The Frozen Chosen: An Overview of Antarctic Support Provided By the Department of the Navy

Within Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC LANT), a small Integrated Product Team (IPT) provides Aviation Technical Services to the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This IPT has provided meteorology support to the USAP since 1997, when the U.S. Navy transferred primary logistical support for Antarctic research activities to the NSF, utilizing a cadre of government meteorologists and meteorological technicians overseeing contract weather personnel providing forecasting and observing support. Currently, two meteorologists are charged with overseeing all operational weather support for all U.S. activities within the Antarctic region, complemented by 8 full-time contractors and 8-10 seasonal contractors specifically hired for the Austral Summer. The core cadre of government meteorology staff has seen the recent retirements of two long-serving personnel, and the recent hiring of a newly graduated meteorologist to assist in managing this program.

This operational weather support ranges from aviation support to military airlift assets detailed through Operation DEEP FREEZE as well as other airframes contracted by the NSF or international partners supporting US operations on a quid-pro-quo basis. This aviation support spans from regular Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts for all active USAP airfields to customized mission execution forecasts for scheduled and unscheduled flights to and from as well as on the continent, primarily during the Austral Summer. Maritime support is also provided to research vessels primarily transiting the Drake Passage between South American and the Antarctic Peninsula, but also conducting research along the Antarctic coastline, as well as contracted supply ships delivering materiel and fuel to McMurdo Station during the Austral Summer. General weather information is also provided to residents at McMurdo and Palmer Station, including observed weather warnings for high winds and reduced visibility, as well as specific planning forecasts and updates for special missions including traverses, scientific campaigns, and emergency response.

A core task of the government meteorology staff is to conduct internal quality assessments of all operational meteorology products produced, evaluating accuracy and applicability on a regular basis, providing beneficial improvements in support to the USAP. A robust quality assurance program has been developed over the past decade or so, allowing for honest evaluations of weather support, incorporating best practices from within the NIWC LANT command as well as WMO recommendations utilizing ISO 9001:2008 standards. QA tasks are a mix of continual as well as periodic evaluations, utilizing several methods of scoring operational impacts, along with standardized check sheets and customer surveys designed to capture feedback for the wide variety of products from the entire spectrum of users. External program reviews are also conducted triennially utilizing either an outside governing authority and/or industry Subject Matter Expert, as well as upon request by customers through the NSF.

Finally, the MET function also initiates, participates, and assists in the development and acquisition of new meteorology systems and their incorporation into operational weather support for the IPT. The IPT is responsible for installing and maintaining meteorological systems in support of the USAP, including fixed base weather observing systems located at both active McMurdo Station airfields as well as the South Pole Station airfield, automated weather stations throughout the Ross Island and Ross Ice Shelf region, and deployable stations known as the Polar Portable MET Kit issued to researchers and staff stationed at deep field camps during the Austral Summer. Currently the IPT is spearheading the replacement of the current Direct Broadcast Readout System utilized to download and analyze satellite imagery from polar orbiting meteorological satellites, as well as the installation of a portable X-band, dual-polarization weather radar system at McMurdo Station.