NASA's INCUS mission to study tropical storms from space aims to improve global weather modeling
Original framing: “NASA's INCUS mission on road to launch, study storms from space” — Phys.org
The INCUS mission represents a significant advancement in atmospheric science, using satellite technology to study convective updrafts in unprecedented detail. However, the mission’s success will depend on how well it integrates diverse data sources, including ground-based and indigenous observations.
The INCUS mission represents a significant step forward in climate science, but its full potential will only be realized if it moves beyond a technocratic, Western-centric approach.
By integrating indigenous knowledge, engaging local communities, and ensuring open access to data, NASA can help build a more inclusive and effective global climate research system. This mission must not only study storms from space but also address the systemic inequities that shape who is studied, who is consulted, and who benefits from climate science. Drawing on historical patterns of exclusion and the wisdom of cross-cultural perspectives, INCUS has the opportunity to model a new paradigm of collaborative, equitable climate research.