Information Technology and Its Impact on Weather Operations

1
Information Technology and Its Impact on Weather
Operations

• Colonel John D. Murphy
• Commander, Air Force Weather Agency
• AFCEA Meeting, 11 December 2008

2
Information Technology and Its Impact on Weather
Operations

• Outline
• Weather production cycle and its relationship to
  IT
• IT influence on weather operationshistorical
  background
• IT and AF Weather Transformation

3
Weather Production Cycle and Its Relationship to
IT
4
Weather Information Processing Cycle Traditional
Ops

• Historically, weather production emphasized Data
  
• Collection, Weather Analysis Prediction
• Main data collection at 00 12Z data-sparse
  over battlespace
• Historical limitations due to computational
  power bandwidth
• Some product tailoring to operator requirements
• Aerial refueling forecasts
• Maximum usable frequency/lowest usable frequency
  forecasts
• Trafficability forecasts for Army ground
  operations
• Insert into decision cycle through stand-up
  briefings
• Main applications Resource protection,
  operations in good wx
• Operators do much of information integration
  manually

5
Weather Information Processing Cycle Traditional
Ops
ANALYSIS/FORECAST/PRODUCT TAILORING
INPUTS
DISSEMINATION
METSAT Data DMSP POES GOES E/W/P
METEOSAT TRMM QuickSCAT EOS
(AMSR-E)
Forecaster-in-the-loop products

• JAAWIN / JAAWIN-S

Observations Surface Space
Upper-Air AIREPS/PIREPS Ship
Automated Products

• Military Command and
• Control Systems

Databases, Models, and Applications

• Satellite Data Handling System (SDHS)
• Cloud Depiction and Forecast System (CDFS II)
• Space WX Analysis Forecast System (SWAFS)
• Mesoscale Model (MM5)
• Land/Surface Model (AGRMET)
• Satellite Image Display Analysis System (SIDAS)

NWP Data NOGAPS GFS
6
IT Influence on Weather OperationsHistorical
Background
7
Computational power for collection, analysis, and
prediction
8
Computers and Visualization for tailoring and
dissemination
9
IT and AF Weather Transformation
10
IT-driven Transformation from Basic Weather
Forecast Products to Effects-based Visualization
or
or
3D Cloud scene simulation
Cloud scene simulation combined with mission
planning and rehearsal system (PowerScene)
Traditional wx chart
Model-predicted cloud tops
or
Ex from TAWS
InfraRed Target-Scene Simulation (IRTSS)
Software
Goal Realistic wx for mission planning and
rehearsal
Simulated Impact of Weather in Single
Air-to-Ground Engagement
11
IT-driven Transformation from Forecaster-in-the-l
oop based productsto Machine-to-machine based
products
Evolution from linear product-centric cycle with
manual injects into decision cycles
to data/information-centric, continuous update
cycle with information integrated into decision
cycles
12
Weather Information Processing Cycle More
Integrated with Other Functional Decision Cycles
ISR Collection Analysis Cycle
Weather Information Processing Cycle
Operator Decision Cycle / Common Operating Pictur
e
Time Critical Targeting Cycle
Logistics Transport Delivery Cycle

• Increased emphasis on tailored products
  integration into decision cycles
• Environmental effects models, data, and tailored
  information
• Decision analysis/assistance tools
• Information is integrated with other sources
  (e.g., Intel, Logistics)
• Resource protection still important, but
  paradigm shift to operating in
• adverse weather (exploit vs. cope and avoid)

13
Questions?
14
Real-time wx obs from acft real-time wx to
cockpit
Weather Information Processing Cycle In ISR-E
Integrate in CAOC,COP, F2T2EA Cycle
Continuous Data Collection, Assimilation into
4D database (shown above)
Tailored applications, updated based on current
conditions operator needs