DEFENSE   MAPPING    AGENCY 
3UIUOING    36.    U.S.    SA^AL    OBSERVATORY 
WASHINGTON.    O.C.      Z0303 
DMAINST  3052.5 
PR,  ?F 
7  March  1978 
DMA  INSTRUCTION  8052.5 
SUBJECT:   DoD  Weather  Plotting  Charts  and  Catalog 
REF:      a.  DoD  Directive  5105.^0,  "Defense  Mapping  Agency  (DMA)". 
b.  Joint  Staff  Memorandum  MJCS-280-73,  "DoD  Weather 
Plotting  Charts,"  23  August  1973- 
1.  Purpose.  This  instruction  defines  responsibilities  and  procedures  for 
the  determination  of  requirements,  format,  production,  and  distribution  of 
Weather  Plotting  Charts  (WPC)  and  the  supporting  Catalog  of   Weather 
Plotting  Charts. 
2.  Applicability.  ,This  instruction  applies  to  all  DoD  organizations  which 
have  an  interest  in  or  responsibility  for  requirements,  design,  production, 
and  distribution  of  Weather  Plotting  Charts  and  the  supporting  Catalog. 
3-  General.   Weather  Plotting  Charts  are  non-navigational  products  used 
exclusively  by  the  weather  agencies  within  the  Military  Services  for 
plotting,  analysis,  and  prognosis  of  weather  systems.   Prior  to  the 
formation  of  DMA,  the  JCS  management  authority  for   these  charts  was  the  HQ 
Air  Weather  Service  (AWS) ,  USAF.   Reference  b.  recognizes  that  the 
Director,  DMA,  now  has  the  responsibility  for  the  validation  of  requests 
for  new  WPC,  major  revisions  or  deletions  of  existing  charts  and  specifies 
that  these  requests  should  be  processed  in  accordance  with  DMA  and  Service 
policies  for  mapping,  charting,  and  geodesy  products.   In  order  to  assure 
continued  responsiveness  to  the  primary  users  of  WPC  products,  this 
instruction  formalizes  existing  procedures  which  provide  for  technical 
liaison  between  HQ  AWS  and  weather  agencies  within  the  Departments  and 
Commands  on  WPC  requirements  prior  to  DMA  validation. 
U.   Description. 
a.   Weather  Plotting  Charts  depict  the  location  and  identification  of 
meteorological  observing  stations,  and  portray  latitude,  longitude, 
geographic  or   natural  boundaries.  Only  minimum  topographic  and  sounding 
information  is  shown.  Certain  of  the  charts  are  produced  on  continuous 
roll  sprocketed  paper  for  computer  generated  weather  forecasting,  while 
other  charts  contain  a  unique  grid  for  automatic  plotting  of  weather  data. 
Also  included  in  the  WPC  Program  are  special  upper-air  computation  and 
pseudoadiabatic  diagrams  and  plastic  scales  which  are  required  for  phases 
of  weather  forecasting  and  weather  briefing. 
.,0OJT/C,V
DMAINST  8052.5 
7  March  19  78 
b.   The  Catalog  of  Weather  Plotting  Charts  provides  indexes  of  all  WPC 
charts,  scales,  and  diagrams. 
5.  Definitions. 
a.  Major  modification  -  substantive  changes  to  an  existing  WPC  such  as 
alteration  of  geographic  coverage,  scale,  projection,  size,  or  topographic 
features  portrayed. 
b.  Minor  modification  -  changes  to  an  existing  WPC  relating  to 
portrayal  of  weather  station  data;  e.g.,  location,  international  index 
number,  call  letters,  station  symbolization,  and  other  rapidly  changing 
details  of   this  nature. 
c.  Mew  charts  -  new  Weather  Plotting  Charts,  diagrams  and/or  plastic 
scales  required  to  satisfy  changing  meteorological  requirements  and  related 
weather  forecasting  and  plotting  techniques. 
