DEVELOPMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION 

 AND OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY 



The Assistant Oceanographer for Ocean Engineering and Development 

 directs the developmental program in environmental prediction and ocean- 

 ographic survey. Upon completion of the development effort these systems 

 are integrated into the programs of the Assistant Oceanographer for 

 Oceanographic Operations. 



PREDICTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT (ASWEPS) 



In order that the operating forces may effectively plan and execute 

 naval operations, availability of predictions of environmental parameters 

 is extremely important. The Antisubmarine Warfare Environmental Pre- 

 diction Services (ASWEPS) program consists of: (a) development of in- 

 strumentation for use aboard ships, aircraft, and buoys to measure oceano- 

 graphic parameters, (b) development of thermal-structure analyses, predic- 

 tion techniques, and displays, and (c) appHcation of the products to ASW 

 planning and tactical operations. The forecasted oceanographic data pro- 

 vided to ships at sea by Navy fleet broadcast and facsimile can be directly 

 converted to tactical indexes, such as expected range capability of a par- 

 ticular sonar. 



The earliest effort of the Navy in the area of oceanographic prediction 

 was in the prediction of sea ice conditions. To minimize the considerable 

 damage being sustained by ships operating in arctic waters, the Naval 

 Oceanographic Office in 1952 and 1953 instituted an experimental ice 

 observation and prediction program. Today, synoptic ice observations are 

 acquired by ice-reconnaissance aircraft throughout much of the Arctic, and 

 selected Antarctic areas. Sea ice reports are also received from ships and 

 helicopters, and satellite pictures are used experimentally for gross features 

 such as boundaries of ice masses and open water. Analysis of observations 

 by ice forecasters enables them to furnish synoptic ice predictions covering 

 large areas, enabling ships and submarines to select appropriate areas and 



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