Help Save NCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research

[Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell Ph.D.]

Dear HamSCI,

I just returned from the American Geophysical Union meeting in New Orleans, which is still going on until tomorrow. The AGU Meeting is an annual, international geoscience conference that brings over 25,000 scientists together each year.

We had an excellent HamSCI-focused session on Monday morning, where we reported on progress regarding the Personal Space Weather Station and other projects. In all we had at least 10 HamSCI presentations at this year’s meeting, which you can read about in our newest HamSCI Newsletter.

A key element of making HamSCI work is creating a two-way partnership between professional researchers and the amateur radio community. Both groups are essential to what we do. The professional researchers make available to us high quality data, models, and analysis that we are using every day in our HamSCI research.

Unfortunately, much of what we do is under threat. I just learned about the latest yesterday, in which the current US federal administration is planning to defund and dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, or NCAR. NCAR, includes the High Altitude Observatory (HAO), which is integral to the solar and geospace research community. Many of the researchers on this HamSCI group, including myself, collaborate with NCAR researchers to make our science happen. As a specific example, to help us understand our recent Solar Eclipse QSO Party observations, we are finding that the SAMI3 ionospheric model coupled with the NCAR’s WACCM-X atmospheric model provides the best match to our data. WACCM-X is just one example of the extremely important work NCAR does.

To help save NCAR, the American Geophysical Union has created a website to make it easy to contact your congressional representatives:

• https://agu.quorum.us/campaign/151565/

I ask that you consider signing this to let congress know that we support NCAR and the work that is being done in this field. This is only the latest I have seen in several attacks on research and education, especially higher education. I personally have students and colleagues that are being affected by this. Please do what you can to help keep the excellent research culture and resources we have in the United States alive!

73 de Nathaniel W2NAF

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Nathaniel A. Frissell, Ph.D., W2NAF

Associate Professor

Department of Physics and Engineering

University of Scranton

HamSCI Lead

 

[HL Serra]

Hi Nathaniel-

This is really bad news. When I was getting a masters at Scripps Oceanography/UCSD 10 years ago NCAR and its employees were the most helpful people online in sorting through the reams of satellite photos and other serious data. I can't believe Trump will close them, but they provide the data on which serious climate information is based, which this administration doesn't want available. (Of course, the administration also defunded the National Science Foundation, which gave me and hundreds of others kids summer science scholarships in the early 1960s when JFK was trying to get Americans interested in science careers, which also led to the moon landings.

Anyway, I'm writing them about this travesty.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays,

Larry N6NC

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[Roy Gertig]

Hi Dr Frissel,

I signed the letter and hope it helps but Rethuglicans really seem to want to cut everything that is good. Here in the state of Nebraska, our s***legislature has been defunding our once prestigious UNL where now it is removing 4 programs to include Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. We are in dystopian times. 73 de n0rg /Roy 

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[ha...@intekom.co.za]

Dear Nathaniel.

 

I hear your cry of support for NCAR. We know what it is like to suffer from some of the illogical decisions made by the current US administration and hope that your call to support NCAR will result in a positive outcome. We are right behind you and HamCSI being only in providing moral support.

 

Keep up the great work you and the many people in HamSCI are doing

 

Best wishes for the festive season and continued success in 2026

 

73

Hans ZS6AKV

AMSAT SA

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[Gerry Creager]

Nathaniel

As you know, I've been involved with NCAR, especially the model development crew, but also a number of other aspects of that diverse and critically important organization. I'm less than pleased with this starkly political ploy. The purported reason, to limit "climate alarmism", is completely nonsensical, and is but another administration assault on science, although its immediate intent may well be more political, as a "lesson" to the State of Colorado that they should do what they're told. 

I've signed the letter. And called my Congress-critters. And I'm going to continue to call one of them, who has demonstrated a predisposition to be unreasonable in support of specious claims by the current administration. 

Thank you for raising this issue. It's important.

73

Gerry N5JXS

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Gerry Creager N5JXS

It's kind of fun to do the impossible. -- Walt Disney

<link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v5/petition/open-letter-in-support-of-science?format=js&source=widget&referrer=[object Object]'></script><div id='can-petition-area-open-letter-in-support-of-science' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div>

[Ward Silver]

I think it would be particularly important to agriculture interests that NCAR continue to generate the atmospheric models (among other things) that are used to create the forecasts on which they depend more than ever.  I plan on contacting my state's Farm Bureau for starters, followed by other such groups to make sure they are aware of the implications.

My congress critters are part of the problem, frankly, so while I'll let them know this is a dumb move, I'm not sure it would cause them to change their behavior in any way.

73, Ward N0AX

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[Franco Venturi]

I don't know if this HamSCI mailing list is considered 'social media', but if it is, I would refrain from discussing topics or use language that can be seen in a negative light by the current administration for a few reasons:

• if you are abroad and plan to visit the US, it might affect your ability to obtain a visa or to enter the country once you land here
• if you are here in the US, it might affect your ability to travel abroad
• if you live in the US but were born abroad, it might put your status here under scrutiny
• if you work for an institution of higher education or receive federal grants, you (or your institution) might receive a less favorable treatment by the administration
• if you think you have nothing to hide, then all of the above

I am serious.

Franco

PS: don't even start with that First Amendment thing

[Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell Ph.D.]

Thank you, Franco, and the group.

I do want to remind everyone that this forum is publicly available and archived. Anyone can view the conversation here:

https://groups.google.com/g/hamsci

Please continue to keep all comments civil and respectful, as has been the case so far. Also keep in mind this is a permanent record that is open to everyone. Also keep in mind that we should have a constitutionally protected right to have these discussions and contact our representatives without fear of repercussions.

73 de Nathaniel W2NAF

From: 'Franco Venturi' via HamSCI <ham...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
To: HamSCI <ham...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [HamSCI] Help Save NCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research

WARNING: This message originated from a source outside of the university.

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[Ward Silver]

Thanks, Franco, for stepping up with your recommendations.  I did consider the public nature of the email list before posting.  Not being dependent on grants or programs (I am retired from self-employment in engineering) I have a bit less to worry about than some.  Others are no doubt more cautious.  I am truly sad that we all have these concerns and look forward to leaving them behind.

73, Ward N0AX

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[David Eckhardt]

Completed on my part.  I added a short paragraph indicating the closure was just due to the White House retribution to Red States. 

Thank you for making this so easy to state to the correct officials.

Dave - WØLEV 

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Dave - WØLEV

[R Diehl]

I sent the letters to my senators and congressmen. I hope it helps. Hopefully wise minds will prevail.

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Ron Diehl, NQ8W

ARRL QEX Editor

Sr. Certified Electronics Technician, ETA-I

GROL