Mariners Log Vol. 46, No. 1 Spring/Summer 2002

“…and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main-top-mast Head, on the very Top of the Truck of the Spindle. This sight rejoiced our Men exceedingly, for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft. But when they are seen lying on the Deck, it is generally accounted a bad Sign.

“A Corpus Sant is a certain small glittering Light. When it appears, as this did, on the very Top of the Main-mast or at a Yard-arm, it is like a Star. But when it appears on the Deck, it resembles a great Glow-worm…”

Additional Observations of a Seventeenth Century Seafarer: William Dampier (see page 16) From the Editorial Supervisor Mariners Weather Log elcome to Spring. The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the sun’s W warmth is re-energizing the . So I happen to look at the world from a northern hemispheric perspective - sorry to my friends in the South. It is just that I get all excited as the warm weather of spring returns. Of course, living in southern Mississippi, it only lasts a few weeks until the sweltering heat and humidity of the deep south returns. When you add the fire ants, the overabundance of mosquitoes, and the intense, springtime U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE thunderstorms, you wonder why anyone would want to live here at all. Donald L. Evans, Secretary Actually, I believe that being out at sea is the best you can National Oceanic and ask for in life. You get the warmth of the sun and the in your face to make you feel free and alive as you travel Atmospheric Administration all around this beautiful orb that we call home. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Administrator As the seasons change, so does life. There will be good times as well as bad, and it is up to us as to how we read the clouds and weather our storms. John J. Kelly, Jr., In this issue, we have changed our issue date to reflect the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services seasons. We also say farewell to one of our own, Jim Nelson, our Houston PMO, who has retired and found his snug harbor. We get a valuable history lesson about the Editorial Supervisor Edmund Fitzgerald that can keep us safe in the future, Robert A. Luke and to reflect upon the past, the British donated an interesting article about the escapades and Editor observations of a seventeenth century seafarer named Bernadette T. Duet William Dampier.

Layout/Design So, no matter on what bearing life has you traveling today, find a leeward shelter for awhile and enjoy our latest Bernadette Duet offering of the Mariners Weather Log. – Luke Stuart Hayes Patti Geistfeld Some Important Web Page Addresses

Articles, photographs, and letters should be sent NOAA http://www.noaa.gov National Weather Service http://www.nws.noaa.gov to: National Data Buoy Center http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov AMVER Program http://www.amver.com Mr. Robert A. Luke, Editorial Supervisor VOS Program http://www.vos.noaa.gov Mariners Weather Log SEAS Program http://seas.nos.noaa.gov/seas/ NDBC (W/OPS 52) Mariners Weather Log http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/ Bldg 1100, Room 353D mwl/mwl.htm Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 Marine Dissemination http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/ marine/home.htm Phone: (228) 688-1457 Fax: (228) 668-3153 U.S. Coast Guard http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ Navigation Center marcomms/ E-mail: [email protected] See these Web pages for further links.

2 Mariners Weather Log Mariners Weather Log

Table of Contents

Edmund Fitzgerald Remembered ...... 4

Shipwreck - George Stone ...... 11

The Beatrice Hurricane ...... 12

Houston PMO Retires ...... 14

Seventeenth Century Seafarer, William Dampier ...... 16

Marine Prediction Center Sets Sail on First Alliance ...... 23

VOS Climate Project ...... 24

Attention Owners, Ship Operators and Navigation Officers - We Need Obs South African Weather Service ...... 37

New ...... 79

Departments:

Marine Weather Review North Atlantic, Sept.– Dec. 2001 ...... 38 North Pacific, Sept. - Dec. 2001 ...... 51 Tropical Atlantic and Tropical East Pacific, Sept. - Dec. 2001 ...... 62

Coastal Forecast Office News ...... 80 Alaskan Waters: Collecting Observations...... 80 Awards ...... 83

VOS Program ...... 86 VOS New Recruits ...... 86 VOS Awards ...... 87

Meteorological Services Observations ...... 92

Spring/Summer 2002 3 Edmund Fitzgerald

Great Lakes Storm November 9-11,1998: Edmund Fitzgerald Remembered

Kirk Lombardy Marine Forecaster NWS, Cleveland, Ohio

The author wishes to express his respect toward the Captains and crews of the Great Lakes shipping industry. The issue of the great tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald would rather be kept solemn by many. The intent of this article is to show how the interaction between the National Weather Service and marine interests has progressed in the last 24 years.

n 10 November 1975, the Dock No. 1, in Superior, WI. The shore of Lake Superior. (Strong most notorious Great ship’s final voyage would carry northeast storm force OLakes shipping disaster taconite; destined for Detroit, MI caused extremely high waves at occurred. The SS Edmund (Figure 1). the end of the fetch on the south Fitzgerald sank and it’s crew of shore of the lake). 29 men perished in the deep Fitzgerald departed at full speed waters of Lake Superior during of approximately 14 Knots (16 Fitzgerald’s new course passed an intense storm which had mph). Two hours into the voyage, approximately half way between developed over the central United the ship arrived at a point near Isle Royal and the Keewanaw States and made a bee-line for Two Harbors, MN. The SS Peninsula. At this point, the ship the western Great Lakes. Arthur M. Anderson, owned by turned eastward to parallel the the United States Steel Corp., northern shore of Lake Superior Twenty-three years later, a case bound for Gary, IN proceeded and then southeast-ward along the of deja vu settled in on the eastward on a similar course as eastern shore. Fitzgerald reached anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The two ships were a point approximately 11 miles Fitzgerald. From 9 - 11 approximately 10 to 20 miles apart. Northwest of Michipicoten Island November 1998, a storm of equal at 1800 UTC (1300 EST), proportions developed over the Routine weather reports, via radio, 10 November. The ship passed to same area as the Fitzgerald were made at 0600 UTC (0100 the West of Michipicoten West storm and followed a similar path EST) and 1200 UTC (0700 EST) End Light. At this point, toward the western Great Lakes. by the Fitzgerald on 10 Fitzgerald changed course to However, this time there was an November. At 1220 UTC (0720 pass north and east of Caribou improved forecast, warning, and EST), a normal radio report was Island on a southeast heading dissemination system in place. made to the company office. The toward Whitefish Bay, MI. report indicated the estimated time Final Voyage of the SS of arrival was indefinite due to The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank Edmund Fitzgerald weather. near the International Boundary Line some time after 0015 UTC On 9 November 1975, Fitzgerald headed northeast (1915 EST). Her final coordinates Fitzgerald began loading at away from the recommended were 46°59.9’N, 85°06.6’W. Burlington Northern Railroad shipping lanes along the south

4 Mariners Weather Log Edmund Fitzgerald

SS Edmund Fitzgerald increasing the wind speed and forecast to build to 8 to 16 feet by Encountered Weather wave heights. Monday afternoon.

The storm of historical proportions Gale warnings were issued in early A extended about 20 developed over the Oklahoma forecasts on 9 November for the miles west of Caribou Island, Panhandle on 8 November, and by eastern portions of Lake Superior. Ontario and was moving at a 1200 UTC (0700 EST), on 9 Successive forecasts indicated speed of 20 to 25 knots toward the November, this strengthening winds would increase from the east. Earlier forecasts projected storm was located over southern east-northeast at 25 to 37 knots the low to pass just south of Lake Kansas (Figure 2). during the night of 9 November. Superior. The forecasters noticed The track at this time was to the Since the low was forecast to pass the low would pass slightly further northeast with a minimum south of Lake Superior, winds north over the eastern end of barometric pressure of 29.53" of were expected to gradually shift Lake Superior and forecasts had Hg. On 9 November at 1200 UTC around to the north and then to be revised. (0700 EST), National Weather northwest. Service (NWS) forecast maps for Gale warnings were upgraded to Based on the latest position and surface conditions out to 36-hours storm warnings at 0700 UTC forecast track of the storm, the predicted that the storm would (0200 EST) on 10 November. forecasters knew the wind speed track in a northeast direction and Later forecast revisions called for was under forecast. A revision to pass just south of Lake Superior winds to increase to 35 to 50 knots the forecast was made at 2139 by 0000 UTC on 11 November from the northeast and then UTC (1639 EST) on 10 (1900 EST 10 November). diminish slightly to 28 to 38 Knots November. The wind was The NWS made several revisions from the northwest on Tuesday, increased to 38 to 52 knots from to the forecasts by gradually 11 November. Waves were

Spring/Summer 2002 5 Edmund Fitzgerald

battled the strong winds and rough seas the Great Lakes had to offer.

The combination of a complex forecast, the need to frequently update the forecasts, and the unknown risks encountered by the ship’s crew contributed to the demise of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The effects of the storm finally abated by 0600 UTC (0100 EST) on 11 November.

