhaps up to 10 years past their design life and only two of 19 still work. Also poor planning perhaps that the direct replacements have been slow in coming with WFS-M, and civilian sats have not directly replaced them at all. It has been widely known that civilian and defense sat architecture was splitting after JPSS, which replaced DMSP ground stations and took on some of the tasks in orbit. There are 3 microwave imagers on launched JPSS sats (so far). The last DMSP unit that still functions from this series was launched in 2009 with most likely max design life of 5 years.

I get your point about the end date being in front of a hurricane season and unexpected to people who thought the data would be around. It would be nice if better long term planning was applied by all involved.