(3)
Requested and received through the U. S. Weather Bureau special
weather observations from Truk, Ponape, Majuro and Wake.
(4)
Increased the number of daily upper air observations at Eniwetok
and Kwajalein weather stations,
(5)
Operated an aerial weather reconnaissance squadron of ten W8-50's
from Eniwetok, which flew a minimum of two twelve-hour missions daily over
selected routes at altitudes from 1500 to 30,000 feet,
(6) Received weather information from all Naval task farce ships,
(7)
Supported the development of and used special weather sounding
balloons which penetrated the tropical tropopause to an average height of
90,000 feet.
(8)
Supported the development of and successfully used high-altitude
sounding rockets to rapidly obtain wind velocities above 100,000 feet.
The
heads of these rockets contained metal foil (window) which was emitted at
preselected altitudes to provide a radar target,
The rockets were launched
from task force destroyers which had special launchers installed and special
modifications to the fire control radars and computers which enabled them to
acquire and track these targets.
c.
Forecasts prepared by the Weather Central were used by the Staff
Weather Officers and the Fallout Prediction Unit in their weather-fallout
presentations,
These briefings were given to the Commander, Joint Task Force
SEVEN at frequent intervals prior to each shot.
In addition, the Weather
Central disseminated weather forecasts and information to all operating units
‘COPIED/DOE
of the task force,
ad.
LANL RS
Because of the peculiar meteorological conditions in the tropical
Pacific Ocean areas, special techniques are required for forecasting the
weather in these areas.
It is therefore necessary that meteorologists have
special training in these techniques before they can cope with the problems
associated therewith.
Following Operation CASTLE in 1954 this training was
obtained for task force meteorologists through liaison with the Oahu Research
Center, Hawaii,
The task force is now in the process of establishing a similar
center in association with the University of Hawaii which will study weather
forecasting problems at the PPG,
The mission of this center will be to test
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