AFW Support to Homeland Security

1
Strategy for Providing Atmospheric Information
Air Force Perspective 3 Dec 01
Brigadier General David L. Johnson HQ USAF/ XOW
2
Overview

• AFW mission and organization
• Importance of atmospheric (and space) information
• Air Force direction
• Atmospheric information needed
• Air Force experience in leveraging data sources
• Recommendations

3
AFW Mission
Deliver to our Nation's combat forces anytime,
anyplace, the highest quality, mission-tailored
information, products, and services relating to
the terrestrial and space environment....from the
mud to the sun.
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AFW Organized for Ops
OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
Global Products
Leverage TechnologyManage Infrastructure
Strategic Weather Center
Operational Weather Squadrons
Fine-Scale Theater Products
Develop ForecastsOn-the-Job Training / Mentoring
Less Experienced Personnel
Combat Weather Teams
Mission-Scale 2 Way Info
Lean, ExperiencedMission Knowledgeable Team
WARFIGHTER
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The Importance of Atmospheric (and Space)
Information
Information Preparation of the Battlespace
Information Providers
Common Operational Picture
TERRESTRIAL/SPACE WEATHER INTELLIGEN
CE, OTHER FORCES COALITION FORCES LOGISTICS/UTIL
ITIES IMAGERY/OVERLAYS I

• Intel Sources
• Air Surveillance
• Surface Surveillance
• Space Surveillance

Joint Battlespace Infosphere
Geospatial Databases
Commanders
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Air Force Direction

• Incorporate environmental information directly
  into command-and-control systems
• - Maintaining forecaster-in-the-loop where it
  makes sense to add value
• Four-dimensional data bases focused on
  operational effects, not weather for weathers
  sake
• - Access limited as needed
• Best Science--Partnering with other
  agencies/sources
• Future is Microclimate Description--Effective use
  of higher resolution METSAT and model data

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Needed Atmospheric Information Fine-Scale Model
Data
Integrated Into Warfighter Planning and
Execution Decisions...
Key to Exploiting The Weather!
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Needed Atmospheric Information Hi-Res METSAT
Data
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Pakistan
Iran
Iran
Multiple Dust Plumes
Clear - Baseline
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Air Force Experience Leveraging Best of
Community/Data Sources

• European Obs/Radar/Model Data
• International METSAT Data
• - Security Restrictions
• Commercial Turbulence Information
• Cooperative Agreement with The Weather Channel
• NOAA - Next Generation Polar-Orbiting Satellites
• Academia/NCAR - Models/Algorithms
• NOAA/NASA - Joint Center for Satellite Data
  Assimilation

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Recommendations

• Air Force should have a seat at the table in
  developing a strategic plan
• Dont forget space weather
• Advantages in using environmental information
  should be gained through teamwork/sharing,
  analysis, visualization, or prediction methods,
  not by restricting the flow of data
• Support OFCM

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Anticipate - Exploit The Weather