Meteorological and Oceanographic Conditions
Abstract
Knowledge-based warfare helps operational commanders to prepare a theater by achieving dominant battlespace awareness, which enables them to make decisions faster than enemy leaders. It allows commanders to leverage battlespace knowledge to accomplish a mission by the precision employment of combat power. One key to knowledge-based warfare is a grasp of meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) conditions that may be encountered and their impact on the conduct of military operations. These include wind, temperature, cloud cover, wave height, salinity, and other phenomena. By recognizing METOC effects, commanders can set battle terms, maximize their own advantages, and exploit enemy limitations. On the operational level determining effects involves much more than formulating weather and oceanographic forecasts--though forecasting plays an important role. A systematic approach which considers the impact of such conditions on each aspect of operational planning and execution is essential. Only then can commanders identify and exploit critical factors: conditions that directly affect friendly or enemy capabilities or otherwise influence the ability of commanders to achieve operational objectives. Using such an approach, commanders can understand and plan for the impact of these conditions on friendly and enemy forces, sensors, platforms, and weapons. This will help formulate a concept of operations. By contrast failing to determine critical METOC factors may result in disjointed or poor operational decisions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA528421
Entities
People
- John R. Fuller
Organizations
- National Defense University