Chapter 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 nuciear 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 lccal effects cf shock and blast must be considered, To provide Joint Task Force SEVEN with a weather reporting and férecasting capability to meet these requirements, Commander, Jcint . Task Ferce SEVEN required Task Group 7.4 to previde and train the j personnel for a Weather Centrai Elemert, a Weather Reporting Elemens, with widely dispersed reporting stations throughout the Central Pacific erea adjacent to the Eniwetok Proving Grourd, and a Weather Reconnaissance Element cperating 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 Wea*her Central, hewever, was under the operational control cf Joint Task Forse SEVEN, Its mission was to coliect, plct and analyze weather anformation cornierning the Pacific Ocean area, with emphasis on the Centrai Pacific and the Eniwetck Proving Ground, to issue severe weather advisories and typhoon warnings, and to maintain technical control of and to coordinate the land station weather cbserving and aircraft weather retonnaissance programs, ! Copiep/oce E LAKL Re 69 ,COE Oa (