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Space exploration, nor the serving of food to those in space, was a goal of McDonald's. There was no sufficient market opportunity. However, is there a market

Space exploration, nor the serving of food to those in space, was a goal of McDonald's. There was no sufficient market opportunity. However, is there a market opportunity for improved weather prediction? Who would benefit and make money?

heimatau 11y ago
McDonalds is hyperbolic language. There is no market in space, even for SpaceX. Private incentives don't exist in a pure market fashion. Only the ultra-weathly would be the market and they are a small bunch (in the thousands of people) as opposed to the billions in the bottom/middle classes. Also, I wouldn't say the government is the market because that's inflated and not real (always a budget cut away from disappearing). Hence why private interests won't work. P.S. I think SpaceX has a difficult task to appeal to the public. When they can do that, on a regular basis, I'll change my position. Or if some weather company is trying to be disruptive with technology and innovation, then I'll modify my view. (But most of us know innovation in the private sector doesn't always reach the public)
greglindahl 11y ago
ECMWF charges for their weather forecasts, which are more accurate than the free American ones. There are lots of small commercial weather forecasting firms who sell to people like securities traders. A single high-temperature day can reduce corn yield by 1%. Here's a startup that had a $1 billion exit to Monsanto: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/10/4823004/monsanto-bets-the-farm-on-big-data http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/10/4823004/monsanto-bets-the... Their business is a combination of weather and climate. In short, there's a big market for this stuff.
stonogo 11y ago
Please note NOAA is a Department of Commerce organization. Weather prediction is crucial to any logistics operation, and all businesses live or die on logistics.
rasz_pl 11y ago
the only goal private enterprises have is MAKING MONEY. Pretending to predict weather is not a goal in itself.

heimatau 11y ago

McDonalds is hyperbolic language. There is no market in space, even for SpaceX. Private incentives don't exist in a pure market fashion. Only the ultra-weathly would be the market and they are a small bunch (in the thousands of people) as opposed to the billions in the bottom/middle classes. Also, I wouldn't say the government is the market because that's inflated and not real (always a budget cut away from disappearing). Hence why private interests won't work. P.S. I think SpaceX has a difficult task to appeal to the public. When they can do that, on a regular basis, I'll change my position. Or if some weather company is trying to be disruptive with technology and innovation, then I'll modify my view. (But most of us know innovation in the private sector doesn't always reach the public)

greglindahl 11y ago

ECMWF charges for their weather forecasts, which are more accurate than the free American ones. There are lots of small commercial weather forecasting firms who sell to people like securities traders. A single high-temperature day can reduce corn yield by 1%. Here's a startup that had a $1 billion exit to Monsanto: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/10/4823004/monsanto-bets-the-farm-on-big-data http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/10/4823004/monsanto-bets-the... Their business is a combination of weather and climate. In short, there's a big market for this stuff.

stonogo 11y ago

Please note NOAA is a Department of Commerce organization. Weather prediction is crucial to any logistics operation, and all businesses live or die on logistics.

rasz_pl 11y ago

the only goal private enterprises have is MAKING MONEY. Pretending to predict weather is not a goal in itself.