Funding studies of the unpredictable

摘要

The unpredictability of extreme weather events calls for a mechanism for mobilizing research funds at short notice, so that an event can be investigated while it is still going on. At the local and national levels, authorities could create a consortium of respected scientists as standby funding recipients. International contributions might be coordinated by a body such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which could set up a worldwide agreement on data and information sharing.