The final track of the storm was just north of the forecast track on 9 November. The storm moved from the northeast corner of Kansas on 9 November to east central Iowa, central Wisconsin on 10 November, Marquette, Michigan, west of Michipicoten Island on Lake Superior, White River, Ont., southern tip of James Bay, and finally to eastern Hudson the northwest. Gusts to 60 knots to handle the changing wind Bay on 11 November. The lowest were also expected. directions and speeds as the low recorded pressure of the storm moved over the lake. The ultimate was 28.95" Hg. The early forecasts for this event goal is to convey a clear and indicated an increase in wind concise forecast. However, this The SS Edmund Fitzgerald speed as the storm moved storm did not prove to be easy to encountered winds and seas that northeast. However, the forecasts describe the forecast wind were forecast by the NWS. The considerably under estimated the conditions. following are some actual weather strength of the storm and its observations that were reported by motion. Ships that were built in the 1970s the crew of the Fitzgerald: At were thought to be invincible and 0600 UTC (0100 EST) on 10 Each forecast revision had that they could handle rough seas. November, the ship was about 20 stronger forecast winds than the The improving technology allowed miles due south of Isle Royal and previous forecast. This was likely engineers to design larger ships. reporting winds from the northeast a result of limited forecast According to the Port at 52 knots and waves of 10 feet. guidance and a reaction, by the Meteorological Officer stationed Then, six hours later, Fitzgerald forecasters, to the deepening in Cleveland, Ohio, the larger and reported she was about 35 miles storm. stronger ships gave crews a false north of Copper Harbor, MI, and sense of security. Crews and the reported winds from the northeast Another difficult situation the shipping industry took the risk and at 35 knots and waves of 10 feet. forecasters encountered was how

6 Mariners Weather Log Edmund Fitzgerald

This was the final weather report sent by Fitzgerald.

The nearby vessel SS Arthur M. Anderson was in the vicinity of the Fitzgerald when the weather observations were reported. The Anderson substantiated Fitzgerald’s weather observations at 0600 UTC (0100 EST) and 1200 UTC (0700 EST) on 10 November.

Further west (approximately 15 miles southwest of the Anderson), a Canadian motor vessel Simcoe reported winds from the west at 44 knots and waves 7 feet at 1800 UTC (1300 EST) on 10 November. An Figure 3 - The storm track of the Great Lakes Storm, automated weather sensing unit at November 9-11, 1998. Stannard Rock was reporting winds from the west-northwest at expected to occur during the next east-northeast and increase to 45 50 knots, gusting to 59 knots. At 36 hours. The storm began to track knot gales on Tuesday while 0000 UTC on 11 November (1900 northeast through Kansas, waves were forecast to continue EST 10 November), Stannard southeast Nebraska, central Iowa, to build to 8 to 12 feet during the Rock was reporting west- southeast Minnesota, to northern day. northwest winds at 40 knots, Wisconsin where the central gusting to 65 knots. pressure dropped to 28.51" Hg at Storm warnings were issued at approximately 2100 UTC (1600 2100 UTC (1600 EST) on 9 EST) on 10 November. This is the November for the eastern two Great Lakes Storm - November lowest recorded pressure of the thirds of Lake Superior as winds 9-11, 1998 storm and fell well below the were forecast to reach storm minimum pressure of the Edmund force of 50 knots on Tuesday. Storm Track and History Fitzgerald storm (28.95" Hg). Waves were forecast to continue Gale warnings were issued at 1500 to build to 7 to 12 feet Tuesday A major storm system developed UTC (1000 EST) on 9 November and to 12 to 20 feet Tuesday night. over the Four Corners region of for Lake Superior. East-southeast The highest waves were forecast the United States on 8 November winds to 30 knots were forecast for the eastern two thirds of Lake 1998 and moved rapidly east to the for the early portions of Monday Superior. Oklahoma Panhandle (Figure 3). night but were forecast to increase By 1500 UTC (1000 EST) on 9 to gale strength to 35 knots late at Storm warnings were issued for November 1998, the storm had night. Waves were forecast to the rest of Lake Superior by 0900 deepened to a central pressure of build to 6 to 8 feet overnight. UTC (0400 AM EST). Storm 29.47" Hg. Further deepening was Winds were expected to shift to force winds were forecast to

Spring/Summer 2002 7 Edmund Fitzgerald

increase to 60 knots from the storm’s central pressure when all Storm Warnings for the west-northwest on Wednesday maintained a steady state Great Lakes were downgraded to with waves of 12 to 20 feet across averaging about 28.70" Hg as it Gale Warnings. A total of 10 the lake. moved from Lake Superior to the reports were issued at three hour Hudson Bay. This storm followed intervals. The forecasts that were issued by a similar track as the Edmund the NWS were consistent Fitzgerald storm. Seas and winds Wind and Wave Reports throughout the entire event. No were higher and stronger major changes in the forecast respectively, as reported by ships The highest wind gust reported on were made when a new forecast and buoys in the more recent all of the lakes was from a ship was issued. storm than the historical storm. anchored about 4 miles off of This is likely the result of an Sandusky Breakwater on Lake Overall, the forecasts for Lake increase in the number of buoys Erie; which is on the south shore of Superior were accurate and gave and reporting stations on the Great the lake. At 2050 UTC (1550 the Captains and crews nearly 40 Lakes. EST), on 10 November, the ship hours of lead time to prepare for reported a wind gust to 98 knots the arrival of the storm and to A commercial shipping company (113 mph) from the west- move their vessels to safe harbor. called the NWS Office in southwest and waves of five feet. As previously mentioned, the Cleveland, Ohio to report that the The low of 5 feet was highest wind speeds were not storm was being compared to the due to lack of fetch across the expected to occur on Lake Fitzgerald storm. Captains of the water. The highest waves occur at Superior until Wednesday, 11 large vessels heeded warnings and the downwind end of the lake. November. Observations from dropped anchors during the storm The maximum sustained wind various reporting stations indicated in safe harbor. They were not speeds and gusts that occurred on sustained winds on the lake were about to take any chances with the each of the lakes as reported by above 50 knots with gusts over 60 storm. various stationary observational knots. The highest recorded wave points are as follows: height was 15 feet on Lake National Weather Service Superior. Waves were likely higher Statements and Bulletins Lake Superior - northwest at 52 in locations where reporting sites knots with gusts to 63 knots; were not available; especially on The National Weather Service Lake Michigan - southwest at 41 the down wind end of the lake Forecast Office in Cleveland, Ohio knots gusts to 54 knots; where the greatest fetch occurred. is responsible for issuing storm Lake Huron - south at 23 knots More about the observations on outlooks for the entire Great Lakes with gusts to 51 knots; Lake Superior and the rest of the as part of the marine enhancement Lake Erie - southwest at 25 knots Great Lakes will be discussed later program. with gusts to 64 knots; and in the Wind and Wave Reports Lake Ontario - southeast at 49 section of this report. NWS Cleveland issued a storm knots with gusts to 64 knots. outlook for the entire Great Lakes The final track of the storm was at 0530 UTC (0030 EST) on 9 The highest waves reported on across extreme western Lake November 1998. The first Storm each of the lakes were as follows: Superior to northern Lake Superior Bulletin was issued at 1730 UTC and then on to James Bay and the (1230 EST) on 10 November and Lake Superior - 15 feet Hudson Bay by 1500 UTC (1000 bulletins continued through 2200 Lake Michigan - 20 feet EST) on 11 November 1998. The UTC (1700 EST) on 11 November Lake Huron - 14 feet

8 Mariners Weather Log Edmund Fitzgerald

Lake Erie - 20 feet of the duck hunters managed to produced limited forecast data. Lake Ontario - 13 feet walk to shore early Wednesday Most forecasts were created by morning and the other duck hunter comparing the hand analyzed Higher waves likely occurred at was lifted off the rocks by a charts to the forecast maps. Wind locations without reporting sites. Coast Guard helicopter later that speed and wave forecasts on the morning. Both hunters were Great Lakes were difficult to Today, ship Captains and crews unharmed. make due to limited observation heed warnings issued by the data. Frequently, the forecasts had National Weather Service to Thanks to improved forecasts, to be updated based on ship and protect not only their lives but their warnings, and dissemination, no shore reports across the Great expensive ships and cargo. lives were lost during this major Lakes. Captains will drop the ship’s Great Lakes Storm. anchor in sheltered areas such as Communication systems of the behind islands and in navigable Improved National Weather ‘70s were limited to the technology rivers for protection. Service Warning and Forecast of the time. Data transmission was Systems very slow and forecasts had to be Storm Event Problems delivered from one place to The National Weather Service another on paper rather than Strong southwest winds forced has made great strides over the electronically. Ship to shore radios shallow water away from Saginaw last 20 years in the development were the only means ship Captains Bay and the basin on the west end of forecast and warning tools. had to receive the latest forecasts. of Lake Erie. This caused Faster and more powerful The NWS used a Di-Fax system dangerously low water levels to computers allow forecasters to to receive weather forecast maps occur and put vessels either in the look at developing storms in great and noisy teletype machines to basin or planning on navigating in detail. This is a major step transmit and receive text data. the basin at risk. Tug boats that forward compared to the days of remained in the basin bottomed out the Fitzgerald. Forecasters of The NWS has undergone a major due to low water levels. the time relied on hand analyzed transformation over the last 10 weather maps and crude, by years. A modernization plan was Another vessel, the Wolverine, hit today’s standards, satellite and developed during the ‘80s to bottom at the Bay City Work radar weather information. The improve the warning and forecast Dock. The United States Coast hand analyzed charts consisted of systems in the NWS. Guard had to assist the vessel and a surface map taken from routine no serious damage to the ship weather observations at airports Next Generation Geostationary resulted. across the United States and Operational Environmental Canada. The upper air maps were Satellites (GOES - Next) have Two duck hunters were reported plotted using upper air soundings been launched during the ‘90s to missing on Saginaw Bay on from weather balloons launched improve coverage across North Tuesday (10 November). The twice-a-day at 0000 UTC and America. Satellites, already in winds were so strong that the 1200 UTC. All of this information place, were beyond their usable Coast Guard could not search for was fed into computers to life and were in jeopardy of failing. them until Wednesday morning. generate weather forecast maps The GOES satellites of the ‘90s The duck hunters’ boat ended up for the next few days. allow forecasters to see rapid scan being caught on some rocks off of animation loops of clouds and Sebewaing (Huron County). One The computer models of the ‘70s

