Paul Voosen
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Paul Voosen
@voosen.me
15K followers 1.8K following 300 posts
Dad of two. Earth, climate, and planetary science reporter @Science.org magazine. Mistrusts narratives; still writes them.

https://www.science.org/content/author/paul-voosen
https://sciencemastodon.com/@voooos
voosen@protonmail.com
Signal: @voosen.01
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voosen.me
You sent me down a rabbit hole that I had to peel out of ASAP. I had never looked at the RCP SO2 numbers. Interesting that while they all end around the same place, 4.5 and 8.5 are most similar, while 6.0 is higher than either in the midcentury.

From Fig 2:

acp.copernicus.org/articles/15/...
A line chart showing 5 lines from 1850 to 2100, charting historical and projected SO2 emissions.
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
voosen.me
A lot of people are being misled by that paper. They separate the continents into areas getting dryer or wetter -- but then only emphasize the dry while leaving out how the wetter areas are subtracting from SLR.

Look at this graphic from it.
Bar chart showing positive red and brown bars and a negative blue bar.
September 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
voosen.me
Back to it after a couple weeks off with the fam. Surreal time to be away from home in DC.

The world is still a beautiful place.
The sun setting behind silhouetted mountains and a fjord waters below.
August 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
voosen.me
While DOD will maintain access to SSMIS, it's doubtful they will put more staff back on to process the data important for ice at the poles. As I covered last month, those gaps are getting bigger and bigger.

To understand, check out this map of Antarctica from July 25. The yellow is missing data.
A map showing white sea ice extent around Antarctica, with nearly half of it yellow, indicating missing data.
July 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
voosen.me
A big if, and yes agreed "force of law" maybe overstates it re the report. But there's a lot of references in the bill to the report, which makes those "statutory incorporation by reference," I think, including in NOAA/NASA -- but now I'm over my skis.

Also this note in the report's NASA section.
The Federal funding priorities for NASA set forth in this bill and explanatory statement should not be interpreted as suggestions. They are equivalent to any statutory requirement levied upon NASA in this act. The Committee articulates the funding levels of programs, where appropriate, in the form of tables and, if necessary, supplements with explanatory statement language.
July 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
voosen.me
For earth science, it says: Do the Earth System Observatory. Keep Aqua, Terra, Aura going as long as possible.

It does express openness to creating an "Integrated Earth System Modeling Institute," as the budget proposed, with GISS an important part of it. See screenshot.
Earth System Modeling.—As part of NASA’s Earth system modeling efforts, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies [GISS] plays a critical role in advancing Federal research. Its contributions have enhanced our understanding of historical climate patterns, supported assessments of current water resources and food security, and improved predictions of extreme weather events. These models provide substantial value to taxpayers by delivering reliable, long- term data that inform decision-making across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and parametric insurance- strengthening resilience, promoting economic stability, and improving risk management. To sustain these capabilities, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2024 enacted level for earth system modeling, including GISS. Not later than 120 days after enactment of this act, NASA shall submit to the Committees a comprehensive plan for establishing the Integrated Earth System Modeling Institute, that will leverage expertise across all NASA centers, including GISS, to ensure continued modeling excellence, efficient use of resources, and delivery of actionable insights.
July 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
voosen.me
On NASA, it pretty much goes mission-by-mission, pushing back on all the proposed cancellations throughout all of SMD. The lead text is worth reading.
The Committee provides $7,300,000,000 for Science, which is $34,200,000 below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level. The Science account encompasses: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, Heliophysics, and Biological and Physical Science. This funding supports NASA programs that seek to answer fundamental questions concerning the ways in which Earth is changing; the comparison of Earth with other planets in the solar system and around other stars; the connections between the Sun and Earth; and the origin and evolution of planetary systems, the galaxy, and the universe, including the origin and distribution of life in the universe. These objectives are assisted by input from the scientific community through decadal surveys and are achieved through orbital and suborbital experiments, robotic flight missions, ground- based scientific research and data analysis, and the development of new technologies for future missions. NASA shall continue its progress toward implementing the recommendations of decadal surveys in Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, and Biological and Physical Sciences. The Committee rejects the mission terminations proposed in the fiscal year 2026 budget request for Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, and Heliophysics. The Committee is concerned by the plan to end 55 missions across Science, which was driven by budget pressure rather than scientific value. The operating missions that are providing valuable scientific data should undergo the Senior Review process. Meanwhile, missions that are at the end of development and have been confirmed should proceed to launch at the earliest possible date. The Committee is open to collaborating with NASA to implement Senior Review findings. ...
July 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
voosen.me
Being back at @nationalacademies.org for Space Science Week today reminded me that I passed by its Keck Center in downtown DC walking back home from the cherry blossoms with my kids this weekend.

