An Overview of Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center Operations and Products

Abstract

The environment is a critical factor to the safe, effective operations of the U.S. Navy. In support of our global peacekeeping mission, the fleet must have timely and accurate forecasts of environmental conditions from the top of the stratosphere to the bottom of the ocean, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hub of this support is the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FLENUMOCEANCEN) located at Monterey, California. As the navy's primary operational processing center for global oceanographic and atmospheric analyses and predictions, FLENUMOCEANCEN provides numerical environmental products to meet the needs of the navy, as well as a full spectrum of oceanographic products to support the Department of Defense. All products are based on the center's extensive global atmospheric and oceanographic database, sophisticated long-range forecast models, and tailored tactical decision aids in support of specific weapons and sensor systems. This paper briefly describes FLENUMOCEANCEN's data sources, computer systems, atmospheric and oceanographic models, applied products, and distribution systems.