Use Weather Operational Effects

The Weather Operational Effects solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you to understand weather conditions within an area of responsibility, analyze potential operational effects of weather, and share information among staff and leadership.

In this topic, you’ll learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the workflows below.

Note:

Use your organization's data or configured apps to follow these workflows.

Get started

The Weather Operational Effects solution provides maps, a data structure, step-by-step instructions, and more. The tasks in Weather Operational Effects Project guide you through downloading forecast data, processing the forecast data for operational effects, and creating tactical decision aids.

To download and unzip the Weather Operational Effects Project ArcGIS Pro project, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Weather Operational Effects Project item.
2. From the item page, click Download.
3. Unzip the downloaded folder, and then from the unzipped folder, open the ArcGIS Pro project.
4. In the Catalog pane, expand the Tasks folder.

   Note:

   If you do not see the Catalog pane, from the View tab, in the Windows group, click Catalog Pane.

5. Double-click the Weather Operational Effects task group.
6. In the Tasks pane, expand the Explore Weather Operational Effects task group to see the collection of tasks.

   Tip:

   Click a group heading or task name to view its description at the bottom of the Tasks pane.
7. Double-click Overview to review the project.
8. Double-click What's Included to review the data, maps, and files included with the project.
Each task group includes a set of steps for using the solution.

Use Weather Operational Effects Project

In this workflow, you will assume the role of an intelligence staff member who wants to use the ArcGIS Pro project to download, process, and review weather data for the Area of Responsibility and Points of Interest.

Create Area of Responsibility and Points of Interest

To understand the weather within an operational environment, this environment must first be defined. The first step is to create the Area or Responsibility (AOR) polygon and identify Points of Interest point features within this AOR. Points of Interest can be key and decisive terrain, convoy checkpoints, objectives, or local population centers.

In follow-on steps, the AOR and Points of Interest will be used to download, process, and determine the effects of weather forecast data.

To create and save these features, click the Use Weather Operational Effects task group and follow the Create AOR and Points of Interest task.

Process weather forecast data

Acquiring and processing weather forecast data drives the overall solution. This solution uses Global Forecast System (GFS) data produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and distributed on the NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS).

GFS is multidimensional raster data "posted to a quarter degree equally spaced longitude/latitude grid with a temporal resolution of 1 hour out to 120 hours, then 3 hours for days 5-16, has 57 vertical standard pressure levels, and is cycled 4x/day." (NOMADS). For more information on GFS, visit the Documentation Homepage.

NCEP utilizes a subscriber list to provide announcements regarding data servers. To receive these announcements, subscribe to this list.

After it is downloaded, the forecast data is processed for Points of Interest. Processing results in a standalone data table with a record for each location at every time slice/interval in the weather forecast data. The table contains fields for each forecast weather variable, such as surface temperature and wind gust.

The table also contains individual fields for operational thresholds, such as the effects of temperature on personnel. Using the threshold CSVs and the table weather values, these fields are populated with Favorable, Marginal, or Unfavorable ratings.

With the operational environment defined and weather forecast data processed, the resulting tactical decision aids can be reviewed.

To download the required Global Forecast System (GFS) data for the AOR, process it for the Points of Interest, and conduct operational thresholding, follow the Process Weather Forecast Data step.

Process astronomical data

In addition to weather forecast and effects, astronomical data for Points of Interest can be calculated. Astronomical data, such as beginning and ending times for different twilights, sun rise and set times, moon rise and set times, and percent illumination, can impact military operations and timelines. To calculate astronomical data for Points of Interest, follow the Process Astronomical Data step.

Review climate station data

Climate data can provide historical context and a baseline for possible future weather conditions. This solution utilizes GHCN-D World Monthly Climate Means 1981 - 2010 climate station data from the GIS for Climate Hub.

To review this data, follow the Review Climate Station Data step.

Share analysis and products (optional)

Note:

This workflow is optional and doesn't need to be completed in order to work with the solution.

After processing is complete, the multidimensional forecast data can be shared as an imagery layer and configured for web maps and apps.

Publish forecast imagery to ArcGIS Online

If you intend to review the forecast overlays in the web apps, the forecast mosaic dataset must be convert to Cloud Raster Format (CRF) and then published as an image service.

To publish and share this overlay content, follow the Publish Forecast Imagery to ArcGIS Online step.

Configure the Forecast Overlay web map and app

After the forecast mosaic dataset has been published as an image service, the forecast overlay web map and app should be configured to use this service. The web map layers can be rendered by the operational effects raster functions and the app time widget can be configured to use the image time extent.

To configure the web map and app, follow the Configure Forecast Overlay Web Map and App step.

Schedule tools (optional)

Note:

This workflow is optional and doesn't need to be completed in order to work with the solution.

Forecast and astronomical data tools can be scheduled in order to automate weather forecast data processing and account for regularly updated weather products. To schedule weather tools, follow the Schedule Weather Tools step.

Use the Weather Operational Effects Center app

In this workflow, you will assume the role of an operations staff member who wants to use theWeather Operational Effects Center app to review historical, current, and forecasted weather.

To review the content provided with the solution and created by your unit's intelligence staff, complete the following steps:

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Weather Operational Effects solution.
2. Open the Weather Operational Effects Center item page, and then click View.

   The Climate page shows historical weather conditions.

3. Select a climate station within your Area of Responsibility from the list to view historical temperature and precipitation data.

   The Current page shows current weather conditions. Current weather station data is provided by ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World.

4. Select a weather station within your Area of Responsibility from the list to view current temperature, humidity, wind, and visibility data.
To review the weather forecast analysis produced by your unit's intelligence staff, you will use the Forecast page.
5. To review the forecasted effects for Points of Interest, complete the following steps:
   1. In the dashboard header, select a point of interest.

      An optional time frame may be selected as well. With a point of interest selected, the dashboard elements will populate with forecasted weather values and operational effects.

   2. On the left side of the dashboard, click and then scroll through the operational effects list items to view forecasted weather conditions and the corresponding color-coded effects of Favorable, Marginal, and Unfavorable.
   3. At the bottom of the dashboard, click through the weather conditions charts to view how conditions change over time.
6. To review forecast overlays (if published by your unit's intelligence staff), complete the following steps:
   1. On the dashboard, click the Forecast Overlays tab.

      An embedded app opens.

   2. Within the app, click the Layer List widget and turn on the forecast overlay layer that you wish to review.
   3. Click the Time Slider widget to play and interact with the time-enabled forecast overlays.