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Cold War Radar

Meteorology

Forcasting weather was not a new phenomenon in the Cold War, although it did become more centralized in this period.  During the Second World War forecasts were included in most flights and by 1944 the Royal Canadian Air Force had employed 370 meteorologists.

After the War, the importance of weather forcasting continued.  In 1947 the United States Weather Bureau and the Meteorological Services Branch of the Department of Transport came together, building a line of weather stations at Resolute Bay, Isaachsen Mould Bay, Eureka Sound, and Alert.

In 1955 more than 100 meteorological radar stations were created, although more of these were in the United States than Canada.

Radar was essential in this endeavor because it could see precipitation, and thus track storms and other severe weather. There was another connection to radar, and this was that all radar operators needed to know about weather.  There was hardly any control over it, so it needed to be taken into account when possible.

Every group within the Aircraft Control and Warning system was made aware of the meteorological reports by professionals of various countries. 

One of the responsibilities of the Fighter Control Operator was to plot not only the location of aircraft, but also the weather.  They would also pass on the information quickly when it was deemed important.  Therefore FtrCOps had to be able to understand the weather information they were given to accomplish these tasks.  This is why it was studied as a part of their radar training.