Why is America switching off its climate warning system?

As scientists monitor the development of a potentially powerful El Niño event in the Pacific and continue to investigate major Earth systems like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the quality and continuity of our climate observations have arguably never been more important. Recent proposals affecting US climate monitoring programmes have raised serious concerns among researchers about the future of long-running datasets from ocean observatories and iconic locations like Mauna Loa. So, what exactly is being lost. And what might the consequences be? 🎉 Hoodie Giveaway Winners 🎉 Thanks to everyone who took part – I’ve now randomly selected the 10 winners: @lorenzoventura7701 @neilgarcia9127 @mikaellinberger6645 @angelaanderson2662 @marsupialdungbucket @annieellison2046 @joshMorland @catherinegreen8440 @rivmey @michaelreid2329 If you’re on this list, congratulations! Please email me at [email protected] within 28 days, quoting your YouTube handle, so we can verify your identity. Thanks again to everyone who entered – really appreciate the support for the channel 👍 Help support this channel's independence at http://www.patreon.com/justhaveathink Or with a donation via Paypal by clicking here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GWR73EHXGJMAE&source=url You can also help keep my brain ticking over during the long hours of research and editing via the nice folks at BuyMeACoffee.com https://www.buymeacoffee.com/justhaveathink Reference Links Guardian Article https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/02/trump-administration-ocean-observatories-initiative PBS reporting https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-administration-dismantles-ambitious-ocean-monitoring-program#transcript New Scientist article https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529420-cuts-to-us-ocean-programme-will-hinder-monitoring-of-el-nino-and-amoc/ Climate Facts - The Mauna Loa observatory https://climatefactchecks.org/worlds-longest-climate-record-at-risk-as-us-plans-to-defund-mauna-loa-observatory/ New York Times update article (may be paywall protected - sorry!) https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/climate/trump-ocean-observatories-initiative.html Check out other YouTube Climate Communicators Simon Clark: youtube.com/user/SimonOxfPhys ClimateTown: youtube.com/channel/UCuVLG9pThvBABcYCm7pkNkA Dr Gilbz youtube.com/@DrGilbz zentouro: youtube.com/user/zentouro Climate Adam: youtube.com/user/ClimateAdam Kurtis Baute: youtube.com/user/ScopeofScience Sarah Karvner: youtube.com/channel/UCRwMkTu8sCwOOD6_7QYrZnw Beckisphere: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT39HQq5eDKonaUV8ujiBCQ Our Changing Climate : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXvxXpDJXp-mZu3pFMzYHQ