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United States United States

Pacific CommandPacific Command

Tropical Cyclone Satellite Reconnaissance Network Tropical Cyclone Satellite Reconnaissance Network

and METSAT Coordinator’s Conferenceand METSAT Coordinator’s Conference

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USPACOM TCSR NetworkUSPACOM TCSR Network• Governing Documents

– USCINCPACINST 3140.1 series– PACAFI 15-102

• Mission• Organization

• METSAT Coordinators• MSC Conference

MSC ConferenceMSC Conference

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USPACOM USPACOM Tropical Cyclone Tropical Cyclone

Satellite Reconnaissance Satellite Reconnaissance NetworkNetwork

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Governing DocumentsGoverning Documents• USCINCPACINST 3140.1 series

– “Tropical Cyclone Operations Manual”– Currently 3140.1 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

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Governing Documents, Governing Documents, cont’dcont’d

• PACAF Instruction 15-102– “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

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MissionMission• 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 reconnaissanceDetermination 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.

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Tropical Cyclone BasinsTropical Cyclone Basins

SS

WWBBAA CC EE

PP

LL

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Area of ResponsibilityArea of Responsibility

180180oo

JTWC

CPHC

140140oo

JTWC

NHC

NHC

= TC warning center= TC warning center

JTWC

JTWC

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OrganizationOrganization

• SATOPS -- Det 1,17th 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)

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TPC/NHCNationalHurricaneCenter

JTWC CPHCAJTWC

PGUA

RODN

DGAR

RKSJ KGWC

NOAANESDISSAB

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Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we?

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Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we?

< Diamond head

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Let’s visit Hawaii, shall we?

< Diamond head

Waikiki Beach

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NACPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

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NAVPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

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NACPACMETOCCEN/JTWC

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-- Advanced academic degree -- Advanced academic degree

JTWC Shift CompositionJTWC Shift Composition

- - Typhoon Duty Officer {TDO} - generally O-3 Typhoon Duty Officer {TDO} - generally O-3

……and, right NEXT to the TDO is…..and, right NEXT to the TDO is…..

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Shift CompositionShift Composition- Meteorological Satellite - Meteorological Satellite (METSAT) Analyst(METSAT) Analyst

(Called the (Called the “Fixer”“Fixer”) )

-- Generally E-5/E-6)-- Generally E-5/E-6)

-- Specialized training in METSAT analysis-- Specialized training in METSAT analysis

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Shift CompositionShift Composition

- Typhoon Duty Assistant (generally E-3/E-4)- Typhoon Duty Assistant (generally E-3/E-4)

-- Moving towards forecaster certification-- Moving towards forecaster certification

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Hickam Mark IVBHickam Mark IVB

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Hickam Mark IVB

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Central

Pacific

Hurricane

Center

Univ. of Hawaii/ManoaCampus

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CPHC Hurricane Specialist/ Lead Forecaster

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CPHC Satellite Analyst (fixer)CPHC Satellite Analyst (fixer)

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

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NNationalational

HHurricane urricane

CCenter, Miami, Floridaenter, Miami, Florida

On the campus of Florida International UniversityOn the campus of Florida International University

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The new Miami Bunker, errrr…. I mean facilityThe new Miami Bunker, errrr…. I mean facility

Note: Hurricane Andrew forced NHC to change addresses Note: Hurricane Andrew forced NHC to change addresses back in 1992…..back in 1992…..

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The “Big Board”The “Big Board”

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The NHC Hurricane Forecast area,home of…………..

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….Hurricane Specialist (Dr. Pasch, here)…..

...and, right next to him is the…. ...and, right next to him is the….

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Satellite Analyst Satellite Analyst (fixer)(fixer)

TTropicalropical

AAnalysis nalysis

FForecast orecast

BBranchranch, , Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida

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Notes:Notes:• Both the Both the NNational ational HHurricane urricane CCenter enter (NHC)(NHC) and theand the TTropicalropicalAAnalysis nalysis FForecast orecast BBranchranch ( (TAFBTAFB),), are in Miami, Florida, and no are in Miami, Florida, and no longer in Coral Gables, FL (their former home prior to 1992)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 Service (NWS) organization called the TTropical ropical PPrediction rediction CCenterenter ( (TPCTPC))

• TPC is - as a whole - a part of the NOAA TPC is - as a whole - a part of the NOAA NNational ational CCenters forenters forEEnvironmentalnvironmental P Predictionrediction (NCEP) (NCEP)

• Thus, you will often see NHC referred to as Thus, you will often see NHC referred to as “TPC/NHC” “TPC/NHC” or “NCEP/TPC/NHC”“NCEP/TPC/NHC”

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Meteorological Satellite Meteorological Satellite Coordinator’s (MSC) Coordinator’s (MSC)

ConferenceConference

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AttendeesAttendees• 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

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MSC Conference GoalsMSC 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