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Battlefield Environment Division
Dr. Richard Shirkey
Team Leader Weather Research and Assessment Team
Battlefield Environment Division
Computational and Information Sciences
11
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
WIDA 13 March 2012
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Battlefield Environment Division
CHIEF
Battlefield Environment
Division
Pamela Clark
301-394-2500
CHIEF (A)
Atmospheric Sensing
Dr. Jiang Liu
301-394-1442
22
• 48 Scientists & Engineers
• 2 Military
• 10 Technicians & Administrative
• Majority Physicists and Meteorologists
CHIEF
Atmospheric Dynamics
Dr. Donald Hoock
575-678-5430
CHIEF
Atmospheric Modeling
Applications
David Knapp
575-678-4574
• Acoustic & E-O Propagation
• Boundary Layer Research
• Nowcasting & Data Fusion
• Aerosol Characterization
• Micro-scale Met Models
• Tactical Decision Aids
• Optical Imaging
• Turbulence & EO effects
• Automated Weather Routing
• Remote Sensing
• Bio-inspired Applications
• Web Enabled Applications
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Approved
Unlimited For Public Release; Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public
Release, Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Atmospheric Modeling Applications Branch
Strategic Vision
VISION: Lead developer of emerging
technologies to build computationally
feasible & accurate Nowcasting capabilities
& weather decision support tools.
MISSION: Research and develop the
most accurate and timely battlefield
mission execution weather data and
products for the Warfighter.
Weather Decision Support Tools
Army-scale weather
forecast & “Nowcast”
models
Support Intel Running
Estimates and Artillery
Meteorology
Warfighter Value
Assessment
OBJECTIVES:
• Develop next generation mission execution forecast model (Nowcast).
• Web services & new/improved weather decision products at all echelons.
• Assess Nowcast & weather tool accuracy & value added to Warfighter.
33
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Current Operations:
Aerostat Operations Support
U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement
(JUONS) for Improved Weather Forecasting (CC-0432)
Persistent Threat Detection
System (PTDS) Length: 35m
 Tailored Objective Analysis and Turbulence Parameterization for
the 3DWF Diagnostic Wind Model
 Weather Running Estimate-Nowcast (WRE-N) Coupled to 3DWF
 My Weather Impacts Decision Aid (MyWIDA)
 Atmospheric Hazard Assessment and Rules of Thumb for PSS
Sites in OEF Theater
Persistent Ground Surveillance
System (PGSS) Length: 22m
 Local Met Sensors Feasibility Study and Demonstration
Over 30 Persistent
Surveillance Systems either
lost/damaged since January
2011 where weather was a
significant contributing
factor.
Very fine-resolution wind
models and Nowcasts
44
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Weather Information Processing
Theater Scale
Forecast
Army Nowcasting
Theater & nested
grids for decision aids
0-3 hr local tailoring
of Theater grids
>3 hr forecasts
5-15 km grid res.
Weather Impacts/
Small Unit Decision
Support Tools
Local Battlefield
Observations
Impacts/effects
at each grid point
<1 km grid res.
Weather Routing
Forward Area
Observations
Weather Running
Estimate-Nowcast
Winds /Turbulence
MyWIDA
Physics Based Micro-MET
& Effects Modeling/Simulation
Co
rre
cte
Pr
dP
oin
ti
n
io
at
ag
op
Acoustic array
mounted on
an aerostat
ng
Ve
cto
r
th
Pa
e
Fals ting
Poin r
to
Vec
EO/IR (TAWS)
Acoustics (SPEBE)
Event
55
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
3D Weather Impacts
66
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Atmospheric Dynamics Branch
Vision:
Atmospheric Turbulence and Effects Research
Provide highly detailed knowledge of Army
relevant microscale environments, turbulence
and propagation effects on systems
Mission:
Perform basic and applied research to
measure, model, predict and understand the
dynamics of the boundary layer atmosphere
for its effects on Army systems and operations
Research Areas:
• Boundary Layer Dynamics
Oblate <-- Non-isotropy --> Prolate
MET in urban, mountain
and forest terrain
Local-Rapid Evaluation of Atmospheric
Conditions (L-REAC) application
• Atmospheric Propagation Dynamics
• Microscale Meteorological Modeling
• Local-Rapid Evaluation of Atmospheric
Conditions (L-REAC) Project
77
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Google Earth display
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3D Wind Field (3DWF) Model for winds in
urban, mountainous and forested terrain
3DWF is being implemented by the
Air Force for daily operational
support to the AF/ Army in March
2012 as part of the Aerostat JUONS
effort.
