US NAVY OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY
469
must be returned to the warfighter within his decision timelines and in a
form that he can readily understand and use.
How is operational oceanography distinct from oceanography
performed in a research and development (R&D) environment? The U.S.
naval operational oceanographer has a defined customer, namely the fleet
user, whereas the R&D oceanographer focuses more on the scientific
question(s) he seeks to answer. The operational product supports actual
naval operations and exercises. The warfighter expects a timely and useful
product derived from specific product requests pertaining to his operation.
The operational oceanographer typically must rely on “operational” vice
“research” quality data when attempting to answer a warfighter question.
That is, he must make use of the limited data available rather than have the
advantage of a systematic, preplanned research effort targeted at a specific
scientific question. Similarly, the operational oceanographer must typically
rely on rapid analyses that, given the limited data available, may not
approach the statistical rigor of analyses required of publication in scientific
journals. Finally, the operational oceanographer requires the capability for
rapid, near-real-time monitoring and assessment of ocean product
performance in order to quickly gauge its value in answering a warfighter
request.
Who, more specifically, is this warfighter requesting environmental
information and what sort of questions might he ask? Naval Special
Clearance Team swimmers engaged in neutralizing mines in a nearshore
MIW operation may ask if their operation will be limited by currents too
strong or water depths too shallow. This holds true for any swimmer or low
speed vehicle in the water, such as an NSW swimmer approaching a harbor
or a deployed autonomous vehicle measuring nearshore bathymetry. Navy
surface ships evacuating noncombatants from hostile territory, amphibious
ship commanders planning amphibious assaults, or the joint (Army/Navy)
warfighter planning logistics support across the beach after a successful
amphibious operation may all ask if their respective operations will likely be
adversely affected by surface waves and surf too large or tides too low for
safe operations. ASW or MIW sonar operators searching for an adversary’s
submarines or mines, respectively, may ask for the marine acoustic
environment to best understand detection ranges or even what search
patterns to conduct. Submarine operators or NSW swimmer delivery vehicle
drivers may want to know the threat of broaching due to internal wave or
soliton-induced density changes. An NSW swimmer might ask whether
bioluminescence will compromise his surreptitious approach to a harbor by
leaving a luminous wake trailing behind as he approaches shore. This
limited sampling of warfighter questions, while only beginning to address
the numerous possibilities of environmental impact on naval operations,
provides a flavor of the potential impact of operational oceanography.
469
must be returned to the warfighter within his decision timelines and in a
form that he can readily understand and use.
How is operational oceanography distinct from oceanography
performed in a research and development (R&D) environment? The U.S.
naval operational oceanographer has a defined customer, namely the fleet
user, whereas the R&D oceanographer focuses more on the scientific
question(s) he seeks to answer. The operational product supports actual
naval operations and exercises. The warfighter expects a timely and useful
product derived from specific product requests pertaining to his operation.
The operational oceanographer typically must rely on “operational” vice
“research” quality data when attempting to answer a warfighter question.
That is, he must make use of the limited data available rather than have the
advantage of a systematic, preplanned research effort targeted at a specific
scientific question. Similarly, the operational oceanographer must typically
rely on rapid analyses that, given the limited data available, may not
approach the statistical rigor of analyses required of publication in scientific
journals. Finally, the operational oceanographer requires the capability for
rapid, near-real-time monitoring and assessment of ocean product
performance in order to quickly gauge its value in answering a warfighter
request.
Who, more specifically, is this warfighter requesting environmental
information and what sort of questions might he ask? Naval Special
Clearance Team swimmers engaged in neutralizing mines in a nearshore
MIW operation may ask if their operation will be limited by currents too
strong or water depths too shallow. This holds true for any swimmer or low
speed vehicle in the water, such as an NSW swimmer approaching a harbor
or a deployed autonomous vehicle measuring nearshore bathymetry. Navy
surface ships evacuating noncombatants from hostile territory, amphibious
ship commanders planning amphibious assaults, or the joint (Army/Navy)
warfighter planning logistics support across the beach after a successful
amphibious operation may all ask if their respective operations will likely be
adversely affected by surface waves and surf too large or tides too low for
safe operations. ASW or MIW sonar operators searching for an adversary’s
submarines or mines, respectively, may ask for the marine acoustic
environment to best understand detection ranges or even what search
patterns to conduct. Submarine operators or NSW swimmer delivery vehicle
drivers may want to know the threat of broaching due to internal wave or
soliton-induced density changes. An NSW swimmer might ask whether
bioluminescence will compromise his surreptitious approach to a harbor by
leaving a luminous wake trailing behind as he approaches shore. This
limited sampling of warfighter questions, while only beginning to address
the numerous possibilities of environmental impact on naval operations,
provides a flavor of the potential impact of operational oceanography.