In addition to Navy climatic publications, there are other sources for air/ocean climatology data which are available to the AG for preparing climatic studies. They are as follows: . The Naval Environmental Prediction Research Facility, Monterey, CA develops forecasters guides for data-sparse and high-interest areas such as the Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

l The Naval Oceanographic Office provides climatic data for coastal and oceanic areas. Available data includes tides, currents, water structure, etc. NAVOCEANO publications are distributed through the Defense Mapping Agency.

l The Air Weather Service Environmental Technical Application Center (ETAC) provides climatic information for Air Force operations. However, data produced by ETAC can be used for naval applications. A listing of climatology studies available from the Air Weather Service can be found in NAVOCEANCOMFAC, Bay St. Louis.

Climatological records must be interpreted correctly to gain the needed information. Proper interpretation requires that all of the meteorological elements be studied so they present a composite picture. One meteorological element alone may mean very little. For instance, it is possible to conclude that Cairo, Egypt, and Galveston, Texas, have about the same kind of weather based solely on the temperature, since the yearly and monthly means and annual range are approximately the same. However, Galveston has about 40 times as much precipita-tion. Thus, their weather conditions over the year differ greatly.

To interpret just one meteorological element requires a study of several factors. For example, the temperature of a particular locality must be studied from the standpoint not only of the mean but also of the extremes and the diurnal and annual ranges. The effectiveness of precipitation also depends on several factors, such as amount, distribution, and evaporation. The mean precipi-tation for a particular month for a locality may be several inches, but the interpreter may find from a study of the localitys records that in some years the precipitation for that month is less than an inch, possibly not even a trace.

Climatology is introduced where operational planning is required for a length of time beyond the range covered by weather-forecasting tech-niques. A study of the climate of an area or region may well foretell the general weather pattern to be expected.

A more direct application of climatology can be made by both the experienced and the inexperienced forecaster and assistant forecaster. Those personnel having personal experience at a particular station can use climatology as a refresher for the overall weather patterns that can be expected for the ensuing season. This knowledge can help them to be more perceptive in their everyday analyses, to be alert for changing patterns with the seasons, and to produce a higher quality forecast.

The personnel who have had no experience at a particular station must rely on climatology as a substitute for their experience.

Forecasters and assistant forecasters cannot be expected to become familiar overnight with the weather peculiarities of their new area of respon-sibility. The station certification period can be greatly reduced if the new people are furnished with "packaged experience" in a form that can place them more nearly on a par with those forecasters already experienced at that station. The Local Area Forecasters Handbooks are good examples of this type of packaged information. The Naval Oceanography Command makes many uses of climatological data. In using the data, however, it must be clear that climatology has its limitations in the field of meteorology. It may be put this way. Climatology is an essential supplement to meteorology, but it must never be considered a substitute for the meteorological situation that constitutes current weather conditions.

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