India, March 2 -- The recent layoffs at the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have raised concerns among scientists and policymakers that any reduction in observation data could affect monsoon forecast and cyclone tracking in India.

According to the experts, the layoffs are expected to have far-reaching consequences, particularly for India's ability to predict monsoons and track cyclones.

"We are worried. If NOAA reduces observations, there will be implications for weather forecasts. When ocean observations are reduced, there is less data to assimilate. Hence predictability will reduce," M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, told PTI.

Notably, hundreds of weather forecasters and othe...