text: Chapter 6
  Table 6-1. Space weather impact summary
  Space Weather
  Impacted systems Effects Available support
  Hazards
  Solar flare (X-rays) • High frequency • Shortwave fade • Shortwave fade
  communications advisory
  Solar radio bursts • Radars • Frequency interface • Solar radio burst
  • Ultrahigh frequency • Target mask advisory
  satellite communications
  Ionospheric • Ultrahigh frequency • Signal fade • Scintillation forecast
  scintillation satellite communications • Loss of signal lock • Post event
  • Global Positioning System assessment
  6-12. The specific phenomena that need to be included in the space weather analysis effort include:
  * Electromagnetic radiation that may interfere with communications and radar systems during
  daylight hours;
  * Energetic charged particles that degrade the performance of high-latitude, ground-based
  communications and radar systems and that disrupt or damage satellites; and
  * Solar wind events causing ionospheric scintillation in the polar and equatorial areas impair or
  disrupt SATCOM and GPS signals.
  Impact of Terrestrial Weather
  6-13. The second task of step 2 is determining the impact terrestrial weather will have on space operations.
  The staff weather officer has access to the 557th Weather Wing and to the theater specific weather support
  element databases of terrestrial weather information for the area of operations. The SSE tailors the staff
  weather officer product to the space analysis effort. For example, the impact on space capabilities will be
  considerably different during monsoon season in parts of the United States Indo-Pacific Command area of
  responsibility when compared to the stable, high pressure weather conditions which are common over much
  of the United States Central Command area of responsibility. The SSE develops a thorough understanding
  of the mission and effectively analyzes the linkage between terrestrial weather and space capabilities. The
  Staff Weather Officer tailors space weather information into a product that provides space weather effects on
  Army operations for the Army Component’s area of responsibility for each COCOM.
  6-14. Some factors related to weather analysis include, but are not limited to:
  * Terrestrial weather, such as heavy precipitation, can interfere with SATCOM reception;
  particularly when operating in frequencies above 10 gigahertz, which includes higher portions of
  the super-high frequency band, as well as X-, Ku-, K-, Ka-, and extremely high frequency bands;
  * Cloud cover impacting collection of electro-optical imagery and data;
  Interference with electro-optical, multispectral imagery, and infrared collection;
  o
  The high moisture content in cloud cover may hinder the infrared detection capability of
  o
  missile warning sensors; and
  * Degradation of space-based infrared sensors due to cloud cover. If there is a missile threat, the
  SSE determines if cloud cover may inhibit detecting and reporting on threat missile launches.
  Relation Between Terrain and Space Capabilities and Effects
  6-15. The third task of the area of operation effects analysis effort focuses on the relation between terrain
  and space capabilities and effects. It must be understood that while terrestrial impacts are typically addressed
  in other sections of the IPB, the SSE must consider terrain impacts on the information chain. For example,
  in restrictive terrain, line of sight issues may restrict access to space systems and result in degraded
  operations. Analysis for space capabilities may be evaluated automatically or through observation and fields
  of fire, avenues of approach, key terrain, obstacles, cover, and concealment. Some examples of how terrain
  impacts space capabilities and effects are identified below.