US Navy and Weather Channel announce cooperationAtlanta 18 April 2001 The US Navy and The Weather Channel signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement is intended to foster cooperation between the two organizations and allow them to jointly examine new methods and technologies for producing and presenting forecasts. It allows The Weather Channel to use climate, weather, and ocean data produced by the Navy and made available in the public domain, including data generated by the Navy's supercomputer at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey. This computer is one of the world's most sophisticated tools for global weather and ocean modeling, utilizing the largest existing real-time databases of oceanic and atmospheric observations.
For example, The Weather Channel will have access to the Navy's Coastal
Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System. This system is used to predict
changes in the ocean and weather conditions in the highly complex coastal areas
of the world, a uniquely Navy operating environment. Such collaborations will
ultimately benefit the advancement of the science of weather prediction,
ensuring the nation gets the greatest possible benefit from their investment in
weather and oceanography.
The agreement provides the Navy with a source of validation and feedback for its
model. In addition the Navy will gain access to graphics used for presentation
on meteorological data for use in the fleet.
As executive agent for the Navy, Rear Adm. Richard D. West, oceanographer of the
Navy, signed the document with Ray Ban, executive vice president for
Meteorological Affairs and Operations for The Weather Channel.
As Oceanographer of the Navy, West heads a globally-distributed organization
with over 3,000 personnel and a fleet of eight multi-mission oceanographic
survey ships providing U.S. Naval and Joint forces integrated full-spectrum
weather, ocean, charting, precise time, and astronomic knowledge to minimize
risk and optimize operational success anytime, anywhere.
The Weather Channel is a commercial, non-Federal entity that provides weather
data, forecasts, and related environmental information through cable television,
satellite, and on-line services. It is also actively involved in a variety of
community outreach activities and educational projects. The data that is
provided to The Weather Channel is provided at no additional cost to the
government.
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