6.  Responsibilities  and  Procedures, 
a.  Headquarters,  Defense  Mapping  Agency  (DMA),  is  responsible  for: 
(1)  Approving  requests  for  new  WPC,  major  modifications  to 
existing  charts,  and  changes  to  WPC  specifications. 
(2)  Integrating  and  priority  ranking  WPC  requirements  with  other 
mapping,  charting,  and  geodetic  requirements. 
(3)  Distributing  the  Catalog  of  Weather  Plotting  Charts  through 
the  DMA  Automated  Distribution  Management  System. 
b.  Headquarters,  Air  Weather  Service  (AWS) ,  USAF,  is  responsible  for: 
(1)  Approving  and  forwarding  directly  to  the  DMA  Aerospace 
Center  (DMAAC/PR)  the  Military  Services'  area  requirements,  automatic 
distribution  schedules,  and  requests  for  minor  modifications  to  existing 
WPC. 
(2)  Assisting  Military  Services  in  preparation  of  requests  for 
new  WPC,  major  modifications  to  existing  charts,  and  specification  cnanges.. 
(3)  Submitting  to  DMAAC/PR  requests  for  new  WPC,  specification 
changes,  and  major  modifications  to  existing  charts  for  technical 
coordination  prior  to  final  submission  to  HQ  DMA/PR  for  approval. 
(4)  Submitting  to  DMAAC/PR,  as  required,  routine  supplements 
and  proposed  deletions  to  the  Catalog  of  Weather  Plotting  Charts.
DMAINST  8052.5 
7  March  1978 
c.  Military  Services  are  responsible  for: 
(1)  Forwarding  to  HQ  AWS/DOU  requests  for  new  WPC, 
specification  changes,  and  major  modifications  to  existing  charts  for 
technical  coordination  and  submission  to  HQ  DMA  through  DMAAC. 
(2)  Forwarding  to  HQ  AWS  area  requirements,  WPC  distribution 
requirements,  and  requests  for  minor  modifications  to  existing  charts. 
(3)  Submitting  to  DMAAC/PDD  requisitions  for  any  WPC  required 
in  addition  to  those  received  through  automatic  distribution. 
(4)  Requisitioning  Catalog  of  Weather  Plotting  Charts  directly 
from  the  DMA  Distribution  Control  Point  (DDCP) ,  DMA  Topographic  Center 
(DMATC) . 
d.  DMAAC  is  responsible  for: 
(1)  Producing  and  distributing  the  WPC  according  to 
distribution  lists  provided  by  EQ  AWS. 
(2)  Forwarding  to  HQ  DMA/PR  for  approval  any  requests  for  new 
WPC,  major  modifications  to  existing  charts  and  changes  to  the  WPC 
specifications . 
(3)  Accomplishing  minor  modifications  to  the  WPC  program  after 
they  have  been  reviewed  by  HQ  AWS. 
7.  Effective  Date.  This  instruction  is  effective  upon  publication. 
FOR  THE  DIRECTOR: 
rM-mc^t&e-^^ 
/ 
THOMAS  P.  BAKER,  JR. 
Colonel,  USAF 
Chief  of  Staff 
DISTRIBUTION  3+
DISTRIBUTION:   3 
Plus  ; 
HQ  DA  (DAMI-ZX)  5 
HQ  DA  (DAMI-TST)  5 
USN  (KOP-09B)  10 
(NOP-095)  5 
NAVQCEANMET  3 
OCEANAV  5 
HQ  USMC  5 
HQ  USAF  (DA)  10 
HQ  USAF  (ISINTB)  5 
HQ  USAF  (XOOSR)  5 
Air  University  (AUL3T-63-720)  1 
Ma  clonal  Guard  Bureau  5 
DIA  5 
Military  Agency  for  Standardization  5 
Joint  Strategic  Target  Planning  Staff  (JLE)  1 
CIN'CLANT  (J37A)  14 
C  INC  AD 
USCINCEUR 
CINCPAC  -i 
USCINCSO 
USC INC RED 
CINCSAC/INTM  8 
CINCKAC 
CIA  (AC/ DC I) 
Department  of  State  (INR/M)  10 
S"SA 
USCG