Nathan White

Document Type

Student Paper

Publication Date

2008

Abstract

Richard Davis, an Air Force historian, wrote "throughout air power history weather has prevented or spoiled more combat missions than any other single factor" (Moyers 2003). This quote shows the significance of accurate weather observing and forecasting throughout the history of Air Force Weather. It is imperative to produce accurate and timely forecast products to assist the warfighter in maintaining control of the battle space. This is why the development and improvement of Weather Information Systems (WIS) has been and is a necessary and vital component in the forecasting process.

This paper will explore the advancements in the WIS throughout Air Force history. It will cover the WIS of the past, focusing on the period of Air Force Weather between 1950 and 1995. The topics covered during this period will be the use of handheld systems for weather observations, the transmission and analysis of charts through satellite and radio systems, and the development of and advancements in the WIS. It will then proceed to cover the current period of Air Force Weather from 1995-2010. Topics covered during this period will be the advancements in handheld systems from simple tools into complex handheld computers, advancements in chart analysis from handmade to computer based analyses, and the implementation of tactical WIS and the role of the internet. Finally, this paper will explore the future of Air Force Weather in the next ten years as it enters into a period of transformation. Topics covered in this section will be the implementation of the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET) and how it will incorporate or replace many of the current WIS. I will also discuss the problems with the hub concept and the possibility of its decomposition in the future.

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