Here are the two engravings on either side of its entrance.
Granite engraving reading: The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true. Albert Einstein, 1879 - 1955 A granite engraving reading: Liberty is the great parent of science and of virtue; a nation will be great in both always in proportion as it is free. Thomas Jefferson 1743 - 1826
March 31, 2025 at 8:45 PM
voosen.me
Visiting MLO was one of the highlights of my career. But let's be clear: This floats closing the support office in Hilo, which has an optics lab, machine shop, computer lab, loading bay.

Closing it would be totally nonsensical. I have my doubts it would be existential for MLO.
Hilo Office The Hilo office is the base of operations where the administration, development of instruments, data analyisis is done. Mauna Loa Observatory's base of operations is located in the Kilauea Financal Plaza located at 1437 Kilauea Ave. #102. The Hilo facility has a chemistry lab to analyze rain water and projects for the EPA. An optics lab is used for development and testing of new lidar systems. The electronics shop is used to build, and repair various types of equipment. The computer lab is used to monitor the observatory's network. Computer repairs are done here also. Loading bay and shop is used to store flasks, tanks and other large items received. It contains shop equipment for wood and metal work.
March 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
voosen.me
Hey LPSC, NASA just announced that it will merge its five FACA science advisory committees -- Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science -- into one science advisory committee.

See message sent on NSPIRES below.
Update to NASA Science Advisory Committees On February 19, 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, which sets forth the Administration’s policy of reducing the size of the Federal government in order to minimize waste and abuse, reduce inflation and promote American freedom and innovation. This Executive Order directed the termination of several Federal advisory committees across the government and ordered the identification of additional unnecessary Federal advisory committees for termination. NASA maintains an advisory committee for each of the five science divisions within the Science Mission Directorate: Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science. These committees, which are discretionary and not required by statute, have supported NASA’s achievement of its science goals. In response to Executive Order 14217, NASA’s acting administrator, Janet Petro, has directed NASA to merge these five committees into a single advisory committee with broad representation from across the NASA science community. This restructuring will provide the opportunity to retain one non-statutory science committee and ensure continued support of NASA science goals -- improving efficiency, while ensuring NASA maintains the important process of engaging with the science community. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is in the process of determining the best structure, scale, and scope for the merged committee. The directorate is committed to ensuring representation from all areas of expertise relevant to the Science Mission Directorate’s objectives. The Science Mission Directorate is committed to continuing to engage with the science community in a variety of ways -- both formal and informal. For more information contact: Michael New Deputy Associate Administrator for Research Science Mission Directorate SARA@nasa.gov
March 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
voosen.me
Finally pinning this. To reach me on Signal, while using your personal device, scan this QR code or click this link:

signal.me#eu/U1ryqcv4c...
Signal QR code. Link: https://signal.me/#eu/U1ryqcv4cmcII_ZlclH9E9xv1Af1Zv-RQNv85yUbg16N1eSrmrZEaJzFAse0upjc
March 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
voosen.me
Last week my latest feature came out, on African scientists charting the nascent future African rifting. It's here:

www.science.org/content/arti...

One aspect I didn't mention then: It comes with *amazing* graphics from the Science viz team. Seriously, check them out.
A graphic showing the East African Rift Zone on top, along with related volcanism, and three cubes describing the steps of continental rifting on the bottom. A map of Botswana showing all of the known faults in the region, including in the country's southeast.
November 11, 2024 at 6:17 PM