The Effect of Weather on the American Military Effort in Afghanistan

Megan Dean

The Effect of Weather on the American Military Effort in Afghanistan

The diversity of Afghanistan’s climate is remarkable considering the country is only 250,001 square miles, or roughly the size of Texas. Within that small space, the freezing cold temperatures in the northeastern mountainous region provide stark contrast to the stifling hot temperatures of the southwestern desert region. These temperature extremes have presented a unique challenge to the United States Military and have inspired impressive quantities of research about and training for severe conditions.

The coldest region of Afghanistan is the northeast, where the Hindu Kush Mountains are located. The Hindu Kush is one of the tallest mountain ranges in the world. Although the average elevation is roughly 4,500 meters, the highest peaks rise over 7,000 meters. Accordingly, the high altitude of the Hindu Kush Mountains means the region experiences extremely cold temperatures. In the winter months, the temperature in northeastern Afghanistan often drops to -26°C or below.¹ The high elevation also contributes to extremely strong winds, the strength of which is exacerbated because Afghanistan’s land-locked position mountains means it receives wind from “from nearly every direction.”² And finally, conditions in the Hindu Kush are ideal for heavy blizzards. Even relatively low elevations that are heavily populated are regularly subjected to storms that produce nearly 2 meters of snow.³

In contrast to the bitter cold of the northeast, southwestern Afghanistan is marked by an oppressive heat for much of the year. This region is comprised of plateaus and sandy deserts, both of which are arid and hot. Southwestern Afghanistan is so dry because the Hindu Kush “shield Afghanistan from the summer rains brought to India and parts of Pakistan by the southwest monsoon.”⁴ The lack of rain means this area frequently suffers from widespread droughts. Last summer the severity of Afghanistan’s drought prompted the United Nations to launch an appeal for $76 million because more than 1.09 million people faced food shortages if left without aid.⁵ Windstorms are another relevant danger. During what Afghanistan citizens refer to as the "Winds of 120 Days," which occur between June to September, gusts often attain velocities of up to 180 kmph.⁶

The war against Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, has made the weather and climate of the country of acute interest and significance to the United States. The experiences of Great Britain, which fought and lost three wars in Afghanistan during the 19^th century, and the Soviet Union, which fought and lost its war in the late 20^th century, offered the American military keen insight into the nature of combat in Afghanistan. Those nations both learned that although they were “technologically superior in terms of military equipment and firepower, such advanced equipment could not overcome the difficulties of rugged terrain, bad weather, extended lines of logistics, and an extremely hostile foe who was competent in operating in such adverse conditions.”⁷ The United States’ primary experience with cold weather occurred at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, where researchers estimate that 10% of all casualties were related to cold weather.⁸ Determined not to make the same mistakes, the military conducted a considerable amount of research on the weather and climate of Afghanistan.

In early 2002, the Navy began “using NASA satellite data to help guide ships and planes in the war in Afghanistan, marking the first time the military has employed the space agency's up-to-date information in combat.”⁹ The data is particularly useful in identifying dust clouds that could be hazardous for airplanes and helicopters. It is also beneficial at spotting weather conditions that are unfavorable for laser or optically guided weapons. In regard to snowy conditions, NASA employs Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images to indicate regions receiving the greatest precipitation.

In addition to weather tracking and prediction, the United States Military also engaged in inclement weather training. Training is particularly important for those stationed in the high elevations of the Hindu Kush because, as Staff Sgt. Daniel Krug notes, “if you can’t beat the cold, you can’t beat the enemy.”¹⁰ The Army’s Arctic Weather Warfare Center, located in Black Rapids, Alaska, teaches nearly 600 officers a year important skills and strategies for maneuvering through rugged mountain terrain and surviving subzero temperatures. Their training involves learning how to dress effectively, ski, snowshoe, build snow shelters, and avoid avalanches. Officers return to their posts with a wealth of information that they relay to their subordinates.

In addition to training, soldiers also receive special “white vapor-barrier boots that are warm to 40 degrees below zero, Arctic mittens with trigger fingers, triple-layer sleeping bags, stoves with non-freezing fuels and insulated tents, and rations increased to 4,500 calories instead of the standard 3,600 because soldiers moving across snow in heavy clothing burn more energy than those in milder climates” before they are deployed.¹¹

American soldiers stationed in southwestern Afghanistan receive training relevant to its weather conditions. One of the main focuses of desert training is the importance of heat acclimatization, which refers to “biological adaptations that reduce physiologic strain, improve physical work capabilities, and improve comfort.”¹² Officers are taught to watch for signs of heat exhaustion and make hydration an integral part of their unit's attention. Soldiers are encouraged to carry as much water as possible and to drink up to 3 gallons a day to prevent the most common heat-related injury, dehydration.

Dust storms present a difficult challenge to the military. In addition to being detrimental to soldiers’ health, they also impede progress because “blowing dust and sand in the summer months take a heavy toll on vehicles and aircraft, and can block the use of laser-guided weapons.”¹³ To combat these problems, special military meteorologists are responsible for forecasting storms to the best of their abilities. They receive a steady flow of information from satellites and weather stations that help them predict “when the dry gusty conditions of the area will transform into a paralyzing blitz of flying, choking particles.”¹⁴The meteorologists then relay pertinent information to troops, which helps them prepare for hazardous conditions by dressing appropriately and switching to satellite-guided bombs and heat-detecting guns that can effectively see through dust.

The diversity of Afghanistan’s weather requires the United States’ military to engage in rigorous weather tracking, forecasting, and training. The War on Terrorism is so complicated, that the military is doing everything possible to make sure that it minimizes any additional challenges presented by the extreme weather conditions of Afghanistan. And, as Capt. Jeffrey L. Bacon, commander of the Naval Atlantic Meteorology and Oceanography Center notes, ''the U.S. military is without a doubt the best in the world at exploiting the environment and the weather to a tactical advantage.”¹⁵

1 Blood, Peter R., ed. Afghanistan: a Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 2006.

2 Vaccaro, Chris. “Rugged landscape creates extreme Afghan weather.” USA Today. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/world/2001/afghanistan-climate.htm>.

3 King, Michael. "Snow in the Hindu Kush." Earth Observatory. 16 Feb. 2005. NASA. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=12717>.

4 “Afghanistan.” BBC Weather. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002000>.

5 Afghanistan Drought –July 2006.” United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. <http://www.reliefweb.int>.

6 “The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.” 2006. Atlapedia Online.

<http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/afghan.htm>.

7 “War in Afghanistan – How it differs from the Soviet Experience.” Doug Borer. 30 Sept. 2001. Virginia Tech University. <http://www.research.vt.edu/resmag/2002winter/war.html>.

8 Stone, Andrea. “Troops learn cold efficiency in bitter Arctic.” USA Today. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-03-11-coldtraining.htm>

9 “Military Uses NASA Images in Combat.” Seth Hettena. 2 Apr 2002. <http://www.space.com/news/navy_nasa_020412.html>.

10 Stone, Andrea. “Troops learn cold efficiency in bitter Arctic.” USA Today. 11 Mar. 2002. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-03-11-coldtraining.htm>

¹¹ Ibid.

¹² “Individual Guidance for Heat Acclimatization.” <http://www.tradoc.army.mil/SURGEON/Pdf/HeatAcclimatizationGuide1.pdf>

¹³ “Summer war would mean heat, sandstorms.” Fox News. 30 Jan 2003.

<http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77052,00.html>

¹⁴ “A Formidable Enemy: Dust.” Revkin, Andrew. The New York Times. 1 Apr 2003.

<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DC1339F932A35757C0A9659C8B63>.

¹⁵ Ibid.