Spring/Summer 2002 9 Edmund Fitzgerald

moisture in great detail during Computer generated weather Acknowledgments significant storm events. forecast models have improved over the last 20 years and have My gratitude to Daron Boyce - NWS Doppler radars have the replaced outdated models. The former Senior Marine ability to detect both precipitation computer models provide detailed Forecaster and George Smith - and air movements inside of a forecast parameters that display Port Meteorological Officer, storm and determine the wind wind speed and direction, from the National Weather direction and speed. This feature temperature, relative humidity, Service Office in Cleveland, was not available with the radars cloud levels, the location and Ohio for their expertise in the of the ‘70s. forecast track of storm systems, historical perspective of the and wave height forecasts. As events leading to the Edmund State-of-the-art computer systems computing power increases, Fitzgerald incident. called Advanced Weather smaller scale phenomena in the Interactive Processing Systems atmosphere such as lake effect My thanks also to Gary Carter - (AWIPS) has been deployed in precipitation and lake breezes are former Chief of Scientific the NWS across the country. The being simulated with greater Services Division at the AWIPS displays numerous data precision. National Weather Service fields on two large computer Eastern Region Headquarters monitors. The forecaster is able to A denser network of land surface and Robert LaPlante - Science overlay satellite data over surface weather observations from Operations Officer for the weather observations while Automated Surface Observation National Weather Service Office looking at Doppler radar data on Systems (ASOS) and marine Cleveland, OH who contributed the other monitor. The imagery weather observations such as input, comments, and can be animated and updated buoys and ship reports, also aids suggestions to this report. automatically. This is especially in providing more data for detailed useful when looking at radar and forecasts. References satellite data. A third monitor is used to edit text documents, such The result will be improved Merzlock, P., 1998: A report on the as: marine forecasts, marine weather forecasts because small Great Lakes storm of weather statements, or special scale changes in the atmosphere November 9-11, 1998. marine warnings and storm will be detected earlier and with warnings. greater precision. Marine Casualty Report - SS Edmund Fitzgerald; Sinking in A network of buoys has also been The NWS will continue to strive Lake Superior on 10 November deployed on the Great Lakes to for improved forecast, warning, 1975 with Loss of Life, 1977, report wind and wave conditions and dissemination systems to Department of Transportation - to the forecaster. ensure the safety of marine United States Coast Guard, p. 18- interests. 32.

10 Mariners Weather Log Shipwreck - George Stone

SHIPWRECK - George Stone

By Skip Gillham

he George Stone was a smashed against the hull and Fortunately, the steamer F.M. typical wooden Great broke up after launching. The Osborne spotted the distressed T Lakes freighter of the Captain was one of eight men vessel and was able to get into latter part of the 19th century. who then tried to take the steel position to remove the ten sailors The 282-foot, 6-inch long bulk lifeboat ashore, but it overturned who had remained on board. carrier was built by F.W. Wheeler before reaching land. Two sailors Before long the George Stone & Co. and launched at West Bay made it, but the Master was lost began to break apart and was a City, MI on June 20, 1893. as he waded the final few yards. total loss. He was overwhelmed by the The 1,841 gross ton vessel went to undertow and swept away. His But the ordeal was not over. The work in the Bradley fleet and body was found the next spring George Stone had been hauled cargoes such as iron ore, near Conneaut, OH on the other operating with a non-union crew, coal and grain. It is shown in a side of the lake. and they had been pelted with photo (on right) from the collection stones leaving Ashtabula. Even of the Milwaukee Public Library. Conditions on the George Stone the survivors received a rude were deteriorating. Water poured welcome arriving at Detroit. George Stone was in a collision into the hull through the seams, They were met by a mob before that sank the schooner S.H. and the pumps became clogged authorities intervened and Kimball on May 8, 1895. The with coal dust and shut down. secured their safety. Kimball went down in Lake Huron off Point aux Barques. Later, in 1898, the George Stone was one of 67 ships locked in the ice that had to be freed by an icebreaker from Detroit. On October 13, 1909, the George Stone was carrying 2,800 tons of coal loaded at Ashtabula, OH for delivery to Racine, WI. A southwest gale caught the sixteen- year-old steamer in the Pelee Passage on Lake Erie, and it ran aground on Grubb Reef. A kerosene lamp in the pilothouse overturned, and the structure caught fire. Attempts to get help were fruitless. The wooden lifeboat George Stone

Spring/Summer 2002 11 The Beatrice Hurricane

The Beatrice Hurricane: 15 September 1903 Capt. E.L. Sherrill Norfolk, Virginia

he menhaden fishing expected to be here today.” By Atlantic, and can conclude that steamer Beatrice was one then, however, it was too late to on the Beatrice they were doing Tof the casualties of the give any warning to the Beatrice, much the same. The Atlantic, hurricane that hit the mid-Atlantic or any of the other craft then at caught by the sudden blast of wind coastline on 15 September 1903. sea. and a swiftly rising sea, tried to set This purse-seiner, owned by the her jib to hold her head up to it. Atlantic Fisheries Company, was The Beatrice, commanded by This did not work (in any case it caught by the storm when Capt. William Leland of Irvington, was too bad a night to keep any returning to their factory at Cape VA, had left the dock the previous canvas aloft), and her engine - Charles, VA. She had been built in Sunday night. Along with the fleets even at 350 hp - was not powerful 1878 by Robert Palmer and Sons, from the other fish factories on enough to keep her driving into the at Noank, CT, and had been Chesapeake Bay and the seas. She was shipping water over lengthened from 105 feet to 135 Delmarva Peninsula, she would her decks and clear over her feet in 1900. She was powered by cruise the coastal waters until pilothouse, but somehow they a 170 hp reciprocating steam menhaden were spotted from the managed to get her anchor engine, but, like most purse seiners crow’s nest. They found large overboard. That held her until the of her day, also carried a suit of schools, or “places” of them, just hurricane passed, and she was sails. To take advantage of fair beginning their annual southward able to get on her way again. The winds, she could set a jib, main, migration, off the mouth of Atlantic had suffered heavy and from a mast stepped on her Delaware Bay. By Tuesday damage, and had lost her seine after deckhouse, a small mizzen. afternoon, the Beatrice had a full boats, net, and pieces of her rails. load and was heading back down The hurricane that was to prove the beach for Cape Charles. The Alden S. Swan, when the fatal to the Beatrice and other Following about 6 nmi behind her storm struck, turned and beat her vessels struck on 12 was the Atlantic, another steamer way back up the beach, finally September, crossing the state from from the Atlantic Fisheries Co., gaining shelter at Delaware SE to NW. News, as well as and further astern was the Alden Breakwater. The Atlantic, badly weather forecasts, traveled more S. Swan, from a factory at battered, returned to Cape Charles slowly in those days, and it was not Harborton. and got her fish out. She then put until three days later that the back out to sea to search for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in At around 2100, when off the Beatrice, which had still not Norfolk carried a full report of the Blackfish Banks and almost arrived. After searching all day damage it had caused. The abreast of Assateague Lighthouse, without any sight of the Beatrice headlines on 15 September the Beatrice ran into the or the Swan, she put in to Norfolk declared, “Florida swept by storm hurricane. Exactly what her for repairs. By this time, the that carries death and destruction captain did to try and weather the Virginian-Pilot was reporting that in its path.” Further down the page storm will never be known, but we both of these boats were missing was noted, “Southern storm know what was done by the and presumed lost.

12 Mariners Weather Log The Beatrice Hurricane

The Alden S. Swan made it Why had the Beatrice foundered, Life still had to go on, however, safely to Delaware Breakwater when her two consorts, the and in the days following the and was reported there on Atlantic and the Swan, had safely hurricane, the fleet was back out 19 September. The Beatrice’s weathered the storm? The answer on the fishing grounds. There is no fate was to remain a mystery, at may lie in the way she had been record that any monument was least for eleven days. On rebuilt, three years previous. She built for the Beatrice or any 26 September, her stern section, had been lengthened 20 feet and memorial service ever held for her including her engine room and had her main deck raised 2 feet. crew. Her memory was preserved after deckhouse, washed ashore This may have aggravated a weak only by the expression of old at Caffeys Inlet Life Saving spot at her midships section where timers in the industry, who, when Station, just above Duck, N.C. It her fish hold was located - caught in a blow offshore, with had drifted 105 nmi from where menhaden steamers tend to load night coming on and safe harbor a she had last been seen off the and unload rapidly, which puts on a long ways ahead, would say, “This Blackfish Banks. The same day, lot of hogging and sagging is as bad as the night the Beatrice her bow and the forward part of stresses. From her wreck having was lost.” her hull were reported ashore been found split into two sections, near Virginia Beach. No trace it would seem that her hull had was ever found of the 28 souls failed in this area. who had been her crew.

