As discussed in chapter one, the Tactical
Environmental Support System (TESS) is designed to
provide tailored meteorological, oceanographic,
electromagnetic propagation, acoustic, and satellite
products. The analyses and predictions from TESS are
based mainly upon information obtained from various
telecommunications channels, on-scene reports, and
environmental software programs. Since its
introduction, TESS has undergone major hardware
changes and significant software improvements. We
will discuss the environmental software programs
available with the TESS (3), TESS-Next Century (NC)
Transition, and TESS-Next Century (TESS-NC).
TESS (3)
The Tactical Environmental Support System,
Version 3.0 (TESS 3), retained essentially the same
Table 2-3.—TESS (3) Environmental Programs
PROGRAM
Solar/Lunar Almanac Program
(SLAP)
Warning plot
Atmospheric Environmental File
(AEF)
Radiosonde Initial Analysis (RLA)
D-values (DVAL)
APPLICATION
Produces monthly or daily
summaries of ephemeral data for
the sun and the moon. Data
includes rise and set times, daylight
and twilight periods, moon phase,
etc.
Three subprograms plot tropical
cyclones, high winds, and high
seas.
View atmospheric soundings prior
to use in an environmental
application. Holds a maximum of
10 soundings.
Processes radiosonde data into
arrays of parametric data.
Determines significant altitude
levels such as the freezing level,
condensation level, and contrail
formation levels, etc.
Computes D-value profiles. A D-
value compares the differences
between the actual height above
mean sea level (MSL) and the
height of the same pressure surface
in the U.S. standard atmosphere.
The D-value is used to correct
altitude settings for pressure-bomb
detonations.
CONSIDERATIONS
Data only accurate for dates
between 1985 to 2015. Potential for
erroneous data above 60° latitude.
Displayed times do not consider
political and geographical limits.
No significant considerations.
No significant considerations.
Requires the entry of latitude,
longitude, and balloon release
height.
Maximum altitude of approximately
11,000 meters. Cautionary use for
radiosonde data when the balloon is
released at heights greater than 50
meters.
stand-alone workstation concept of earlier versions of
TESS. However, TESS (3) was the first environmental
workstation that provided connectivity between ships
and shore-based METOC activities. An automatic
shipboard observation system known as the Shipboard
Meteorological and Oceanographic Observing System
(SMOOS) was introduced in conjunction with this
system. SMOOS is discussed in module 1 of this series.
TESS (3) was installed with a wide variety of
environmental applications software, most of which
come from the OAML and GFMPL models and data
bases. Table 2-3 explains the application of several of
these programs. Access to all programs is directed by
screen menus, with user input via trackball or keyboard.
Additional information is provided in the TESS (3)
operator’s manuals. All remaining TESS (3) systems
will eventually be replaced by the TESS-Next Century
system.
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