Environmental Information for Naval Warfare

Accurate and timely environmental information can provide a tactical advantage to U.S. naval forces during warfare. This report analyzes the current environmental information system used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and recommends ways to address uncertainty and leverage network-centric operating principles to enhance the value of environmental information. Front Matter......Page 2 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Contents......Page 14 Executive Summary......Page 16 1 Introduction and Overview......Page 27 2 The Value of Environmental Information......Page 49 3 Nature of the Problem: Sources and Limitations of METOC Knowledge......Page 68 4 Improving Environmental Information by Reducing Uncertainty......Page 85 5 Information Flow: Leveraging Network-Centric Concepts......Page 125 6 Moving Ahead......Page 139 Cited References......Page 153 Appendix A Committee and Staff Biographies......Page 158 Appendix B The Role of Environmental Information in Naval Warfare......Page 162 Appendix C Environmental Science and Technology Programs......Page 187 Appendix D Acronyms......Page 210 Appendix E Information Gathering Activities of the Committee on Environmental Information for Naval Use......Page 216