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commander. Parameters sP iwtereiit
I
include:
i) cloud Bssaaaion;
11) dkaison md speed of clonad
rn~eanacemss;
iii) dqpe of cloud cover;
iv) cloud a! titude; i
V) wind spreds and direction; I
VI) rain snow conditions;
vil) flood waming5;
viii) fog conditions.
Cloud location, cover and allaiaaade ar3
important measurements reqanised f ~ r
both day anad night o
limit aarborne visi
illumination.
controls ground temperature which in
turn iwBps,m on penomel and ment.
Cou led OS this 1s the direction m bsD speed
of c P oud movement which can ke Lased to
provide forecasts of cloud cover.
Wind speeds a d diiectioos wne also
important aoticdwrrly at a
the deglopcnt
r
8ircaiou-s of
wea xu me dependent on uind vduxity.
In esen terrains, wind conditions will
govern sand-stnrms.
Wain and snow not only affect visibility
but are dm be very restrictive for pound
operations. 'Warnings of oiential
floodin8 and fog condition WO 3 d &Q be
of abvious use to a ground commwder.
Meteorobgical measurements of the
above parameters are required during
both day and night.
In addition to the measurements of the
conditions present in a given region, other
aspects of meteorolo y must be
considered. These inch c$ c the rate at
which weather information is updated as
well as the forecasting period. In srder to
provide a major advantage, the
meteoroiogid data should be updated on
a timescals of minutes rather thm houn.
Another important factor is ohat thc
meteorological measuremcum and
forecasting are already both accurate and
reliable.
Finally, the format of the data resented
s ccw~czful
consideranuion to ensure that the eswnrid
information is readily accessible and
to the local commander nee B
3. PPessnaQ Meteorological
PayOQeado
3.1 MsacxDGuDn~
- GzpOBaR MsamiOo~Plg
The World Meteorology Organisation
(WMO) is responsible for providing
Goverage of meteorological data.
e network is illustrated in Figure 1.
Currently, there are five GIE0 satellites
positioned at VX~OUS points around the
e U~OOP at an altitude of approximately
3 i! ,W&mps.
Inn additionto these, there are a
numbei of polar satellites (in a LEO)
which operate at an altitude of
approximately 85Okm. Table 1 provides a
summary of some of the key features of
these meteorology satellites.
The primary role of the. geostationary
satellites is to provide cloud imagery at
replar intervals of ap roximately 30
rmnutcs. Meteosat, whic R forms part af
the GEO ring is discussed in more detail
in the next section.
Apart from their imaging role, the ring of
satellites also serve a number of other
functions including the transmission and
relay of meteorological data from both
ground stations and other satellites. They
also can be used to relay
meteorological data between t
processing centre and the users
The polar satellites are sun-synchronous
and each arbit is stepped with respect to
the previous such that a full earth
coverage is achieved twice per day from
each satellite. The mdn purpose of these
hl satellites is LO monitor clouds, surface
tit'', temperatures and vegetation cover.
.L .*.,.
'c.3.2 Metmart Oprmtionni Prqpmme
The basic design Meteosot Operational
§ystern ;brad iss main instrument, the
Imaging Wadhrneter, is over Z years old.
However, because of the success of the
Meteosart Operational. Programme
(MOP , a huber modcl (with possibly a
semn d 80 follow next year) is currently
being built. This is the Meteosat