• Shuffle
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Alphabetize
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Front First
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Both Sides
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Read
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
Reading...
Front

Card Range To Study

through

image

Play button

image

Play button

image

Progress

1/151

Click to flip

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

151 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Describe three precautions that conducting a METWATCH can prevent.
(1) Endangerment to life or property.
(2) Occurrence of unsafe act.
(3) Adverse impact to mission operations.
State the purpose of a METWATCH.
To provide a controlled and organized approach to ensure weather operators maintain situational awareness
of current and future meteorological situations within a designated area.
What should forecasters focus on when conducting a METWATCH?
Detecting unforecasted changes in the weather.
How does a MISSIONWATCH differ from a METWATCH?
They differ in terms of focus. A METWATCH focuses on a broad area with general interest. A
MISSIONWATCH focuses on specific areas and forecast times to ensure mission success.
Can one set of METWATCH procedures be used for all of your customers? Why or why not?
No. Not every customer has the same METWATCH requirements.
Describe the term mission-limiting.
Weather situations or parameters that impact the mission in some adverse way.
What product provides customers with advance notice of the potential for tornadoes?
Weather watch.
What product provides your customers with advance notice of low-level wind shear?
Forecast weather advisory
What should be considered when we determine timeframes for monitoring weather changes?
Ensure that you establish time intervals that are reasonable and time-efficient.
What elements should an action notification list contain?
Primary and back-up method of contacting appropriate agencies. Examples are telephone, radios, e-mail,
phone patch, and so forth.
How long should a MISSIONWATCH last?
The entire duration of the mission—from start to finish.
What is the difference between mission-limiting parameters for a METWATCH and a
MISSIONWATCH?
Apply METWATCH parameters to the MISSIONWATCH Make minor adjustments as necessary to tailor the parameters to your customer.
What METWATCH/MISSIONWATCH tools are the most renewable?
METSAT and radar data are the most renewable data types.
Give examples of upper-air data that are useful for conducting a METWATCH or
MISSIONWATCH.
PIREPs, AIREPs, and SIGMETs
Match the support agencies in column B with their appropriate roles in column A. The agencies
in column B may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
Column A Column B
____(1) Most often the lead unit and defines the “problem of the day.”
____(2) Issues centrally produced point weather warnings.
____(3) Conducts hemispheric weather analysis.
____(4) Acts as the “eyes forward” for monitoring weather changes.
____(5) Responsible for tropical storms that impact US bases in Japan.
____(6) Strategic center that is most involved in the day-to-day
METWATCH process.
a. AFWA
b. OWS
c. CWT
d. JWTC
(1) b.
(2) a.
(3) a.
(4) c.
(5) d.
(6) a.
Explain what the term space environmental effects means.
Electromagnetic and electrically charged particles emitted primarily by the sun and the environmental
phenomena they create as a result of their interactions with earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetic field.
What is the basic energy source for the sun?
Nuclear fusion.
How long would it take for the sun’s effects to stop being felt on earth if it stopped producing
energy today?
50,000,000 years.
What is the average density of the sun?
1410 kilograms/per cubic meter (kg/m3).
Where is nearly all the sun’s emitted energy generated?
In the core.
Which layer of the sun contains one-half of its mass?
The core.
What is the “surface” layer of the sun called?
Chromosphere.
Give the name of the innermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere.
Chromosphere.
In which layer of the atmosphere does most solar activity occur including solar flares?
Chromosphere.
Which layer of the sun is not normally visible except during a total solar eclipse?
Corona.
Where do solar flares occur?
405-8
Chromosphere.
Name the layer of the sun that immerses earth.
Corona.
What is the source of the sun’s energy?
The thermonuclear reaction which produces helium from hydrogen fuel.
In which layer of the sun does energy change from X rays to ultraviolet to visible light before
being radiated into space?
Radiation zone.
In which layer of the sun do large temperature gradients form?
Convection zone.
What physical reaction represents a nearly constant release of energy from the sun into space?
Transformation of hydrogen into helium.
What is plage?
Areas of high magnetic field strengths that are denser, hotter, and thus brighter, than the surrounding areas.
Define sunspots.
Transient, concentrated, localized magnetic fields in the chromosphere which appear as dark areas on the
solar surface (also known as the photosphere).
What are solar prominences?
