air force weather tropical cyclone preparedness and response
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Air Force Weather Tropical Cyclone Preparedness and Response. Brig Gen David L. Johnson Director of Weather Headquarters USAF. Overview. Air Force Weather (AFW) What we do; core processes A key component of the national weather system - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Headquarters U.S. Air Force
15 Sep 00 1
Air Force WeatherTropical Cyclone Preparedness and Response
Brig Gen David L. JohnsonDirector of WeatherHeadquarters USAF
15 Sep 00 2I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Overview
Air Force Weather (AFW)
What we do; core processes
A key component of the national weather system
Air Force and Army exposure to tropical cyclone threat
Air Force tropical cyclone preparedness
Air Force tropical cyclone response
Air Force Weather (AFW)
What we do; core processes
A key component of the national weather system
Air Force and Army exposure to tropical cyclone threat
Air Force tropical cyclone preparedness
Air Force tropical cyclone response
U.S. Air Force Photo
15 Sep 00 3I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
What we do
Terrestrial Weather
Climatology
Space Weather
80
60
40
20
30
50
70
PercentageEnsuring DoD Operatorscan “Exploit the Weather”
for Battle
Ensuring DoD Operatorscan “Exploit the Weather”
for Battle
But…we can’t do our mission if our
forces have been damaged or
destroyed by a tropical cyclone.
But…we can’t do our mission if our
forces have been damaged or
destroyed by a tropical cyclone.
Air Force
and
Army
15 Sep 00 4I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Core processes
ALL ARE KEY TO PERFORMING OUR MISSION:
DATA COLLECTION
ANALYSIS TAILORING
FORECASTING DISSEMINATION
15 Sep 00 5I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
AFW’s national role
NWSNWS
AcademiaAcademia NAVYNAVY
AFWAFW PrivatePrivateData CollectionData Collection
AnalysisAnalysis
TailoringTailoringForecastingForecasting !
DisseminationDissemination
15 Sep 00 6I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
AFW’s national role
Tropical cyclone reconnaissance in Pacific region; AF Weather Agency (AFWA) provides satellite fixes
Partnered with Navy in Joint Typhoon Warning Center, protecting US Government interests in Pacific region, Indian Ocean, westward to east coast of Africa
53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (AF Reserve Command) provides aerial reconnaissance
AFWA provides regional forecast models worldwide
AFW personnel collect vital data in tropical cyclone affected areas around the globe
15 Sep 00 7I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
A continuing role...
Participation in the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
First launch ~2010
Multi-spectral imaging and sounding -- improved tropical cyclone reconnaissance
Co-sponsor of National Research Council study on future radar capabilities beyond WSR-88D (NEXRAD)
Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model
Fully coupled with land and sea surface, high resolution, improved physics, improved data assimilation
Tool for track and intensity forecasting
15 Sep 00 8I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Tropical cyclone threat
US Air Force - US Air Force - 27 major installations, 27 major installations, 450,000+ airmen, civilians, family members450,000+ airmen, civilians, family members
US Air Force - US Air Force - 27 major installations, 27 major installations, 450,000+ airmen, civilians, family members450,000+ airmen, civilians, family members
US Army - US Army - 22 major installations, 22 major installations, 635,000+ soldiers, civilians, family members635,000+ soldiers, civilians, family members
US Army - US Army - 22 major installations, 22 major installations, 635,000+ soldiers, civilians, family members635,000+ soldiers, civilians, family members
15 Sep 00 9I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Tropical cyclone threat
NOAA Photo
12 major AF and Army installations
and the Fleet threatened by
typhoons
12 major AF and Army installations
and the Fleet threatened by
typhoons
100,000+ airmen, soldiers, sailors,
marines, civilians, and their family
members
100,000+ airmen, soldiers, sailors,
marines, civilians, and their family
members
GuamGuam
15 Sep 00 10I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Preparing ourselves
National Hurricane
Operations Plan
(OFCM)
HURCON
Growing Forecasters, building expertise•Graduate education, formal training•Improving operational techniques
Base/Post-level preparation•Detailed plans•Pre-season exercises•Education - base/post newspaper & TV
Take the following actions...
U.S. Air Force Photo
15 Sep 00 11I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Helping others prepare
Carrying the hurricane awareness message to leaders and citizens
Airshows
Media Flights
U.S. Air Force Photos
15 Sep 00 12I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Response - forecasting
AFWA regional model predictions
Send track and intensity forecasts to Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Available to TPC/NHC for consideration--additional integration this summer
Forecasts and warns for all US Government interests from pole to pole
Where TPC/NHC provides official track and intensity forecast, AFW provides tailored forecasts for bases/posts and other AF and Army decision makers
15 Sep 00 13I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Response - disseminating
AFWA provides gridded forecast information to various agencies, particularly for inland flooding
US Army Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, Korean Meteorological Agency
Joint AF/Army Weather Information Network
Bases and Posts
Base cable TV, radio, telephone, security forces, loudspeakers across installation
Point weather warnings via phone, fax, pager to locations without dedicated weather team
Tailored to specific location and decision maker
15 Sep 00 14I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Local response
HURCON 4: 72 hrs prior to 50 kt winds
Essential personnel report for duty, unit control centers open, general preparations, prepare aircraft to evacuate, loose outdoor items moved inside
HURCON 3: 48 hrs prior to 50 kt winds
Shelters prepared, sandbags and plywood in place, food and water in place
High value equipment sheltered/covered
Begin aircraft evacuation, if appropriate
15 Sep 00 15I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Local response
HURCON 2: 24 hrs prior to 50 kt winds
Curtail non-essential activities, evacuate non-essential personnel if appropriate, shelters are ready, continue evacuation of aircraft if not complete, shelter non-essential vehicles
HURCON 1: 12 hrs prior to 50 kt winds
People report to shelters and evacuation completed, airfield closed, shelter emergency vehicles, possibly cut off electricity
15 Sep 00 16I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
On the horizon
Weather effects decision aids
High resolution wind forecasting with MM5 or WRF for input into storm surge models
Improving satellite analysis techniques
WC-130J for 53rd Wx Recon Squadron
NPOESS era beginning in ~2010
Future radar capabilities beyond WSR-88D
Weather effects decision aids
High resolution wind forecasting with MM5 or WRF for input into storm surge models
Improving satellite analysis techniques
WC-130J for 53rd Wx Recon Squadron
NPOESS era beginning in ~2010
Future radar capabilities beyond WSR-88D
SeaWIFs-Orbimage
15 Sep 00 17I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
Summary
It takes the national weather TEAM to protect the lives and property of our
citizens!
It takes the national weather TEAM to protect the lives and property of our
citizens!