Exploiting the weather gap : meteorology and naval operations in the 20th Century

Abstract

Weather is an increasingly important factor in naval operations. Historical analysis provides examples of weather and its influence over military operations. Prior to World War II, weather conditions were simply endured by adversaries. In the 1950αs and 1960αs, the role of weather changed. This change in the military significance of weather has its roots in changing venues of naval operations, changes in forecasting technologies and changes in military weapons systems. During the 20th century, weather has made the transition from being an equalizer to a force multiplier. The United States need to continue its leading work in environmental prediction in order to maintain the βweather gapγ between itself and its potential adversaries.