Breakthrough for Sea-Level Rise

W. Henry Lambright

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-40363-7_4

Breakthrough for Sea-Level Rise

W. Henry Lambright

Department of Public Administration

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/Poem › Chapter

Abstract

Chapter 4 covers the 1992–1994 period. TOPEX/Poseidon was not expected to be able to measure sea-level rise. A prime goal was to study large currents and how they might impact climate. But the satellite resolution was so precise, many scientists realized that they could detect with clarity climate change’s impact on the oceans. In 1994, a NASA-based scientist found a way to translate complex data into sea-level measurements. Doing so was a breakthrough and it attracted not only scientific but media attention. Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin forced out Tilford and proclaimed EOS the kind of “big science” that conflicted with his faster, better, cheaper (FBC) mantra. TOPEX/Poseidon was a success from the Goldin FBC perspective.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Pages	39-50
Number of pages	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40363-7_4
State	Published - 2023

Publication series

Name	Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology
Volume	Part F1542
ISSN (Print)	2730-972X
ISSN (Electronic)	2730-9738

Keywords

Big science
Daniel (Dan) Goldin
Faster better cheaper (FBC)
Shelby Tilford

ASJC Scopus subject areas

History
History and Philosophy of Science

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-40363-7_4

Cite this

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abstract = "Chapter 4 covers the 1992–1994 period. TOPEX/Poseidon was not expected to be able to measure sea-level rise. A prime goal was to study large currents and how they might impact climate. But the satellite resolution was so precise, many scientists realized that they could detect with clarity climate change{\textquoteright}s impact on the oceans. In 1994, a NASA-based scientist found a way to translate complex data into sea-level measurements. Doing so was a breakthrough and it attracted not only scientific but media attention. Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin forced out Tilford and proclaimed EOS the kind of “big science” that conflicted with his faster, better, cheaper (FBC) mantra. TOPEX/Poseidon was a success from the Goldin FBC perspective.",

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KW - Faster better cheaper (FBC)

KW - Shelby Tilford

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Breakthrough for Sea-Level Rise

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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