Usually quiescent clouds of solar material held above the solar surface by magnetic fields.
Describe solar flares.
Intense, temporary releases of energy.
406-5
Near what solar features do solar flares usually occur?
Sunspots or plages.
What are coronal mass ejections?
Violent release of bubbles or tongues of gas often located above sunspot groups.
What solar observing equipment was used to identify specific plasma flows on the sun?
The SOHO satellite.
Why are sunspots cooler than the surrounding solar atmosphere?
The spot’s magnetic fields act as barriers or insulators to heat radiating from the sun’s interior.
What is the average duration of a solar cycle?
11.1 years.
What numerical method is used the most to measure sunspots?
Zurich sunspot number.
How do sunspots physically appear on the sun?
They usually occur in pairs and are aligned east to west.
State the purpose a coronograph serves.
It blocks out the solar disk during visual observations of the corona, so that only emissions in the corona
may be examined.
What type of solar observation uses a projection method rather than a direct method?
White-light observations.
What type of solar observation uses a process where light is filtered through a series of segments
of polaroid, quartz, and calcite?
Monochromatic light observation of the chromosphere.
White light observations provide information on features in what part of the sun?
408-4
Photosphere.
What is the darker interior of a sunspot called?
Umbra.
How is the magnetic field of the sun affected from one solar cycle to the next?
It reverses polarity from one solar cycle to the next.
Why does plage appear?
Because of the features in the chromosphere.
What information do monochromatic light observations provide?
They appear as bright regions on the solar disk due to increased atomic reaction that results in areas of
greater chromospheric intensity.
What are filaments viewed at the limb of the solar disk called?
Prominences.
What does the strong, blue-wing emission of a filament indicate?
A motion outward toward the observer.
What type of radio frequencies are associated with radiation that emanates from the coronal
region of the sun?
Low frequencies from 25 to 75 MHz.
What type of data collected by the SFIR offers information on the energy density and special
characteristics of a solar event in the radio portion of the spectrum?
Radio burst data at discrete and sweep frequencies.
Match the solar radio instruments in column B with their appropriate functions in column A.
Items in column b may be used more than once.
Column A Column B
____(1) Monitors solar emissions over a frequency range of 25 to 75
MHz.
____(2) Provides a printout in terms of flux density versus time.
____(3) Monitors solar emissions at eight fixed frequencies.
____(4) Provides a printout in terms of frequency versus time.
a. Discrete frequency radiometer.
b. Sweep frequency interferometric.
(1) b.
(2) a.
(3) b.
(4) b.
410-1
Name two types of energetic charged particles.
Electrons and protons.
Define solar wind.
A continuous outflow of energetic charged particles (electrons and protons) from the sun.
What problem may system designers encounter with the solar minimum?
The solar minimum tends to lull system designers into complacency in regards to effects of space
environmental effects.
How long does it take for the sun to complete a full rotation?
27 days.
What may happen to an active region due to the sun’s rotation?
It may disappear as the area of the sun rotates away from the perspective on earth.
Which forms of electromagnetic radiation are the most applicable to space environmental effects?
X-ray, ultraviolet, and radio-wave radiation.
What causes the formation of the ionosphere?
X-ray radiation causes ionization of upper-atmospheric molecules. This process creates a layer of electrons
within earth’s atmosphere.
Name the forms of electromagnetic radiation that are relatively negligible to space environmental
effects.
Gamma ray, visible, and infrared radiation.
Why are magnetic fields important to space environmental effects?
They help form the magnetosphere.
What is the magnetosphere?
A complex, teardrop-shaped cavity around earth caused by the interaction of the solar wind and earth’s
magnetic fields.
How fast does the solar wind flow between the sun and earth?
412-3
250 to 1,000 kilometers per second or 600,000 to 2,000,000 miles per hour.
What is the IMF?
Enhancements or discontinuities in the outward flow of the energetic charged particles that make up the
solar wind. It has four to six sectors of alternating positive and negative polarity and a spiral structure near
the plane of earth’s orbit.
What solar feature causes a HSS of particles near the plane of earth’s orbit?
A coronal hole.
What space environmental effects occur in the troposphere?
A portion of the sun’s radio-wave radiation that penetrates all layers of earth’s atmosphere.
What space environmental effects can occur in the stratosphere?
Electrically charged particles emitted by the sun during an extreme solar burst and create high risk for
personnel engaged in high-altitude flight operations.
What space environmental effects occur in the mesosphere?
Ionization and heating.
