Unclassified information from the AWN is
forwarded to selected naval communication stations for
broadcast via satellite. Each Naval Meteorology and
Oceanography regional center monitors the
environmental broadcast for their AOR (see table 1-5).
The contents of each broadcast are also determined by
each regional center. Normally, any data available in
the AWN may be included on the environmental
broadcast. However, because of the limitations of the
system, only selected data are actually included. The
regional centers may send a command via an AFMEDS
terminal to halt the stream of data sent by the AWN.
During these halts, classified traffic is transmitted by
the regional center to the communications station for
retransmission directly on the environmental broadcast.
This classified data typically consists of naval ship
observations and forecaster meteorological assistance
support (MET Assists).
Specific requests for observations or forecasts not
included in the broadcast are sent via message to the
Fleet CINC and the responsible regional center with an
information copy to COMNAVMETOCCOM, as
specified in NAVMETOCCOMINST 3140.1. Your
LCPO or MET Officer will normally initiate these
requests.
The content of the environmental broadcast, as well
as the channel assignments and the actual
communications satellite itself, shifts when naval ships
transit from one operational command area to another.
Ships usually encounter these shifts when transiting
from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean, from the Red
Sea into the Arabian Sea, and through the Panama
Canal.
The FMCB is normally transmitted in encrypted
form. Aboard ship, the Radiomen operate and monitor
the FMCB receiving equipment and crypto equipment.
The decrypted data stream from the Fleet
Environmental Broadcast is transferred to the shipboard
weather office on a protected circuit. In the weather
office, the data may be directed to a TESS or IMOSS
terminal, or directly to a printer.
Other channels of the FMCB support AUTODIN
message service and tactical data that supports systems,
such as the Joint Operations Tactical System (JOTS),
the Officer-in-Tactical Command Information
Exchange System (OTCIXS), or the Tactical Data
Information Exchange System (TADIXS). Many
environmental products are composed specifically for
these systems. The JOTS system in particular is
extensively used by USN MET and USMC METMF
members when embarked aboard ships without a
weather office. The shipboard Aerographer’s Mate
normally has no responsibility to operate the shipboard
receiving equipment for the JOTS, OTCIXS, or
TADIXS broadcasts.
HIGH FREQUENCY (HF) BROADCASTS
Many meteorological and oceanographic data
broadcasts containing either alphanumeric or graphic
(facsimile) information are available for ships at sea
from HF radio transmissions in different parts of the
world. In the past, the National Weather Service, the
U.S. Air Force, and NAVMETOC regional centers
transmitted a continuous HF broadcast of
meteorological data. Due to the high maintenance cost
and advancements in communication technology, most
of these broadcasts have been reduced or have been
eliminated altogether.
Table 1-5.—Fleet Environmental Broadcasts Monitored by NAVMETOCCOM Regional Centers
NAVMETOCCOM CENTER
BROADCASTS MONITORED
NLMOC Norfolk (2nd Fleet)
East Atlantic: LMHA
West Atlantic: LMHB
NATO: H52N
NEMOC Rota (6th Fleet)
NPMOC Pearl Harbor (3rd Fleet)
Mediterranean: MMHH
East Pacific: PMOO
NPMOC WEST Guam (5th/7th Fleet)
West Pacific: PMHH
Indian Ocean: MMWW
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