Supporting meteorological and oceanographic nowcasting through in-situ data acquisition, real-time processing and information transfer

The Oceanographic and Naval communities have a recognized need for real-time meteorological and oceanographic (METOC), tactical acoustic and image data. The collection, processing, and transfer of METOC information to locations where models and databases reside can provide many of the parameters needed for real-time forecasting and mission planning. In some cases, current procedures delay data transfer until the data collection platform returns from its mission. Planning Systems Incorporated (PSI) has addressed this problem through its participation in the METOC, Environmental, Air, Surface, Undersea Reconnaissance Equipment (MEASURE) program and its development of the platform independent MEASURE Interface Processor (MIP). The MIP is capable of acquiring oceanographic and atmospheric data from a variety of available sensors. The MIP system processes the acquired data and automatically formulates message traffic based upon the results found. These messages are transferred via Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Line-Of-Site (LOS) or Satellite Communication (SATCOM) to METOC databasing sites or other operational decision making locations. The MIP system has been demonstrated successfully during several U.S. Navy and NATO operational exercises on P-3C aircraft. Most recently PSI took part in the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) exercise Dynamic Mix that occurred in the Mediterranean in October 1997. The advantage of the real-time, in-situ data acquisition, processing and communication capability provided by MIP has been recognized by the METOC community and integration of MP systems onto several operational platforms has been initiated.