OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS OF THE AIR FORCE MARK-IV-B TACTICAL SATELLITE NETWORK

Meteorologists at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) utilize a tactical direct-readout network to ingest and process worldwide meteorological satellite imagery. This program is known as the MarkIVB tactical satellite system including a complex of Air Force fixed and mobile sites. Deployed at multiple locations globally, this network permits timely access and dissemination of high-resolution polar orbiting imagery (DMSP and NOAA) via a specialized web-based interface and local application display tool. The MarkIVB network also handles the receipt and dissemination of geostationary high-resolution imagery from GOES and METEOSAT. This presentation will summarize AFWA’s use of products from this processing network, demonstrating the value added to forecasters during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as other unique capabilities and applications of the MarkIVB.