Editor’s note:

Captain Sherrill is correct that the Beatrice was lost at sea due to a hurricane. Although the climatological records are a bit fuzzy, there were actually two storms off the Atlantic seaboard during September 1903.

The hurricane that struck Florida had already crossed over Florida and was inland over the AL-GA border and in a weak tropical storm status by the September 15.

The second hurricane was east of the VA Capes on the 15th with Steamer Beatrice peak intensity of sustained winds of 70 - 85 kt. - Luke

Spring/Summer 2002 13 Houston PMO Jim Nelson Retires

HOUSTON PORT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER, JIM NELSON, RETIRES

By Robert Luke VOS Program Lead

im Nelson, the Houston, Texas Port Meteorological J Officer (PMO) retired from Government service on March 29, 2002. Jim Nelson, today Jim Nelson began his official government career 47 years ago when he joined the “wooden ships synoptic surface observations, and iron men” of the U.S. Navy. , plotting and upper Actually, he had been serving in air, he finally got a chance to pay this nomadic life for years, for he the Navy back for all the fun he had salt in his blood from the day had been given in past years. he was born – his father was a Jim Nelson, 1955 Navy Chief. Jim finally hung up his anchors in The Otterstetter was caught up 1974 while serving in Charleston, After basic training, Jim was sent in what history calls the Ash SC. to Oklahoma for additional military Wednesday storm that hit the bearing, and it was there that Jim European coast. On that day in Not one for sitting still, Jim started encountered his first and 1960, this storm caused his second career right away and gained an interest in weather. Jim considerable damage in Holland. began working for NOAA at the took orders to the Navy Weather The Otterstetter ended up National Climatic Center (later School in Lakehurst, NJ. Upon breaking her back in that storm, so renamed National Climatic Data graduating, Jim saw duty at many Jim cross decked yet again to the Center) in Asheville, NC. Jim was commands like the USS Antietam USS Edisto (AGB-2), just in time responsible for checking surface (CVA/CVS-36), Naval Air Station to make the “exotic” port calls of and upper air observations for Quonset Point, RI, USS Willis A. Thule, , and Antarctica. quality and correctness. Lee (DL-5), and the USS Courtney (DE-1015). It was In the rest of Jim’s illustrious Nine years later the moving itch aboard the Courtney that Jim naval career, he was assigned to finally won, and Jim transferred to learned to navigate, shoot the Sun the USS Independence (CVA- Galveston, TX as a radar operator. and Stars and use LORAN “B”. 62), and Fleet Weather Centrals in In 1987, he assumed the duties as While serving on the USS Norfolk, VA and Rota, Spain. PMO in the Houston and Otterstetter (DER-335), Jim Galveston region. Jim has been encountered another rare and When Jim was assigned as an instrumental in the excellence of treacherous weather phenomena. Instructor back in Lakehurst the VOS program and has been a where he taught aviation and benchmark to the kind of

14 Mariners Weather Log Houston PMO Jim Nelson Retires

ambassadorship and shipmate that When asked to comment about his the waterfront knows and retirement, Jim’s only words were, respects. “YES!! I made it!!”

Jim has been married to the former On behalf of the VOS program, Elizabeth (Betty) A. Jensen of we wish, Jim and Betty, Fair Waltham MA for the last 41 years, winds and following seas. and together they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Jim and Betty live in League City, TX and don’t have any plans to move to some retirement village in Florida. Instead, Jim plans to spend most of his time working in his yard and aggravating his wife.

VOS participants keep a close on the weather and notice cloud formations as indications of weather activity. This series of cloud photos taken at L41-13N Long 68-00W southeast of Frenchmans Bay was provided by Jack McAdam, Master of NOAA ship Delaware.

Spring/Summer 2002 15 William Dampier

“Additional Observations”of a Seventeenth Century Seafarer: William Dampier

arine meteorological specialists will want to account for and 1691 he managed, unintention- logbooks submitted to the anomaly, or reach a conclusion ally, and by a rather tortuous route Mthe Met Office contain about the identity of a species. to circumnavigate the globe. a wealth of information.Of course, of primary interest to the meteo- William Dampier Dampier’s intention was, basically, rologist and the climatologist are to describe everything he came the weather observations they Imagine, then, a time when the far across in his travels — had there contain, but the ‘Additional corners of the globe were still been a tourism industry in his day, Observations’ of meteorological being discovered; when new lands then his observations would phenomena and marine fauna and were claimed and mapped in the probably have been the equivalent flora have similar significance for name of sovereignty (and fought of the detailed travel guides those whose interests lie within over for years afterwards); when available today. In the rest of this the variety of subjects in these the locations of sea areas and land article, we unashamedly dip into areas. masses had still to be fully under- Dampier’s journals to reveal some stood; when seafarers had only a of the accounts from his own In this latter category, there is little rudimentary knowledge of meteo- Additional Observations. now reported by shipborne rology; and when there was only observers that has not been seen minimal collective knowledge upon before—waterspouts, which to draw when faced with ‘Red lobsters’ bioluminescence, birds, fish, unidentified phenomena and In mid-November 1683, the storms, whales, dolphins, to name wildlife in far-flung places. buccaneers sailed from the “Coast but a few topics — that can be Welcome to the mid-seventeenth of Guinea” heading for he Straits commented upon or identified by century — and enter one William of Magellan via the Sibbel de specialists, with a high degree of Dampier. Born around 1651 in Wards [Falkland Islands] where confidence.To aid such analyses, Somerset, he was apprenticed as a they would look for fresh water; today’s specialist can call upon the boy to a ship’s master in Dampier found “nothing worthy collective knowledge of Weymouth, and throughout an remark” until 28 January 1684 yesteryear, drawing upon the eventful life during which he was when, 10 days out from the observations, research and by turns at first a trader, a planta- islands, he noted some flying-fish. findings of the past. tion manager in , and then a log-cutter in Mexico, he found After that, he says: However, when the unusual does his greatest adventure sailing (as a “January 28, we made the occur, whether it be (in the case private individual) with English Sibbel de Wards, which are 3 of natural history) a ‘common’ buccaneers. Travelling with them islands lying in the lat. of 51d. species apparently no longer provided food and shelter of sorts 25m. South, and 57d. 28m. present in a previously favoured and also a convenient means by West Longitude from the area, or perhaps a ‘rarity’ seen in which to satisfy his inclinations to Lizard in England, by my abundance, a large amount of see the world and, between 1679 account. interest can be generated, and

16 Mariners Weather Log William Dampier

“The Day that we made drew some of them out of the small, were like a Lobster. I these islands, we saw great Sea in our Water-buckets. never saw any of this sort of shoals of small lobsters which They were no bigger than the Fish naturally red but here. For coloured the Sea red in spots top of a Man’s little finger, yet ours on the English Coast, for a Mile in compass, and we all their Claws, both great and which are naturally black, are not red till they are boiled. Nor did I anywhere else meet with any Fish of the Lobster-shape In 1696 a marine fish catalogue was published in which was illustrated many fish and other marine species known at the time. so small as these, except for Whether or not the illustrations were based upon whole or parts of maybe Shrimps or Prawns.” physical specimens, first-hand accounts or just hearsay is not known, but these three examples serve to illustrate that the age of sea Dampier seems to have been at a monsters was still very much alive. loss to further identify these creatures. However, if he had had In (a) is an apparent represntation of a Dorado, frequently reported by prior knowledge of the richness of modern shipborne observers. life found in the cold waters of the South Atlantic , he might have been able to identify his ‘red lobsters’ as possibly either the squat lobster (Munida subrugosa) or a (a) closely related species, or else the late larval stage of crabs. Around the Falkland Islands the adult squat (NOAA Central Library) lobsters have claws, swim and form swarms. The crabs in late larval A Hammerhead shark seems to be shown in (b) although this example stage also swim, have claws and has been given a defined neck for some reason’ a tell-tale ‘seam’ swarm but their abdomens do not around the neck almost suggests that the artist was presented with fold underneath as they do in the only part of the shark, and was therefore forced to invent the adult form. remainder of the body! On the character of the Pacific Ocean (b) In April 1684, his ship was sailing up the western coast of South America, and Dampier recorded his thoughts about the conditions (NOAA Central Library) found in the South Pacific Ocean: In (c) the reader is best left to juge what the artist is trying to show - fish, bird or mammal? “Our passage now lay along the Pacifick Sea, properly so called. For though it is usual with our Map-makers to give that Name to this whole Ocean, calling it Mare Australe, Mare del Zur or Mare (c) Pacificum, in my Opinion, the Name of the Pacifick Sea ought

