NWP and Naval Operations

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NWP and Naval Operations
The Real Story


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Once upon a time there weremany Navy Map
Factories

• Norfolk, VA Suitland MD
• Quonset Pt., RI Argentia, Newfoundland
• Keflavik, Iceland Morocco / Spain
• Kodiak, AK Alameda, CA
• Pearl Harbor, HI Guam, M.I.
• Yokosuka, Japan Sangley Pt., Philippines
• Jacksonville, FL San Diego, CA
• all producing regional analyses and forecast
  charts from scratch

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Weather Central Process(Circa 1957 pre-NWP
availability)

• Collect raw data regionally over 75 baud
  radio-teletypes.
• Hand-plot and hand-analyze surface and upper air
  charts.
• Use synoptic rules to develop short-term
  prognostic charts.
• Generate textual forecasts and warnings for ships
  at sea.
• Did we even have radio facsimile in those days?

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Fleet Numerical began in 1958 as the Numerical
Weather Problems Group (NANWEP).
NANWEP moved to the grounds of Naval Postgraduate
School in 1959 and became Fleet Numerical Weather
Facility in 1961. Fleet Numerical moved to its
current location in 1975
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Weather Prediction in the Past
The Control Data Corporation 1604 computer was
the heart of FNWF numerical weather prediction.
CDC 160A computer managed peripheral such as tape
units, teletypes, punches, and Varian plotters.
AG2 Warren Yogi
CDC 1604
Capt Dean Morford, CO FNMOC 1976
Capt Harry Nicholson, CO FNMOC 1982-1986
Varian 530 Plotter
ASR-33 Teletype
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Synoptic Techniques

• Scale and Pattern Separation
• Historical Analogs

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Pattern Separation

• for any continuous field,
• Z SL SD SV
• SR SL SV, Z SD, so
• Z SR SD, and
• SL Z SV SD SR - SV

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NAVAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA NETWORK
The East and West Coast Tie Lines were the first
implementation of the NEDN. NEDN was expanded to
connect FWC Guam, FWC Pearl Harbor, and FWC Rota
Spain. High-Speed modem equipment were used to
provide 4,800 bits per second data rate
throughout the network.
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Guam M.I.
Pearl Harbor HI
Norfolk VA
Rota Spain
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NAVAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA NETWORK

• FNWC Monterey was the hub for the NEDN
• Fleet Weather Central Norfolk
• Fleet Weather Central Pearl Harbor
• Fleet Weather Central Guam
• Fleet Weather Central Rota Spain

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CDC 3100 and 160A computers at Regional Centers
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Weather Central Process(Circa 1967)

• Plot FNMOC hemispheric NWP charts on CalComp
  Plotter.
• Project area of interest onto larger-scale chart.
• Trace contours onto larger scale chart with
  marking pen.
• Overlay with a blank chart on light table.
• Modify NWP product using synoptic techniques on
  clear acetate using grease pencil.
• Trace acetate contours onto facsimile master.
• Fax the resulting chart manually over flat bed
  scanner.
• Hope that somebody out there could actually copy
  it!

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And Then What Happened?

• From the CalComp Plotter
• To the Varian Plotter
• To the Wall !
• Semi-automated facsimile broadcast

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Weather Central Process(Circa 1976)

• Extract sections from FNMOC hemispheric charts on
  3100.
• Plot charts and hang on wall !
• Digitally convert charts into facsimile format on
  CDC 3100.
• Automatically convert most charts to analog
  signal and transmit on facsimile broadcast.
• Fax the remaining charts (mostly surface
  analyses) manually over flat bed scanner.
• Hope that somebody out there could actually copy
  them!

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NAVAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA NETWORK

• FNWC Monterey was the hub for the NEDN
• Fleet Weather Central Norfolk
• Fleet Weather Central Pearl Harbor
• Fleet Weather Central Guam
• Fleet Weather Central Rota Spain

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CDC 3100 and 160A computers at Regional Centers
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The Naval Environmental Display Station (NEDS)
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Carrier Weather Ops (Circa 1982) back to the
future!

• Take surface obs, and upper air soundings when
  possible.
• Collect regional raw data over 75 baud
  radio-teletypes.
• Hand-plot and hand-analyze regional surface
  chart.
• Tune radios to receive radio-facsimile broadcasts
  from Navy Weather Centrals .. if you can!
• Give up on Navy transmissions and copy the Saudis
  and the Russians!
• Copy direct readout satellite imagery on Alden
  fax paper!
• Produce aviation, ASW, shipboard and battle
  group, and tactical decision forecasts.
• 1983 Global NOGAPS better than seasoned
  forecaster!

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Zenith Z-120 PC
FNOC
NODDS 1.0 used PC technology and dialup
connectivity to deliver data. NODDS 1.0 ran on
the Zenith Z-100. Users would dialup the CDC
6500 computers at FNOC and receive tailored
products.
Naval Oceanographic Data Distribution System
NODDS
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METCAST and Joint METOC Viewer

• Customers can select a variety of products from
  databases at FNMOC and Regional Centers.
• Products are tailored to customer needs and
  delivered immediately

Networks
Servers
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Joint METOC Viewer (JMV)

• Combines and replaces several FNMOC legacy
  systems
• View Grids, Observations, Satellite data

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WXMAP
-Tailored .GIF support
-Helps minimize bandwidth
-Timely brief preparations
-Outstanding customer feedback
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WxMAP
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MyWxmap

• Selectable geographic views
• Customer defined areas of interest and product
  suites
• Easy to interpret charts for War Fighters,
  Planners, and Forecasters
• Fast NIPRNET access from around the world
• Well-crafted visual displays of environmental
  parameters

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Today ..the forecaster can

• Access and/or download required raw data and text
  messages off the Web.
• Translate NWP graphic output into
  customer-understandable decision aids.
• Focus on generating Web-accessible graphics
  vice alphanumeric text messages.

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to the Future.