In recent years, dissemination of meteorological data and tailored weather products has increasingly been accomplished via the Internet. Military users, including the Army and Air Force rely upon the Joint Air Force Army Weather Information Network (JAAWIN) as a primary mode of communicating meteorological data to combat weather teams (CWTs) in the field, to fixed base users, and to mobile operations.

JAAWIN is a web-based interface to the access of meteorological data including text observations, analyses, forecasts, and products tailored to specific purposes. Averaging approximately 8 million hits per month, raw and processed data are distributed to Operational Weather Squadrons, Combat Weather Teams, and users in the field and at fixed base operations. The system is available in unclassified, secret and SCI (Sensitive Compartmentalized Information) environments. Integral to the success of the system is the inclusion of geographic information system (GIS) data. The GIS component enhances visualization of meteorological information by allowing one to overlay geographical and other information for decision-making and planning purposes. Users of the system are able to access these environmental data from nearly any point on the globe, and either display pre-built meteorological products, or alternately, construct custom products by interactively accessing the JAAWIN interface. The interactive nature of JAAWIN allows the user to tailor the information to their specific needs. Information is categorized by geographical region, where users can select from alphanumeric data, TAFs, surface, upper air, numerical model, satellite, space, radar and lightning, and environmental data to view. In addition, an interactive analysis and display (IGrADS) capability provides custom product generation in near real time. Although the primary purpose of this system is to download and view meteorological products, data can also be uploaded to the site, and a subscription service for a number of meteorological parameters provides automated warnings and watches of selected criteria. On-line support is available through the interface.

Data for JAAWIN is largely derived from enclaves residing at the Air Force Weather Agency, at Offutt Air Force Base. The Global Theater Weather Analysis and Prediction System (GTWAPS) provides global mesoscale numerical modeling support for the Air force and Army. The Satellite Data Handling System processes and disseminates satellite data from most of the geostationary and polar orbiting meteorological satellites, providing global coverage from space. The Cloud Depiction and Forecast System – version 2 (CDFS-II) provides global satellite cloud analysis and forecast capability for aviation and weapon system needs. Products generated by the Space Weather Analysis and Forecast System complete 4-dimensional ‘mud to sun’ weather coverage from the ground to space by including a space weather component.

This paper will describe the capabilities of the present day JAAWIN interface, and the role of the private sector in the development, sustainment and evolution of its capabilities. We will present a high level view of the functionality of this meteorological service, the information technology necessary to accomplish this, and the product tailoring capabilities. We will include a description of the methodology to incorporate GIS to enhance operational utility. Finally we will describe the direction this web portal based dissemination system will likely take in the near future as the combination of government and private sector support and development personnel harness newly available technology and science as it is made available to the operational community.