The data rescued by the International Environmental Data Rescue Organization (IEDRO) enables the meteorological and scientific communities to provide more accurate severe weather forecasting and to understand climate change. This knowledge offers the world community a greater ability to more accurately predict long-range weather patterns, and thus it enables meteorological professionals to:
- Better understand the nature and extent of global warming and climate change, as well as the rate at which our climate is changing.
- Prevent the spread of airborne and insect-borne disease.
- Provide more accurate lifesaving flood forecasts.
- Prevent famine and starvation.
- Construct and reinforce buildings, bridges, and public services to withstand predicted severe weather.
- Gain a clearer understanding of human history.
Global Warming
Before mankind can take measures that will ensure safe living conditions for ourselves and futur generations, we first must understand climactic change, local and global. Continuous gathering of data will support scientific inquiry. Using historic enviromental data, scientists can build computer models. As the information downloaded into model increases, the accuracy of local and global predictions will also increase. Data collection and rescue are essential requisites to our understanding of a changing environment.
Halt Disease Spread
Weather conditions can encourage the growth of bacteria and organisms that spread severe air-borne diseases. Additionally, insects, including mosquitoes, can spread diseases, such as Malaria and the West Nile virus. By gathering weather data, we can study the history of disease outbreaks. Only the can scientists and health officials anticipate future outbreaks and institute preventative measures.
Accurate Flood Forecasts
With the exception of starvation, more people die from flooding than any other single cause. Extensive data is required to ensure weather forecasts have high levels of accuracy. When dta spanning over decades is provided, scientists can identify calamity prone areas and develop appropriate warning systems, helping residents to adapt and foresee changing flood patterns. Those living in the U.S. benefit from accurate data and analysis. Developing countries would similarly benefit if forecasts were highly accurate and, more importantly, if advanced warnings of weather and flooding were possible.
Malnutrition
Over 2 million people could be saved annually from starvation if one farmer out of a thousand had an accurate sense of drought frequency. Several decades of information are necessary before forecasts can be accurate. Data collection is part of a low-cost approach that will address outbreaks of famine.
Safe Structures
If we can anticipate what the weather is likely to be, bridges, buildings, houses, and other structures can be designed to withstand extreme weather. Historic data allows engineers and architects to anticipate extreme conditions and environmental stressors, thereby making structures that protect life and property for generations to come.
Understanding of History
Weather affects every aspect of daily living. A storm in 1588 saved England from attack by destroying the entire Spanish Armada. The French Revolution probably would not have happen in 1788 hand it not been for harsh weather that froze water reserves and caused a drought in the same year. The Russian winter during, both the Napoleonic and Nazi invasions, defeated invading armies. Historical weather information can deepen our understanding of history and provide insights as to what our future may hold.
