A watchful eye: Hurricane Hunters aren't the only Reservists keeping track of deadly storms

Citizen Airman, June, 2006 by Erik Hofmeyer

Millions of people around the world have read about and seen the exploits of the Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters and the mission they perform each year tracking hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic. However, they aren't the only Air Force Reservists who are involved in keeping a watchful eye on these powerful and deadly storms.

Operating in relative obscurity from their home at the base of the Rocky Mountains at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., members of the 6th Space Operations Squadron also play a major role in this high-profile operation. Instead of flying C-130s directly into the eye of the storms, these Reservists conduct their business using satellites orbiting the Earth hundreds of miles in space.

But the 6th SOPS is about so much more than tracking hurricanes. The squadron's overall mission is to provide near real-time environmental data to strategic and tactical military commanders. In addition, the unit serves as an alternate command and control organization for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

DMSP is a long-term U.S. effort in space to monitor the meteorological, oceanographic and solar-geophysical environment of the Earth in support of Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and NASA operations, said Capt. Sheila Demboski, 6th SOPS chief of standardization and evaluations.

Ten active Guard and Reserve members and 22 traditional Air Force Reservists are prepared to take over the program's operations at a moment's notice to ensure continuous, 24-hour collection and dissemination of atmospheric data.

"We have to be prepared for anything to go down," said Tech. Sgt. Christy Gravitt, 6th SOPS NCO in charge of initial upgrade training.

Normal operations consist of a crew of five to seven mission-ready personnel who perform all tasks on the program such as monitoring sensors, gathering and transmitting data, troubleshooting any potential anomalies, and knowing where the satellites are sitting in space, Sergeant Gravitt said.

Military commanders worldwide are dependent upon accurate environmental data to plan and execute their missions. The forecasts built from DMSP data are essential for the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. military to maintain safe aircraft travel, Captain Demboski said.

The satellite program has collected weather data for U.S. military operations for more than four decades. The mission was born under a cloak of extreme secrecy in the early 1960's, shortly after the Russians launched the very first satellite (Sputnik) into space in 1957. In December 1972, DMSP data was declassified and made available to the civil/scientific community, Captain Demboski said.

By serving as the "hot back-up" to NOAA, the squadron collects vital weather data from the DMSP. Military and civilian forecasters use this data to monitor and predict regional and global weather patterns, including the presence of severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and typhoons. The data helps save lives and minimize potential property damage by aiding in the planning of evacuation directives, the captain said.

As a primary source of data for the National Hurricane Center, DMSP tracked 26 named storms and seven major hurricanes during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.

Environmental data is gathered from tracking stations around the world utilizing large antennas that "talk" to the satellites. The mission data is then relayed from the tracking stations to the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt AFB, Neb., and to the U.S. Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanographic Center at Monterey, Calif. Captain Demboski explained that the colorful weather graphics people see on television are generated at the California facility.

The data that DMSP provides is very valuable in the aftermath of natural disasters. For example, program data was critical in determining the extent of damage and coordinating disaster response efforts after the December 2004 tsunami that struck in Indonesia, Captain Demboski said.

Every 101 minutes, the Reservists capture and deliver an entire orbit's worth of Earth and atmospheric data to the Air Force Weather Agency within 10 minutes of ground station receipt, said Senior Master Sgt. Troy Wilds, 6th SOPS operations superintendent.

The primary weather sensor on DMSP records pictures of visible light and heat, infrared imagery, in an area that measures 1,600 nautical miles wide as it orbits the Earth. Additional satellite sensors provide data on air temperature and its moisture content, Sergeant Wilds said.

At first glance, information on moisture content wouldn't seem to be significant. However, prior to Operation Desert Storm, the program provided data on the soil/moisture content of the desert sand in the Middle East. Tests were then performed to determine if it was safe to transport tanks, service members and equipment across the desert, the sergeant said.

In addition to predicting weather patterns, the program's infrared imaging pinpoints fires in both populated and isolated areas, and predicts the impact of wind conditions. The program is also used in analyzing and predicting volcanic ash distribution in major eruptions and to monitor polar ice growth and reduction, Captain Demboski said.