aviators, such as temporary or permanent runway closures, radar, communications, or guidance systems outages, or changes in available facilities at an airfield. At most military airfields, NOTAMs are directed to a separate AWN terminal in the base operation office. During terminal outages, these NOTAMs may be redirected to the AWN terminal in the weather spaces. Navy and Marine Corps weather observers should coordinate  directly  with  the  local  base  air  traffic controllers to arrange for pickup of NOTAMs when received over a weather circuit. Air Force Global Weather Intercept  Program The Air Force Global Weather Intercept Program (GWIP) is another major function of the GWCS. Air Force radio intercept sites around the world routinely intercept   meteorological   and   oceanographic information broadcast from other nations that would otherwise be unavailable for use. This information is transmitted  by  other  nations  knowing  that  it  will  be intercepted and used. This is part of the data exchange program  governed  by  the  World  Meteorological Organization   data   exchange   agreements.   The intercepted data is entered into the AWN, and large amounts  are  forwarded  to  the  National  Weather  Service and FNMOC to supplement foreign data received from other sources. Most of the data is used for automated global scale analysis programs. Some selected data is directed  to  the  Fleet  Environmental  Broadcast,  which  is discussed  later  in  this  chapter. DIGITAL  FACSIMILE Several shore sites receive the National Weather Service Digital Facsimile (DIFAX) satellite broadcast. The  broadcast  originates  at  the  National  Centers  for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) located at Camp Springs, Maryland, and it is then distributed via a continuous  satellite  broadcast  from  the  National Weather Service office at Silver Spring, Maryland. A small 18-inch dish antenna is used to capture the broadcast  signal  at  each  receiver  site. The  MIDDS  is  equipped  with  a  special  receiver module that can ingest DIFAX products as necessary. A few weather offices still use a desktop computer to analyze the signal and print the graphic products on a standard  printer.  No  operator  maintenance  is  required for  the  equipment  other  than  periodically  reloading paper, replacement of printer ribbons, and a periodic vacuuming  of  lint  and  dust  from  the  printer. The DIFAX uses product codes for each product. Operators  access  the  command  function  via  the computer keyboard, and use the product codes to specify which products are to be displayed or printed, and  which  products  are  to  be  ignored.  The  product codes  are  included  on  the  facsimile  transmission schedule. Transmission schedules are periodically broadcast and are also available via the Internet from the DIFAX service offices at NCEP. The DIFAX broadcast should be discontinued by late 1999 as the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing   System   (AWIPS)   becomes   fully operational.  Most  products  currently  available  from this service and routinely used by military weather personnel are now available via NODDS and JMV. So   far,   we   have   covered   the   various telecommunications systems you will use in the Navy. In the next section, we will discuss how you will access this information. Q4. Q5. Q6. Q7. Q8. Q9. Q10. Q11. Q12. Q13. Q14. Q15. Q16. Q17. REVIEW QUESTIONS Before a long distance commercial call can be made from a government telephone system, what action must be completed? What is the purpose of the STU-III? What are Internet "links" used for? What is the function of a network server? How are military URLs identified? What Internet routing system is used to transfer classified   information   between   military activities? What types of information may be obtained from a  METOC-related  military  website? What information must be included in an e-mail address? What is the purpose of the AWN? What  organization  is  responsible  for coordinating  and  validating  Navy  and  Marine Corps  AWN  data  requirements? How can you obtain weather information via the AWN that is not routinely received by your command? The TT and AA indicators of a MANOP header are used to identify what information? What information is contained in a NOTAM? How are DIFAX products copied? 1-13