What environmental layer has the most interaction between atoms/molecules and ultraviolet
radiation?
Thermosphere.
What environmental layer has a significant impact on a satellite being sent radio signals from
earth?
Ionosphere.
What steers electrically charged particles in motion near earth?
Earth’s magnetic field.
What is a visible result of earth’s magnetic field lines being deflected into the northern and
southern polar regions?
Auroral borealis and auroral australis (northern and southern lights).
414-3
Define magnetosphere.
A shell-like region where earth’s magnetic field is the predominant magnetic force.
What compresses the leading edge of the magnetosphere?
Solar wind.
How many radiation belts does earth have?
Two—an inner and an outer radiation belt.
Define an aurora.
The aurora is a dynamic and delicate visual manifestation of solar-induced geomagnetic storms.
How soon can energetic protons from a major solar flare reach earth?
Within 30 minutes.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
An extraordinary variation in earth’s magnetic field.
Name some systems affected by space environmental effects.
High frequency radio transmissions, over-the-horizon radar, submarine detection systems, radio navigation
systems, GPS systems, satellites, high-altitude flight operations, geomagnetic mapping, commercial electric
power transmission, pipelines, and the human body.
What is differential charging?
The charged particles from a geomagnetic storm causing different parts of a satellite or other spacecraft to
take on different electrical charges which leads to electrical arcing and damage to components.
How does bulk charging affect satellites?
It can cause component damage due to electrical discharging from one satellite component to another.
What space environmental effects hazard can affect astronauts?
Lethal dosages of radiation from solar proton events.
In which earth sector do DOD systems experience more problems?
414-13
Nightside sector.
What is the purpose of a neutron monitor?
To monitor the arrival of uncharged atomic particles called neutrons at earth’s surface.
Explain what the magnetometer measures.
The strength and variations of earth’s magnetic field.
What does the TISS measure?
Absolute TEC by analyzing the signals from GPS satellites.
Match the solar-geophysical sensing device in column B with its function in column A. Items in
column B may be used once.
Column A Column B
____(1) Detects radio noise signals received from outside the solar system.
____(2) Measures the strengths and variations of earth’s magnetic field.
____(3) Detects the arrival at the surface of electrically neutral particles.
____(4) Measures the relative total electron content along a path from a
geostationary satellite to the ground.
____(5) Determines the heights and electron densities of reflecting layers in
the ionosphere up to the level of maximum.
____(6) Measures absolute total electron content by analyzing GPS radio
signals.
a. Neutron monitor.
b. Magnetometer.
c. Riometer.
d. Ionospheric sounder.
e. Polarimeter.
f. Transionospheric sensor
electron density.
(1) c.
(2) b.
(3) a.
(4) f.
(5) d.
(6) e.
416-1
What determines the space environmental effects on radio-wave signals?
Signal frequency.
Name one space environmental effect on high frequency communications.
Controllability problems or disruption problems.
How can space environmental effects impact satellite communications?
By intermittently interrupting SATCOM signals.
What causes space environmental effects to impact satellite communications?
As UHF radio signals move through the ionosphere on their way to or from a satellite, extremely large
electron density gradients within the ionosphere distort the signal sufficiently such that the signal is
unrecognizable to a receiver.
How can space environmental effects impact GPS (single frequency) navigation signals?
The performance (positional accuracy) of GPS single-frequency navigation systems is degraded.
What causes space environmental effects to impact single frequency GPSs?
416-6
As a GPS signal moves through the ionosphere on its way down from a GPS satellite, the electrons slow
down the signal. This slowing effect increases as the total number of electrons the signal passes through
increases. Typically, four GPS signals from four satellites are used to compute a position. Since the total
number of electrons each GPS signal moves through is different, the receiver computes a position that is not
exact.
How can space environmental effects impact GPS (dual frequency) navigation signals?
GPS dual-frequency receivers intermittently lose lock of GPS signals causing loss of positional accuracy
What causes space environmental effects to impact dual frequency GPSs?
Extremely large density gradients in the ionosphere distort the signal sufficiently such that the signal is
unrecognizable to a receiver.
How is a GPS guided PGM affected by a large electron density gradient within the ionosphere?
Positional accuracy and identification of specific objects are degraded.
How can space environmental effects impact the performance of ground-based tracking of objects
in orbit?
A large electron density could cause a loss of lock on the GPS navigational signal and the PGMs could miss