(NOAA Central Library) not to be extended from South to NOAA library Spring/Summer 2002 17 William Dampier

North farther than from 30 to “The Gallapagos Islands are a crews, and Dampier accompanied about 4 Deg. South Latitude, and great number of uninhabited 520 men as they attempted to from the American Shore West- Islands, lying under and on both paddle 31 large canoes to the ward indefinitely. For with respect sides of the Equator. The Eastern- harbour “about eight Leagues from to my observation, I have been in most of them are about 110 shore” [in this case one league is these parts 250 Leagues or more leagues from the Main. They are taken to be the old English mea- from Land, and still had the Sea laid down in the Longitude of 181, surement equivalent to approxi- very quiet from Winds. For in all reaching to the Westward as far mately 2.2 km]. He says: this Tract of Water of which I as 176, therefore their Longitude have spoken, there are no dark from England Westward is about “We had fair Weather and little rainy Clouds, though often a thick 68 degrees. But I believe our wind till two o’clock in the After- Horizon, so as to hinder and Hydrographers do not place them noon, then we had a Tornado from Observation of the Sun with the far enough to the Westward. The the shore, with much Thunder, Quadrant. And in the Morning Spaniards who first discovered Lightning, Rain and such a gust of there is frequently hazy Weather, them, and in whose draughts alone Wind that we were all likely to be and thick Mists, but scarce able to they are laid down, report them to foundered. In this extremity we wet one. Nor are there in this Sea be a great number stretching put right before the Wind, every any Winds but the Trade Wind, North-West from the Line, as far Canoe’s Crew making what shift noTempests, no Tornadoes or as 5 degrees N., but we saw no they could to avoid the threatening Hurricanes (though North of the more than 14 or 15. Some of them danger…The fierceness of the Equator, they are met with in this are 7 or 8 Leagues long, and 3 or 4 Wind continued about half an hour Ocean as well as in the Atlantick), broad.” and abated by degrees, and as the yet the Sea itself, at the new and Wind died away, so the fury of the full of the Moon, runs with high, He noted that the islands were not Sea abated. For in all hot coun- large, long Surges, which never excessively hot even though they tries, as I have observed, the Sea break out at Sea, and so are safe lay almost on the Equator, and also is soon raised by the Wind and as enough, except for where they fall observed a continual fresh sea- soon down again when the Wind is in and break upon the Shore and breeze all day. Perhaps he was gone. Therefore there is a Proverb make it a bad landing.” unwittingly aware of the effects of among Seamen: Up Wind, Up Sea, the yet undiscovered Peru (or Down Wind, Down Sea.” Humboldt) Current that brings cold The Galapagos Islands Antarctic waters northwards along Even though the sea was like a the length of South America to millpond by the evening, the The following month the bucca- wash close to the Galapagos canoes could not make land before neers, having captured four ships, Islands before becoming part of darkness, and so they stayed diverted their course towards the the South Equatorial Current. offshore, being about 10 km away Galapagos Islands in order to avoid by daylight. Intending to stay trouble with the authorities in Local effects of strong solar offshore until darkness once more, Trujillo (Peru), and Dampier’s ship heating the buccaneers sat out the daylight plus one other “anchored on the hours in the tropical heat, but East-side of one of the Eastern- Dampier also made observations during the afternoon they were hit most Islands, a Mile from the of meteorological phenomena by another tornado more fierce shore, in sixteen Fathoms Water, although he probably did not than the one experienced during clean, white, hard Sand”. He understand the physics behind the previous afternoon. believed, however, that the English them. While off the Pacific coast hydrographers had not charted the of Nicaragua in early August 1685, In both cases the term ‘tornado’ is islands’ location accurately, for he the buccaneers in an attempt on taken to mean a sudden localised commented: the port that then served Leon, had thunderstorm rather than either the left their ships manned by skeleton land-based phenomenon that bears

18 Mariners Weather Log William Dampier

the name today, or tropical phenomenon was evidently of was put to sea as a precaution. revolving storms. The cause might interest to him because he also Sure enough, two days later the well have been intense solar comments “I have often taken storm arrived. Dampier’s journal heating and consequent convec- notice of it, especially if it is high reads: tion which is a common trigger for the formation of “But the day ensuing, thunderstorms around the which was the 4th Day of time of maximum tempera- July, about Four o’clock in tures, particularly in the the Afternoon, the Wind tropics. Had Dampier been came to the N. and able to carry a freshened upon us. The with him in his travels, he Sky looked very black in might have worked out for that quarter, and the black himself the connection Clouds began to rise apace between strong solar and move towards us, heating and the incidence of having hung all the local storms, and perhaps Morning on the Horizon. the buccaneers might have This made us take in our Top-sails, and the Wind still thought twice before commit- (R.A. Ketchington) increasing, about Nine o’clock ting themselves to their long- we reefed our Main-sail and distance paddle. However, they Land, for then you shall have the Fore-sail. At Ten o’clock we did literally live to fight another Clouds hang about it without any furled our Fore-sail, keeping under day. visible Motion.” a Main-sail and Mizzen. At Eleven o’clock we furled our Orographic cloud A typhoon, bioluminescence Main-sail and ballasted [steadied] and corposants our Mizzen, at which time it began As with the aforementioned to rain, and by Twelve o’clock at events that Dampier obviously In June 1687, Dampier and his Night it blew exceeding hard, and could not fully explain, he met ‘companions’ arrived at the “Island the Rain poured down as through with a similar puzzle when he Prata” [Dongshaondao, South a Sieve. It thundered and noted what we know as China Sea] where they stayed for lightened prodigiously, and the Sea orographic clouds. Whilst the ship about five weeks. Although having seemed all of a Fire about us, for in which he travelled was in the little understanding of meteorology every Sea that broke sparkled like North Pacific Ocean in May 1686 as a science, Dampier and the Lightning. The violent Wind raised searching for the island of Guam seamen of his day must have made the Sea presently to a great in order to find much-needed food use of a collective knowledge height, and it ran very short and and water, hopes of a relating to the occurrence of began to break in on our Deck.” were raised when some light rain particular natural phenomena and was experienced, and he noted their association with subsequent He then describes how the seas that “… the Clouds settling in the meteorological events, and could “struck away the Rails of our West were an apparent token that act accordingly. At the beginning of Head, and our Sheet-Anchor … we were not far from Land.” He July, Dampier had noted that the was violently washed off, and had watched how low clouds wind “had been whiffling about was likely to have struck a Hole particularly seem to move quite from one part of the Compass to in our Bow, as it lay beating rapidly, but that sometimes clouds another for two or three Days, and against it.” The ship had to be seen at the horizon do not move or sometimes it would be quite calm”; manoeuvred before the wind so change very much and could be as such behaviour was often a that the anchor could be retrieved, associated with land. The warning of a ‘tempest’, the ship but conditions were then too

Spring/Summer 2002 19 William Dampier

dangerous to turn back into it for like a Star. But when it appears on seem to be two sources or fear of foundering, so the ship the Deck, it resembles a great varieties of the phenomenon in continued “scudding right before Glow-worm… I have heard some Dampier’s account, but perhaps Wind and Sea, from Two till Seven ignorant Seamen discoursing how only one of them (that associated o’clock in the Morning [of 5 they have seen them creep, or, as with the mast and yard-arms) is July]…” they say, travel about in the really the static electrical type. Scuppers, telling many dismal The form that is mentioned as The wind decreased so the ship Stories that happened at such being washed around the deck or was turned once more into the times. But I never saw any one in the scuppers might have been wind and sailed with only a mizzen, stir out of the place where it was an organism(s) such as jellyfish it then moderated further and a flat first fixed, except upon Deck, which have often been reported calm of two hours followed, but the where every Sea washes it about. displaying luminescence by storm blew up from the south-west Nor did I ever see any except modern seafarers, or perhaps a accompanied by very heavy rain, when we have had hard Rain as pyrosoma (a hollow cylindrical and Dampier’s ship was again well as Wind, and I therefore colony of individual organisms forced to run before the wind believe it is some Jelly: … ” swimming as a single entity, and under bare poles until the evening. brightly luminescent). If such were The whole account appears to The illustration shows a washed on board in heavy seas, indicate a close encounter with an shipwreck, storm and corposants they would no doubt continue to intense tropical depression, or even (from Meteorologia show this light as they were tossed a typhoon. philospohico-politica, Franz about on their way back to the Weiner (1661–1708) NOAA scuppers, or else whilst sliding During the morning (apparently Central Library) and corposants about on a wet deck. In darkness some time after four o’clock) the can be seen on yard-arms. There their true animal form would not rain and thunder had abated, and then St Elmos’s fire had been seen. This phenomenon seems to have been associated with either good ‘omens’ or bad depending upon its location about the ship.

The journal reads:

“…and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main-top-mast Head, on the very Top of the Truck of the Spindle. This sight rejoiced ourMen exceedingly, for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft. But when they are seen lying on the Deck, it is generally accounted a bad Sign.

