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CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric
Research
Past Seminars
Seminar Abstract
Thursday 12 February 2004, 11.30 am (Tas time)
CSIRO Auditorium, Hobart
Commander Andrew McCrindell
Director of Oceanography and Meteorology
Royal Australian Navy
The Application of Oceanography and Meteorology
in the RAN
The Directorate of Oceanography and Meteorology (DOM)
is a component of the Royal Australian Navy’s Hydrographic,
Meteorological and Oceanographic Force Element Group. The Directorate
consists of four elements providing Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC)
support to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through the provision
of tactical forecast products and environmental briefs, deployed METOC
personnel, training to the wider ADF community and information services
from our data centre. Part of our mission is to enable optimum force
utilisation based on the existing and forecast physical operating
environment. Fundamental atmospheric and oceanographic parameters
are used to derive the current and forecast performance of weapons
and sensors. In the ocean environment, the capability to predict sonar
performance provides a war fighting advantage in the RAN’s capability
to conduct mine warfare and submarine operations. Research at CSIRO
contributes to our knowledge of the above and below water environment.
In particular, project Blue Link represents a significant step forward
in the ADF’s capacity to predict the impact of the environment
on future operations.
(Commander Andrew McCrindell graduated
from Brunel University in 1985 and joined the Royal Navy in 1986 as
an Instructor specialist. He graduated from the Royal Navy’s course
in Meteorology and Oceanography in 1989 becoming a METOC specialist.
Practical experience in weather forecasting was gained at naval air
stations in the UK before operational deployments at sea with the RN
First Frigate Squadron. At sea he was employed in using the full range
of tactical METOC applications in environments as diverse as the Arctic
Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Andrew immigrated to Australia in 1994 where
he joined the Royal Australian Navy as a METOC specialist. Applying
his tactical METOC skills in a number of the RAN’s operational
centres, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1999. He has since
held appointments as Officer In Charge (OIC) of the RAN’s tactical
forecasting capability at the Fleet Weather and Oceanography Centre
(FWOC) and OIC of the RAN’s deployed METOC capability in the Operational
METOC Centre (OMC). In 2003 he simultaneously completed the Australian
Command and Staff Course and a Masters of Management in Defence Studies
at the University of Canberra. Promoted to Commander in January 2004,
Andrew now serves as Director Directorate Oceanography and Meteorology.)
[Back to Seminars]
CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade,
Hobart
For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
Peter Oke,
(Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine Research (03) 6232 5387
Keith Hayes,
(Biological seminars) CSIRO Marine Research (03) 6232 5298
Katrina Nitschke,
Antarctic Climate and
Ecosystems CRC
(03) 6226 2265 & IASOS,
University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2509
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