the intended target.
Explain how an orbiting satellite is directly affected by space environmental affects.
Damage to on-board electronic components, false readings in satellite sensors, and anomalous behavior in
satellite subsystems.
How can space environmental effects cause satellites to lose altitude?
Heating of the thermosphere by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation or by enhanced electric currents in the
magnetosphere expands atoms and molecules from lower altitudes upward into the orbit altitudes of
satellites. These atoms and molecules increase frictional drag thus slowing their velocity and causing the
satellites or space objects to lose altitude.
What type of communication system experiences direct radio frequency interference?
Satellite communications.
What risks are U–2 aircraft crew members exposed to as a result of high altitude flight?
Excessive radiation exposure.
At what speed do solar flare-enhanced X rays, EUV, and radio waves reach earth?
Speed of light (3×10^8 meters per second).
418-2
What are two examples of high-energy particles that result from the occurrence of a solar flare?
Protons and cosmic rays.
Why is the prediction of solar proton and cosmic ray activity that affects earth so difficult?
Not all solar flares produce high energy particles, the distance between earth and the sun is 93 million
miles, and earth is a small target.
Over what regions of earth are the major impacts of proton activity felt?
Over the polar caps.
How long can ionospheric storms that are caused by electron and proton particle streams last?
From a few hours to several days.
What is a short-wave fade?
The absorption of HF radio waves by the ionosphere which results in radio signals not reaching their
intended destination or fading.
What is the cause of a short-wave fade?
HF radio signals being absorbed in the D-layer of the ionosphere and not reaching the F-layer where they
can be refracted back toward earth.
What is a radio energy burst?
A burst of energy from a solar flare on the sun that reaches earth’s upper atmosphere.
What is the cause of an absorption event?
Enhanced ionization of atmospheric atoms and molecules caused by particle bombardment from space.
Describe ionospheric scintillation.
The rapid, random variation in signal amplitude, phase, and/or polarization caused by small-scale
irregularities in the electron density along a signal’s path. Scintillation is similar to the human eye
observing the apparent twinkling effect when viewing a star or the heat shimmer over a hot road.
How can scintillation affect a GPS satellite?
It can cause a GPS receiver to lose signal lock with a particular satellite.
What effect can the TEC along the path of a GPS signal have?
418-12
It can introduce a positioning error.
What sensors detect scintillation?
Currently there are no fielded sensors for the detection of real-time scintillation.
Where in the atmosphere, statistically, is scintillation most severe?
At low latitudes.
What is radar aurora?
Abnormal radar signal backscatter on poleward looking radars.
What effect can free electrons in the ionosphere have on missile detection and space track radars?
They cause UHF and SHF radio waves from missile detection and space track radars to be bent or refracted,
as well as slowed somewhat from the speed of light.
State the consequences of satellite drag.
Inaccurate satellite locations hinder rapid acquisition of SATCOM links for commanding or data
transmission. Costly orbit maintenance maneuvers become necessary. De-orbit predictions become
unreliable.
List the two space environmental parameters used by current models to predict the orbits of space
objects.
F10 solar index and the geomagnetic Ap index.
Name the two observed impacts of geomagnetic storms on space track radars.
Bearing and range errors and atmospheric drag.
What is a result of the protective shielding around a payload (satellite) being jettisoned too early?
The payload is exposed to excessive frictional heating.
What impact do the Van Allen radiation belts have on geosynchronous and semisynchronous
orbits?
They affect orbiting spacecraft by exposing them to charged particles that can cause drag and electrical
damage.
418-22
What can produce spacecraft charging?
A spacecraft’s motion through a medium containing charged particles, directed particle bombardment, and
solar illumination.
What are some impacts of spacecraft charging?
Spurious circuit switching, degradation or failure of electronic components, thermal coatings and solar
cells, or false sensor readings.
What is a single event upset?
A single proton or cosmic ray depositing enough charge to cause an electrical upset in a circuit switch,
spurious command or memory change or loss. It can also cause serious physical damage to onboard
computers or other components.
What happens during satellite disorientation?
A satellite’s star sensor that orientates the satellite collides with protons and cosmic rays which produce a
bright spot which is interpreted as a false star. The onboard computer fails to find the false star in its star
catalog or incorrectly identifies it. The satellite then loses attitude lock with respect to earth. Directional
