Weather Information and Tactical Army Activities. Part 1. Assessment of the Operational Utility of Mesoscale Weather Forecasting Improvements for Army Forces

The objective of this paper is to assess the operational utility of the most optimistic, but reasonable, improvement in reliability of mesoscale weather forecasts projected for Army forces in the mid-1980s. Data from recent forecast verification programs are the source for the reliability of current mesoscale weather forecasts. An understanding of the impact of weather forecasts on Army operations is developed by a series of workshop-type discussions with a broad cross section of Army officers. The main finding is that for a projected 1985 improvement in mesoscale weather forecasting reliability there does not appear to be a corresponding improvement in the utility of mesoscale forecasts for tactical planners. (Author) See also Part 2, AD-A074 423.