“The instrument changes were partly motivated by a push to narrow the satellites’ applicability to weather forecasting, rather than conducting climate research as well. Among the instruments that were nixed: a tool to monitor air quality, including hourly monitoring of wildfire smoke; as well as one meant to study water quality and ocean currents, along with harmful algae blooms.”

I’d agree here. We’ve seen a lot of deviant weather/ climate behavior over the past few years. But my honest assessment is: this El Niño is by far the most extreme outlier. If we are being honest, a year ago, could any climate/ weather expert legitimately say that they could conceive of an El Niño so far outside the distribution? I’m genuinely curious? Anyone? Bueller??Because I’ve become accustomed to now “expect the unexpected”. But for this I apparently need to adjust my expectations wayyyyy upward.