Chépter 3 - Weather Operations
Weather conditions, particularly wind directions and velocities,
are of considerable significance in conducting a nuclear test series,
Since the possibility of hazard to life and property from radioactive
fallout exists in nearly ali nuclear detonations, the commander
responsible for authorizing the detonation of a muclear device mst
be completely informed on the fall out pattern to be expected,
Other
weather factors, such as cloud cover, precipitation, and visibility
which might have an adverse effect on the gathering of scientific data,
or which might intensify the local effects of shock and blast must be
considered.
To provide Joint Task Force SEVEN with a weather reporting
and f@recasting capability to meet these requirements, Commander, Joint
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Task Force SEVEN required Task Group 7.4 to provide and train the
rsonnel for a Weather Central Element, a Weather Reporting Element,
with widely dispersed reporting stations throughout the Central Pacific
area adjacent to the Eniwetok Proving Ground, and a Weather Reconnaissance
Element operating ten (10) WB-50 aircraft and having a capability of
gathering synoptic data over a tremendous area.
As stated above, Task Group 7.4 was responsible to furnish tne
personnel to man the Joint Task Force Weather Central Element,
The
Weather Central, however, was under the operational control of Joint
Task Force SEVEN,
Its mission was to collect, plot and analyze weather
information concerning the Pacific Ocean area, with emphasis on the
Central Pacific and the Eniwetok Proving Ground, to issue severe weather
advisories and typhoon warnings, and to maintain technical control of
and to coordinate the land station weather observing and aircraft weather
reconnaissance programs,
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AFWL/HO