“A Corpus Sant is a certain small glittering Light. When it appears, as this did, on the very Top of the Main-mast or at a Yard-arm, it is (NOAA Central Library)

20 Mariners Weather Log William Dampier

be seen and it is supposed that which the rising Seawater seems problem for modern seafarers, and they could have been interpreted to be conveyed into the Clouds. are often reported upon in ships’ as corposants (“Glow-worm”) on This visibly appears by the Cloud’s meteorological logbooks as an deck. In the first part of increasing in bulk and blackness. interesting diversion, but they were Dampier’s observation, the seas Then you shall presently see the considered a threat to sailing ships, that were “all of a Fire” and that Cloud drive along, although before, and Dampier’s like others, was “sparkled like Lightning” might it seemed to be without any kept at a great a distance as well have been a manifestation of Motion. The Spout keeps the same possible from them. Not without bioluminescence too, probably Course as the Cloud, and still reason apparently, for he knew (or caused by dinoflagellates at the sucking up Water as it goes along, had been told) of an event where a surface. they make a Wind as they go. ship had received what might be Thus it continues for the space of called a ‘direct hit’ from a water- A waterspout spout and had lost not only its Waterspouts were no doubt as bowsprit but the foremast and frequent an occurrence in the mizzen mast too. One method seventeenth century as they are by which it was thought in the twenty-first, and modern possible to weaken a water- seafarers will find much that is spout that could not be avoided familiar in Dampier’s by a ship was to fire deck guns observation of this phenomenon, into it. However, Dampier is in the Celebes Sea on 30 dismissive of such efforts — November,1687. “But I never heard that it proved to be of any Benefit”. “A Spout is a small ragged piece of Cloud hanging down The halo seemingly about a Yard from the blackest part of it. Commonly it Optical phenomena can be hangs down sloping, or seen approximately one day in sometimes appears with a small three if the observer is keen bending or elbow in the middle. I enough not to look towards the never saw any hang sun or moon alone and is perpendicularly down. It is small suitably placed to cast an eye at the lower end, seemingly no around other parts of the sky. Nevertheless, haloes remain bigger than one’s Arm, but still the most frequently reported fuller towards the Cloud from examples of phenomena caused where it proceeds. When the (R. J. Fletcher) by the passage of light through ice Surface of the Sea begins to work, crystals in cirriform clouds. Cirrus you shall see the Water for about half an Hour, more or less, until cloud invading the sky is often the 100 Paces in Circumference foam the sucking is spent. Then, first sign of an approaching and move gently round till the breaking off, all the Water which depression, and so in Dampier’s whirling Motion increases. And was below the Spout, or pendulous day it is understandable that the then it flies upwards in a Pillar piece of Cloud, falls down again halo was seen as a precursor to about 100 Paces in Compass at into the Sea, making a great Noise bad weather. Strangely, more the bottom, but lessening gradually with its fall, and a clashing Motion importance was placed on the upwards to the smallness of the in the Sea.” appearance of a solar halo than of spout itself, until it reaches the one around the moon. lower end of the Spout, through Waterspouts are not a significant

Spring/Summer 2002 21 William Dampier

On 18 May 1688, Dampier and his Epilogue References consorts were navigating from the Nicobar Islands towards Sumatra. Unknown to Dampier at the time Dampier, W.,:A New Voyage In his journal he wrote of the halo: of the search for Guam, in May Round the World: The Journal of 1686, the vessel had narrowly an English Bucanneer. (First “It was indifferent clear till Noon avoided a mutiny — or worse. published in1697, latest reprint by and we thought to have had an hummingbird press, 1998.). Observation, but we were The ship had been at sea for about hindered by the Clouds that two months and supplies were so Horsman, P. V., 1985: The covered the Face of the Sun when low that the daily ration for each Seafarer’s Guide to Marine Life. it came on the Meridian. We also man was 10 spoons of boiled United States National Oceanic & then had a very ill Presage, by a maize, and there was enough left Atmospheric Administration great Circle about the Sun five or for only three more days. He was (NOAA).Website: six times the Diameter of it, which to learn later that had the island www.photolib.noaa.gov/library. seldom appears without storms of not been found, then the crew had Wind or much Rain ensuing. Such decided to kill the captain when Editors Note: Circles about the Moon are more the food had run out, and eat him frequent but of less import. We followed by everybody who had WOW! what an adventure...This commonly take great notice of sanctioned the voyage to the great story was written for and those that are about the Sun, original destination of the first published in the October observing if there is any breach in Philippines. 2001 issue of the UK Met the Circle, and in what Quarter the Office’s Marine Observer. Who Breach is. From there we Such a grisly end would have would have imagined that by commonly find the greatest Stress deprived later generations of his sailing the seven seas in search of the Wind will come. I must valuable contributions. As it of adventure and a few pieces of confess that I was a little anxious happened, he eventually returned eight, your name would be listed at the Sight of this Circle, and to England in 1691, and died in in the annals of science for your wished heartily that we were near London in 1715 at the age of 63. great exploration and some Land.” discoveries. -- Luke Acknowledgements A violent storm indeed followed, and it was bad enough for With thanks to Dr Frank Evans Dampier to believe that his end (Dove Marine Observatory) and was imminent. He did survive, Professor Peter Herring however, but no doubt he contin- (Southampton Oceanography ued to regard the appearance of a Centre) for their help and advice solar halo with considerable with ‘Red Lobsters’ and ‘A apprehension. typhoon (?), bioluminescence and corposants’.

22 Mariners Weather Log MPC Sets Sail on First Alliance

Marine Prediction Center Sets Sail on First Alliance

Pictured on left: MPC Chief of Operations David wareness can be as Feit; MPC Deputy important as prevention Director Kevin Awhen navigating a vessel McCarthy; MPC through a storm, and the best Director James method of awareness is through Hoke; MITAGS education and knowledge. Executive Director Glen Pain; and MITAGS Director The National Centers for of Training, Walt Environmental Prediction’s Megonicgal. (NCEP) Marine Prediction Center (MPC) and the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate lifeline,” said Dr. James Hoke, and high sea areas of the Atlantic Studies (MITAGS) have teamed director of the MPC. “Working and Pacific . Operating up to embark on a maiden voyage with MITAGS offers a great seven days a week, 24 hours a to provide marine weather opportunity for MPC to be in day, the MPC forecasts and forecast instruction – using direct contact with our primary analyzes sea conditions such as National Weather Service (NWS) users to get feedback and ideas wind, wave, fog and ice accretion official products – and to work on how to keep MPC their first and issues sea surface together on projects of mutual choice for marine weather temperature products. The center interest designed for professional information.” also produces marine forecasts in mariners. Also, MPC will work response to emergency situations with MITAGS to identify and Glen Paine, Executive Director of identified by NOAA, the NWS raise the standards of training on MITAGS, stated that “This Regional Offices, the Federal weather related courses for partnership allows us to Emergency Management Agency advanced maritime safety. reemphasize the mariner’s need and the U.S. Coast Guard Search MITAGS is a non-profit for accurate and timely weather and Rescue. MPC works closely continuing education center for information and the requirement with the Tropical Prediction professional mariners that for the skills to apply that Center and the Weather Forecast provides training to civilian and information. As we have seen in Offices in Anchorage and military mariners from around the the past, weather information Honolulu to provided globe. correctly applied greatly reduces comprehensive coverage of the the impact adverse weather can Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as This agreement marks the first have on a crew and its vessel. well as the Gulf of Mexico. organizational partnership for We at MITAGS look forward to MPC and adheres to two NCEP our interaction with the National For more information about strategic goals – to exercise Weather Service.” MITAGS, MPC or NCEP visit global leadership and to forge the World Wide Web sites: stronger bonds with NWS The MPC is one of nine NCEP www.mitags.org, partners and users. “This is a centers located in Camp Springs, www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov, and major step in realizing MPC’s MD. MPC issues forecasts and www.ncep.noaa.gov, vision to be the mariners weather warnings for regional, offshore respectively.

