The AFGWC three-dimension nephanalysis and prediction system

The Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC), a unit of the Air Weather Service under the Military Airlift Command (MAC) has developed a near real-time cloud forecasting system. This system integrates conventional synoptic surface and upper air weather data with real time Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) visual and IR data into a global analysis of clouds at 15 levels from the surface to 55,000 ft. These data are analyzed numerically using high speed digital computers. Through the use of numerical models these data are then used with the latest global wind, temperature and humidity data in numerical forecast models to produce global forecasts of clouds for up to 48 hours in the future.