Air Force highest resolution operational 1.67 km WRF forecast winds feed
higher resolution 50m 3DWF for winds at 20 m AGL in mountainous terrain
Runs in less than a minute for
immediate decisions
Also produces Turbulent Kinetic
Energy (TKE) 3D profiles to warn of
shear conditions.
The follow on Atmospheric Boundary
Layer Environment (ABLE) Model will
be a full physics forecast model for
urban and mountainous terrain
2D ABLE
flow
88
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
3DWF
TKE
Hazard
Warning
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Bio-inspired Environmental
Awareness
$4.5M ARL BED SBIR Program in bio-inspired
environmental awareness for autonomous systems
Wind turbulence both inside and outside buildings
significantly impacts Micro and Nano Air Vehicle
(MAV/NAV) autonomous hover and navigation
through windows and small openings.
Based on insect and bird awareness sensors and
autonomic processing a system is developed that
has total awareness of its own mechanical state,
can cope with minor damage and avoid collisions
autonomously, freeing up the operator for
attention to mission.
This program currently has active:
• Three Phase I SBIR
• Two Phase II SBIR
• One Phase III deployment SBIR
• Proposals for follow-on FY13 Phase I SBIR
Key Deliverables in FY12:
• 20 MK-2 InstantEye developmental test
systems for early deployment evaluation
• 100 MK-3 systems for deployment using
adaptive gust-rejection techniques
developed under this SBIR program
Physical Sciences Inc. (Andover, MA)
MK-2 InstantEye
20 cm, 200g, DoD Rapid Reaction
Technology Office and Marine Corps
funded deployment
99
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited
Future Nano Air Vehicles
will use more responsive
adaptive flapping wing controls
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Optical Turbulence and Propagation
Theory and Characterization
TeraHertz Imaging
Technology Development
Optical Turbulence Simulations
Simulated Active THz mode, 80 m
target range, 80 dB Dynamic Range
Propagation effects models, propagation
environments, and verification studies for
TeraHertz and EO/IR Systems
Lidar scan of water vapor
density fluctuations
Abs. Hum. = 0.7 g/m3
Abs. Hum. = 35.7 g/m3
Simulated Passive THz mode, 40 m target range, NEP = 3 x 10-12 W Hz-1/2, 100 Hz frame rate
• Characterize Water Vapor (WV) and turbulent WV
fluctuation effects on THz system performance
Buffalo
Boulder
Basra
Baltimore
T = -10 °C
Rel. Hum. = 30%
Abs. Hum. = 0.7 g/m3
T = 20 °C
Rel. Hum. = 44%
Abs. Hum. = 7.6 g/m3
T = 43 °C
Rel. Hum. = 30%
Abs. Hum. = 17.9 g/m3
T = 35 °C
Rel. Hum. = 90%
Abs. Hum. = 35.7 g/m3
• Deliver accurate, practical terahertz propagation
models for various environments at any frequency
in this under-exploited EM band for:
 Covert and jam-proof collision avoidance
Humidity Fluctuation and Wind Turbulence Correlation Field Experiments
10
10
 Pilot Degraded Visual Environment (DVE)
imaging systems for future brownout
solutions
 High bandwidth secure local TOC THz
networks providing compact, low power,
adjustable FOV and range controllable
communication links that have no frequency
interference issues beyond the local area
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Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited