Strategy for Providing Atmospheric Information: Air Force Perspective 3 Dec 01

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.

4. AFW –Organized for Ops OPERATIONAL CONCEPT Leverage TechnologyManage Infrastructure Global Products 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

5. The Importance of Atmospheric (and Space) Information Information Preparation of the Battlespace Information Providers Common Operational Picture TERRESTRIAL/SPACE WEATHER INTELLIGENCE, OTHER FORCES COALITION FORCES LOGISTICS/UTILITIES IMAGERY/OVERLAYS I • Intel Sources • Air Surveillance • Surface Surveillance • Space Surveillance Joint Battlespace Infosphere Geospatial Databases Commanders

6. 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 weather’s 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

7. Needed Atmospheric Information: Fine-Scale Model Data Integrated Into Warfighter Planning and Execution Decisions... Key to Exploiting The Weather!

8. Needed Atmospheric Information: Hi-Res METSAT Data Afghanistan Afghanistan Pakistan Pakistan Iran Iran Multiple Dust Plumes Clear - Baseline

9. 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

10. Recommendations • Air Force should have “a seat at the table” in developing a strategic plan • Don’t 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

11. “Anticipate - Exploit The Weather”