UNCLASSIFIED United States Pacific Command Tropical Cyclone Satellite Reconnaissance Network and METSAT Coordinator’s Conference

UNCLASSIFIED USPACOM TCSR Network Governing Documents –USCINCPACINST series –PACAFI Mission Organization METSAT Coordinators MSC Conference

UNCLASSIFIED USPACOM Tropical Cyclone Satellite Reconnaissance Network

UNCLASSIFIED Governing Documents USCINCPACINST series –“Tropical Cyclone Operations Manual” –Currently W with 2 changes –Joint document providing CINC’s guidance Requires USAF and USN concurrence to change Changes must be approved through MG USPACOM –Defines roles and responsibilities of USAF / USN USN: Warnings and infrastructure USAF: Reconnaissance Both: Personnel

UNCLASSIFIED Governing Documents, cont’d PACAF Instruction –“Tropical Cyclone Reconnaissance” –MAJCOM document providing PACAF/DOW guidance Updated annually by PACAF/DOWV with inputs from –JTWC SATOPS –AFWA/XOGM –MG USPACOM –Defines specific reconnaissance areas of responsibility and tasks specific units to perform TC fixes

UNCLASSIFIED Mission JTWC –Continuous monitoring of all tropical weather activity in the JTWC AOR and prompt issuance of appropriate advisories, and alerts –Prompt issuance of warnings on all significant tropical cyclones in the AOR –Determination of requirements for TC reconnaissance –Post storm analysis of significant TCs within the western North Pacific and North Indian Oceans TCSR Network –Conduct 24-hour meteorological watch on all tropical and subtropical disturbances within the JTWC and NPMOC (area within GMS satellite coverage) AORs. Report positions, estimated intensities and warning criteria wind radii of significant tropical cyclones in these regions.

UNCLASSIFIED Tropical Cyclone Basins S WBACE P L

UNCLASSIFIED Area of Responsibility 180 o JTWC CPHC 140 o JTWC NHC = TC warning center JTWC

UNCLASSIFIED Organization SATOPS -- Det 1,17 th OWS Alternate SATOPS -- AFWA/XOGM Mark IVB Direct-readout Network Sites –Kadena –Hickam –Guam –Diego Garcia (Navy System) Camp Springs (not an official member site)

UNCLASSIFIED TPC/NHC National Hurricane Center JTWCCPHC AJTWC PGUA RODN DGAR RKSJ KGWC NOAA NESDIS SAB

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Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we?

UNCLASSIFIED Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we? < Diamond head

UNCLASSIFIED Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we? < Diamond head Waikiki Beach

UNCLASSIFIED NACPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

UNCLASSIFIED NAVPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

UNCLASSIFIED NACPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

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-- Advanced academic degree JTWC Shift Composition - - Typhoon Duty Officer {TDO} - generally O-3 Typhoon Duty Officer {TDO} - generally O-3 …and, right NEXT to the TDO is…..

UNCLASSIFIED Shift Composition - Meteorological Satellite (METSAT) Analyst (Called the “Fixer”) (Called the “Fixer”) -- Generally E-5/E-6) -- Generally E-5/E-6) -- Specialized training in METSAT analysis -- Specialized training in METSAT analysis

UNCLASSIFIED Shift Composition - Typhoon Duty Assistant (generally E-3/E-4) -- Moving towards forecaster certification -- Moving towards forecaster certification

UNCLASSIFIED Hickam Mark IVB

UNCLASSIFIED Hickam Mark IVB

UNCLASSIFIED C entral P acific H urricane C enter Univ. of Hawaii/Manoa Campus

UNCLASSIFIED

CPHC H urricane Specialist/ Lead Forecaster

UNCLASSIFIED CPHC Satellite Analyst (fixer)

UNCLASSIFIED Time to say ‘aloha’ to Hawaii, but now we visit.....

UNCLASSIFIED N ational H urricane C enter, Miami, Florida On the campus of Florida International University

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The new Miami Bunker, errrr…. I mean facility Note: Hurricane Andrew forced NHC to change addresses back in 1992…..

UNCLASSIFIED The “Big Board”

UNCLASSIFIED The NHC H urricane Forecast area, home of…………..

UNCLASSIFIED ….H urricane Specialist (Dr. Pasch, here)….....and, right next to him is the….

UNCLASSIFIED Satellite Analyst (fixer) (fixer) T ropical A nalysis F orecast B ranch, Miami, Florida

UNCLASSIFIED Notes: Both the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Tropical Both the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Tropical Analysis Forecast Branch (TAFB), are in Miami, Florida, and no longer in Coral Gables, FL (their former home prior to 1992) Both NHC and TAFB are part of a larger National Weather Both NHC and TAFB are part of a larger National Weather Service (NWS) organization called the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) TPC is - as a whole - a part of the NOAA National Centers for TPC is - as a whole - a part of the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Thus, you will often see NHC referred to as “TPC/NHC” Thus, you will often see NHC referred to as “TPC/NHC” “NCEP/TPC/NHC” or “NCEP/TPC/NHC”

UNCLASSIFIED Meteorological Satellite Coordinator’s (MSC) Conference

UNCLASSIFIED Attendees Meteorological Satellite Coordinators (MSC) –Air Force meteorologist with some tropical experience –Ranges from 2nd Lieutenant to Captain. –Mr. McCrone is the AFWA MSC; TSgt Kramer is Alt. Satellite Analysts –AF certified weather technician with tropical experience –Forecaster certified, typically E-4 to E-6 or civilian Researchers –Often prior service, extensive tropical experience

UNCLASSIFIED MSC Conference Goals Discuss state of the science in the TCSR Network Discuss new techniques and capabilities Discuss procedural issues –Interpretation of Dvorak technique Develop closer working relationships among participants Let the folks from Korea and Japan get a tan