The Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) is an echelon IV component of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC), which provides worldwide meteorological and oceanographic data and analysis for the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

and strategic allies of the United States. The center is based out of

Monterey Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a population of 30,218 in the 2020 census. The city was fou ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. FNMOC provides Global and Regional Weather Prediction Charts (WXMAP) and Global Ensemble Weather Prediction Charts (EFS). WxMAP depictions of NAVGEM predictions for side-by-side comparison with NCEP global NWS models (GFS) are also available. FNMOC provides Global and Regional Ocean Wave Prediction Charts (WW3), Global Ensemble Ocean Wave Prediction Charts (WW3 Ensemble), and Global Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Anomaly Charts (NCODA). FNMOC provides links to satellite imagery of tropical cyclones (TCWEB) and current tropical storm forecast tracks. FNMOC is composed of military and civilian personnel. The team consists of specialists in meteorology, oceanography, computer science, and Fleet operations. The team's efforts provide computerized weather and ocean prediction products, weather satellite imagery products, and related tactical decision aids and data, supporting virtually every combat platform and weapons system operated by the US Navy.

History

In 1958, the Navy Numerical Weather Problems (NANWEP) group was established in Suitland, Maryland. NANWEP was later moved to the

Naval Postgraduate School Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a Naval command with a graduate university mission, operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. The NPS mission is to provide "defense-focused graduate education, including clas ...

(NPS) in 1959. Fleet Numerical Weather Facility was established in 1961. In 1974, Fleet Numerical Weather Facility moved from NPS to its standalone location in Monterey, California. In 1993, the operating title: Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), was adopted. In 2005, Fleet Numerical was realigned under Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC). In 2011, Fleet Numerical completed a new Computer Operations Center. FNMOC is one of the US Department of Defense's (DOD) primary central production sites for worldwide computer-generated operational meteorological and oceanographic analysis and forecast products.

Organization

FNMOC is an echelon IV commandThe United States Navy has a special hierarchical structure that uses 'echelons' to represent different levels of command. Echelon IV commands are responsible for operational control of naval forces. These commands typically oversee a specific geographic area or a specific type of naval operation. They are responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing naval operations within their assigned area of responsibility. aligned under the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) or CNMOC. FNMOC is co-located with

Naval Research Laboratory The United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Located in Washington, DC, it was founded in 1923 and conducts basic scientific research, appl ...

(NRL) Marine Meteorology Division. FNMOC maintains close ties with the nearby Naval Postgraduate School.

Numerical Weather Prediction

Central to FNMOC modeling capability is a global numerical weather model called the

Navy Global Environmental Model The Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) is a global numerical weather prediction computer simulation run by the United States Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. This mathematical model is run four times a day and prod ...

(NAVGEM) and a global ocean prediction model called the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). FNMOC models a variety of global, regional, sub-regional areas and specialized ocean and atmospheric environments as the DOD's premier Numerical Weather Prediction Center.

External links

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Naval Meteorology & Oceanography Command

FNMOC on the top500.org

References

{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Monterey County, California Meteorological organizations based in the United States Monterey, California Naval meteorology United States Navy installations