communications antenna, sensors, and solar cell panels would then fail to detect their intended targets.
Identify the AFSPC unit that provides operational and staff support to Cheyenne Mountain.
21st OSS Weather Flight.
Name the AFSPC unit that provides weather services for all DOD and civilian space and ballistic
missile launches at the Western Range.
30th Weather Squadron.
Which AFSPC unit provides weather services for all DOD and civilian space and ballistic missile
launches at the Eastern Range?
45th Weather Squadron.
List two responsibilities of the HQ AFWA Space Weather Operation Center.
Two of any of the following: Provide space environmental forecasts, warnings, and anomaly assessments to
enhance the capability of DOD forces; operate the worldwide Solar Electro-optical Network (SEON) and a
product development center; collect, analyze, and disseminate space environmental information required by
high-priority space operations and systems for NORAD, US Space Command, Air Force Space Command,
and other DOD agencies; develop and implement operations policy, standards, and procedures; evaluate
unit technical forecasting performance and advises the commander of capabilities; perform staff assistance
visits to subordinate units; provide weather and space environmental assistance to HQ AFSPC staff; direct
and manage operations for all facets of the DMSP; serve as operations liaison with NOAA and NASA for
weather satellite programs, weather support to space shuttle operations, and for the National Space
Environmental Effects Program; coordinate organization, manpower, personnel, and training requirements
as the command functional manager for weather; provide consolidated requirements for standard Air Force
weather equipment to HQ AFWA; and integrate weather and space environmental operations into AFSPC
missions, including spacelift, theater missile warning, surveillance, information dominance, and satellite
control.
List three AFSPC missions that integrate weather and space environmental operations.
Spacelift, theater missile warning, surveillance, information dominance, and satellite control.
What two agencies provide space environmental support in the United States?
NOAA’s Space Environment Center and AFWA Space Weather Operation Center.
From what agency do military customers receive space environmental support?
AFWA Space Weather Operation Center.
Approximately how many space-based and ground-based data sensors are in existence to monitor
environmental conditions?
30 space-based sensors and 70 ground-based sensors.
What space vehicle provides energetic and geophysical data to SEC?
GOES.
What happens to space environmental observational data after AFWA or SEC collect it?
The data is quickly cross-fed between the two centers then analyzed and processed and used to produce
space environmental effects products.
Explain the services provided by AFWA Space Weather Operation Center.
Rapid warnings when a solar or geophysical event is observed as well as short-range and long-range
forecasts of space environmental conditions. The branch also performs post-analysis assessments on
specific radar, communications, or satellite anomalies, to help operators determine whether the environment
contributed to a problem they experienced or whether the cause lies elsewhere.
How many solar optical and radio observatories does the USAF operate?
Six.
Which publication would you consult for information on space environmental impacts on DOD
operations?
AFSPCPAM 15–2, Space Environmental Impacts on DOD Operations
What Air Force instruction contains guidance on the proper format and routing for SAR for space
environmental effects products?
AFI 15–118, Requesting Specialized Weather Support.
Explain what an HF propagation product describes.
HF communication propagation conditions on a global scale, both observed and forecasted for the next six
hours.
What does a short-wave fade advisory describe?
The HF frequencies that may become unusable during daylight conditions due to a sudden burst in the sun’s
X-ray radiation that modifies the ionosphere.
422-3
What is the application for the WOXX50 KSFC bulletin?
Informing aircrews, tactical forces, and HF airways station operators of degraded conditions.
What does a polar cap absorption event warning report describe?
That HF communications north of about 50°N latitude and south of 50°S latitude may be seriously
degraded or impossible due to a burst of protons from the sun that modify the ionosphere.
Which bulletin describes that a significant enhancement in the magnetosphere’s electric-current
network (geomagnetic storming) has already started?
WOXX54 KSFC, geomagnetic event warning report.
What is an application for the WOXX54 KSFC bulletin?
Informing aircrews, tactical forces, mission planners, and HF airways operators of degraded HF
communications conditions.
Which bulletin would you use to inform you that a burst of radio-wave radiation has been emitted
by the sun and could produce radio-wave interference in a frequency range of 200 MHz–16 GHz?
NWXX50 KSFC, solar radio burst advisory.
What is the primary application for an energetic particle event warning report?
Satellite operations.