Spring/Summer 2002 23 VOS Climate Project

The VOS Climate Project

UK Met. Office

Introduction the increased concern with regard marine air temperature. However, to climate analysis and prediction, the detection of climate trends is Final preparations for the Volun- are making further demands on the only practicable if, as far as is tary Observing Ships (VOS) quality of ship observations. possible, observational biases Climate Project are now complete, owing to the changing methods of and initial recruitment of participat- The project aims to provide a high- observation are corrected. Sea ing ships has begun. quality subset of marine meteoro- temperature data, for example, The following article provides an logical data, available in both real have different bias errors, depend- overview of the objectives of the time and in delayed mode, which ing on whether temperatures were project, its status, and how it is can be used for: obtained using wooden, rubber or intended to operate. canvas buckets, or using engine ·Satellite ground truth verifica- room intake . It is Background tion therefore important to clearly document the observing practices The project is a natural extension An important role for accurate that are being used on board ships. of the earlier Voluntary Special VOS data is the detection of Observing Programme for the biases in remotely sensed satellite Climate Research and Climate North Atlantic (VSOP –NA)1, data due to instrument calibration Prediction which demonstrated that the changes or changing atmospheric quality of observed measurements transmission conditions. Ship and Increasingly, coupled numerical depends significantly upon the buoy observations can, for ex- models of the atmosphere and types of instruments used, their ample, be used to detect and ocean are being used for climate exposures, and the observing correct biases in satellite data research and practices of shipboard personnel. caused by varying atmospheric prediction. The simulated air-sea It made a number of substantive aerosol loading due to volcanic fluxes of heat, water and momen- recommendations in these areas eruptions. Without such real time tum must therefore be shown to aimed at providing ship observa- bias corrections, errors can occur be realistic if there is to be confi- tions of a quality appropriate to in satellite-derived data. Conse- dence in model predictions. global climate studies. quently, for satellite verification Accordingly, model predictions of purposes, there is an established near surface meteorological Objectives need for a dataset of accurate ship variables (air temperature, humid- observations with known error ity, sea-surface temperature Whilst VOS observations continue characteristics. (SST), etc.) need to be verified to be an essential ingredient for against high-quality in situ obser- numerical weather prediction, Climate Change Studies vations from buoys and specially there is a growing need for higher selected voluntary observing ships. quality data from the observing Data from observing ships are fleet. Specifically, recent trends, increasingly being used for climate In addition to the above, the such as the increasing availability change studies, e.g., to quantify project will provide a reference of data from satellite sensors and global changes of sea-surface and data set that can be used to assess

24 Mariners Weather Log VOS Climate Project

the quality of data received from the rest of the voluntary observing fleet.

Ship selection and recruitment

Ship recruitment is a critical component of the project, and it is hoped that the ships selected will provide more or less global cover- age in both space and time. To this end, ships which make frequent and regular ocean crossings, as well as ships sailing in the , Antarctic supply vessels Figure 1 - Extent of coverage anticipated from UK voluntary observing ships and research ships, have been participating in the VOS Climate Project. (Courtesy of Southampton identified as potential recruits. Oceanography Centre.) Where feasible it has also been decided that ships engaged in the both on world-wide and near (DAC). The National Climatic Ship of Opportunity Programme continental voyages and will Data Center, NOAA, USA, has and the Automated Shipboard include some research vessels agreed to perform this role which Aerological Programme should be providing observations in data requires them to merge the real- recruited. sparse areas. Figure 1 shows the time observation reports with the extent of coverage expected from delayed mode reports, eliminate A relatively small target of ~200 UK voluntary observing ships, any duplicates, and compile a ships has been set for recruitment whilst Figure 2 indicates the complete project data set which to the project, and provisional lists projected global coverage. will be available to users. of participating ships have been prepared by Australia, Canada, These preliminary maps showing The DAC will also create and France, , India, Japan, the potential route coverage of the maintain a relational database so Poland, UK and USA. Several proposed project ships have been that the information on instrument other countries are also potential prepared by Southampton Ocean- types, exposure and observing project participants, and it is ography Centre, who have been practice can be automatically anticipated that the target number actively involved in setting up the associated with each observation. of ships should be achieved. project. Such maps will assist in The database will also be freely planning national recruitment and accessible to registered users. The UK is aiming to recruit will also allow the selective approximately 30 observing ships targeting of obvious data sparse Real Time Monitoring Centre to the project, with emphasis being areas as recruitment proceeds. given to those ships which rou- The project will require real time tinely return to the UK, have a Data Assembly Centre monitoring of the observational good observing record, and are data and comparison with model preferably fitted with hull sensors Data collected during the project fields. To this end, the Met Office and the Royal Meteo- will undergo quality control (QC) (which already undertakes such rological Institute’s TurboWin and be archived monitoring of ship observations on software. The selected vessels will by a Data Assembly Centre a routine basis), has agreed to act be drawn from those operating

Spring/Summer 2002 25 VOS Climate Project

Instruments

Although relevant, the quality of ships observing instruments has less effect upon the quality of data than their use and exposure. It will therefore be essential for the project to ensure that observing instruments, their physical expo- sure, and the associated observing practices confirm to high stan- dards and that up-to-date instru- ment records are maintained and catalogued.

Figure 2 – Project global coverage of ships taking part in the VOS Climate Ideally, it is recommended that Project [(drawn from raw reports from the Global Telecommunication Sys- ships taking part in the project tem (GTS) using data from November 1999 to October 2000), downloaded from http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/ncep_obs/] should have the following instru- mentation and facilities:

as Real Time Monitoring Centre basis. As ships’call signs are • Accurate and well-exposed (RTMC) for the project. subject to change when there are thermometers with precision to changes in registry, it will be 0.1 °C; Priority will be given to the follow- necessary for the RTMC to ing six parameters: wind direction regularly check call signs to ensure • mea- and speed; sea level pressure; sea- the correct ships are being moni- suring instruments from hull surface temperature; air tempera- tored. contact sensors; ture; and humidity. The Met Office will monitor these variables for all Any project ships identified as project ships and forward the having submitted suspect observa- • Permanently-mounted, well- resultant statistics to the DAC for tions will be followed up by the exposed to 0.1 m s -1 inclusion on a dedicated project Port Met. Officer networks as precision; Web site. quickly as possible, and the results of any corrective action taken • Precision marine to Statistics on the ‘fit ’of the ob- thereafter notified to the DAC. 0.1 hPa precision, preferably served variables to the numerical connected to a static head; and weather prediction Global Model’s In addition to the monitoring background forecasts will be used function, the RTMC will extract • Electronic logbook facility, to to produce lists of ‘suspect’ ships, the six observed variables for each include true wind computation, i.e., ships will be flagged as project ship received in real time QC checks and updated encod- suspect if the mean and standard from the Global Telecommunica- ing in the revised code forms deviations of their observation- tion System (GTS) and associate required by the project. minus-background (o-b) values them with the co-located model meet certain agreed criteria. Lists field values. The resultant data It is recognized, however, that of flagged ships will be forwarded sets will then be transferred on a common instrumentation is unlikely by the RTMC to the DAC each regular basis to the Data Assembly to be achieved. For instance, UK month, and to participating coun- Centre. observing ships traditionally tries on a weekly and monthly 26 Mariners Weather Log VOS Climate Project

estimate the wind speed and ported by digital imagery. Details by the Port Met. Officers. Diffi- direction from the and of such ‘metadata ’ will be stored culties may arise where a ship is are not provided with calibrated in a master index of ships which well equipped for one parameter anemometers. will be developed as a supplement but not another, e.g., no anemom- to, but separate from, the main eter, but mounting a hull sensor for Regular checks upon the service- WMO ship catalogue (Interna- sea-surface temperature. The ability and calibration of instru- tional List of Voluntary Observing value of the ship’s contribution will ments by Port Met. Officers will Ships WMO –No.47.) The cata- be assessed in terms of the be essential to the project, e.g., logue will be continuously updated importance of the parameters calibration of temperature sensors and made available through the which are acceptable. can be performed using a water Data Assembly Centre. It will bath, and it is possible to calibrate contain details of the instrument The information obtained by some types of wind speed sensor locations for each ship in an PMOs for selected ships will be by mechanically rotating the agreed format, together with forwarded to the Data Assembly propeller. details of the results of inspections Centre for compilation of the performed by Port Met. Officers. metadata catalogue. PMOs will Inter-comparison of instruments is also explain the use of new coding a difficult and time-consuming Port Met. Officer involvement requirements and new logbooks task; it is possible to compare (electronic or hard copy) being typical samples of each type or The Port Met. Officer networks of developed for the project. Later source of manufacture, but often participating countries will be visits will be needed to check that variations between members of essential for the project’s success, instrument exposure has not the same type are greater than as close liaison with ships’ mas- changed and to discuss any between different instruments. ters, observing officers and ship problems with observers. These This problem will be addressed by owners will be needed. PMOs will, observer ‘contact’visits will be inter-comparison of the observa- in the first instance, visit individual extremely important in maintaining tions of the VOS climate subset ships to explain the project to the interest of the observers and with large-scale model fields, or observers and to assess their likely the impetus of the project. with neighbouring ships at sea. At commitment to the project. They a later stage in the project devel- will also record details of the Ship survey and inspection forms opment, it is expected that consid- exposure of the observing instru- eration will be given to enhancing ments, noting any permanent Special ship recruitment and or upgrading participating ship structural features which might inspection report forms are being instrumentation as necessary, in affect the observation, e.g., water designed for the project and will be line with VSOP –NA recommen- outfalls, airflow obstructions, air- made available in French, Russian dations. conditioning vents, etc., and the and Spanish versions. The forms, relevant ship specifications. In together with associated instruc- Metadata addition to detailed written descrip- tions, will be downloadable from tions, the location of instruments the new project Web site and will To achieve the accuracy required will be marked on simple arrange- be suitable for use in both hard by the project, it will be essential to ment drawings and supported by copy and electronic format. have comprehensive information photographs in digital format. about the type and location of Immediately following recruitment meteorological instruments. This Final selection of ships will take to the project, Port Met. Officers will include information of the date note of existing instrumentation will complete the initial ship survey of any changes to instruments and and exposure, past performance, report form. Each recruiting details of their exposures sup- and the general impression gained country’s PMOs will conduct

