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 ~ 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, & &9 AFWL/HO