Spring/Summer 2002 27 VOS Climate Project

follow-up ship inspection visits Originally, the intention had been to either hard copy or electronic when project ships are visiting require these additional code logbooks. In order to collect and their home ports, as far as possible groups in both real time and process the additional delayed on a quarterly basis (the current delayed mode. However, proposals mode observation data in hard UK practice). Some ships not on to modify the ship code were not copy format it will be necessary to regular trades may also need to be supported by WMO because of either implement new logbooks (or inspected by their participating (i.e. their long-term ambition to phase logsheets), or to modify existing non-recruiting) countries, and care out the use of such alphanumeric ones. Similarly, new versions of will be needed to ensure there is codes in favour of new table- electronic logbook software no duplication of inspections. In driven codes (e.g. BUFR2 and programs (e.g. TurboWin, SEAS order to establish a complete CREX3 codes). 2000 etc.) are being developed to metadata and inspection history for incorporate the additional delayed each ship, the completed inspec- Recognizing that it would be mode data. The logbooks (or tion reports will be submitted to the impractical to re-train observers to logsheets) will need to be collected DAC via e-mail. use complex new code forms in on a regular basis by Port time for the start of the project, it Met.Officers, who will also Observation codes was decided that the additional download the electronic log files. code groups were not absolutely To ensure that the project provides essential in real time, provided that The use of software programs timely and complete information the expected delay in the non-real such as TurboWin will greatly and that no reports from participat- time data delivery did not exceed 6 simplify the collection of delayed ing ships are lost, data will be –12 months. mode data required by the project, submitted in both real time and as they will electronically record delayed mode. Although real time To enable the international ex- the observations in the revised observations will continue to be change of the extended observa- IMMT format at source. This transmitted in the Ships’ Interna- tion reports in delayed mode, a avoids the need for observations to tional Meteorological Code (FM13 revised version of the International be manually digitised following –XI), the delayed mode observa- Maritime Meteorological Tape receipt at participating national tions will be augmented by addi- Code (IMMT) has also been meteorological services, which is tional code groups. These extra developed for the project. presently the case for paper codes are essential to the success logbooks. For that reason, it is of the project and comprise details Paper and electronic logbooks hoped to equip the majority of UK specific to each ship. (Refer to ships participating in the project Ship Parameters chart). Observations will be recorded for with such software, either loaded delayed mode submission using into dedicated ‘notebook’ comput- ers or, if acceptable, loaded into one of the ships’ computers.

Data Transmission

Observational and instrumentation data submitted by project ships will be subjected to various procedures and relayed via a number of centres before it eventually reaches the Data Assembly Center. A simplified flow diagram

28 Mariners Weather Log VOS Climate Project

showing the data will be routed is given in Figure 3.

The national meteorological services participating in the project will apply minimum QC proce- dures to the digitised observations in the revised IMMT format. The digital data sets will then be forwarded to the two Global Collecting Centres (GCCs) for the WMO Marine Climatological Summaries Scheme (located in Hamburg in Germany and in Bracknell in the UK). The GCCs will thereafter apply their normal QC and related procedures and forward the data to the Data Assembly Centre in IMMT format (using an appropriate medium, or via the Internet) with a minimum delay.

The Met Office, in its capacity as the RTMC, will also transfer datasets of the real time reports and associated model field values to the Data Assembly Centre. As this data will be transmitted in BUFR code (which is now re- garded as the preferred standard for the international distribution of Figure 3 - Simplified flow diagram showing the weather data) decoding software routeing of data for the VOS Climate Project. will be needed in order that the DAC can merge the received real time and delayed mode reports and presented to participating ships. brochure will therefore address compile a complete project data The promotional literature will these points, and a copy of the set. include a small explanatory brochure is included at the end of brochure that will be made this article. Project promotion literature available to participating shipping and logo companies and officers, and will Project Web Site be available in multi-lingual Draft literature to promote the format. As the project unfolds, The primary means of information project, and an associated logo for observers will inevitably have exchange for the project will be the project have been developed. questions about why the additional via a dedicated Web site which The logo will, in due course, observations are needed and will be both developed and main- appear on a plaque that will be about how they will be used. The tained by the DAC, with contribu-

Spring/Summer 2002 29 VOS Climate Project

tions to be made by both partici- Project newsletter the large-scale weather changes pants and users. Information to be associated with climate change. made available through the Web A project newsletter is also site will include: considered to be an essential The success of this ambitious • metadata catalogue of partici- component of the project, provid- project will therefore depend pating ships; ing a means of informing and upon the close involvement and co-operation of the national • regular project update reports; communicating with participating ships as well as among meteoro- meteorological services, the Port • monitoring and data application logical services, data centres, Met. Officer networks and, of results; users and other participants. It is course, the ships’ voluntary • project newsletter for partici- hoped that it will help to maintain observers. It will require careful pating ships; interest and enthusiasm among management if it is to achieve the • data catalogues; observers, regularly informing aim of developing into a long- • links to other relevant Web them of the status of the project in term, operational programme. sites; general, and of their own specific • project focal points and other contributions. References relevant contact details; • the project document and other The newsletter will contain Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) publications; and information, reports and statistics Climate Subset Project (VOSCLIM)Project Document. • any other information relevant on participating ships together with JCOMM Technical Report No 5 – to the project. information drawn from all partici- pants, including the Port Met. WMO/TD No.1010 Access to the ship metadata Officers, participating ship opera- Final report of the VOS Climate catalogue will be via the ship tors, the RTMC, the DAC and the Project. .Second Project Meeting, name, call sign or IMO number, ships’ crews themselves whenever Asheville N.C.,USA,30 October-1 which will then allow selection of possible. It will be issued biannu- November 2000 any required subsets of ships’ 1 ally and edited by the WMO See The Mariner Observer, instruments, etc. This catalogue Secretariat. It will be made January 1992, 24 will also allow access to ship 2 available on the project Web site in Binary Universal Form for the status reports, with links to the a suitable format to allow down- Representation of meteor logical observational data and monitoring loading by participating operators data (FM94 –XI Ext.BUFR) reports. 3 for printing and distribution to Character form for the Repre- ships. sentation and EXchange of data The project data (observations, (FM95 –XI Ext.CREX. metadata, real time monitoring The future benefits data and the additional observa- Editors Note: tional data) will also have a direct The potential benefits of the access through the Web site for project are clear. For the shipping This original article was first ftp download. Similarly, ship industry, it will encourage the printed in the April 2001 issue survey and inspection forms development of new marine of the Marine Observer. (including instructions for their meteorological systems, which will Permission to re-print this completion) will be available from result in improved marine weather article with updates has been the Web site for download. Some forecasts and real time weather authorized by the UK MET password protection to guard information for operational pur- OFFICE. against abuse and to safeguard poses. Moreover, the improved potentially sensitive information is quality of ship observational data anticipated. will help us to better understand

30 Mariners Weather Log Spring/Summer 2002 31 VOS Climate Project

32 Mariners Weather Log VOS Climate Project

Spring/Summer 2002 33 VOS Climate Project

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Spring/Summer 2002 35 VOS Climate Project

36 Mariners Weather Log South African Weather Service

Attention Ship Owners, Ship Operators and Navigation Officers

Ian T Hunter Manager, Marine Services South African Weather Service

This satellite image (right) was captured onboard EUMETSAT’s geostationary satellite METEOSAT VII at 12h00 UTC on Tuesday 07 May 2002. southwesterly wind) helped • Land-based winds, The cloud mass centred analysts to gauge the depth of the particularly around this approximately 150 nautical miles new low. By 12h00 she was coast in winter are south-east of East London estimating the wind wave notoriously non- represents a deep secondary component at 10 m and the swell representative of vortex which developed rapidly at 9 m. (An abnormal wave conditions offshore. overnight on the eastern Agulhas warning for the Agulhas Current Bank. The primary vortex is had been issued the previous day • Satellites are not the be clearly visible further offshore and was still in force.) all and end all. Cloud with its frontal band spiralling in imagery is not always from the southern Mozambique Some comments and a heartfelt easy to quantify, and Channel. plea : satellite-derived winds are by no means always • Of all the numerical models KHRK was the only ship available. available to the South African observation all day Weather Service, not one between Durban and accurately analysed the secondary Cape Town (a distance of system. As a result, it was some 800 nm). Although PLEASE - WE NEED YOUR expected that both winds and this is a major sea route, ‘OBS’. waves would be under-forecast this scarcity of ship off South ’s east coast. But observations around the how to quantify this ? Southern African coast is As can be seen from the above by no means unusual. In example, VOS data can still have Fortunately the Sealand Voyager terms of tanker traffic a marked impact on the accuracy (KHRK) provided invaluable alone, the Cape Sea of marine predictions – and thus observations at both 06 and 12h00 Route carries over 10% maritime safety. UTC as she journeyed southwards of the world’s sea-borne off the Transkei coast. Her 06h00 oil trade. observation (including a 55-knot

Spring/Summer 2002 37 Marine Weather Review

Marine Weather Review North Atlantic Area September through December 2001 George P. Bancroft

Introduction strengthened, forcing low-pressure lows in the far southern MPC systems moving off the U.S. East waters. The others either moved From September through Coast and to turn around the west and north sides of November, low-pressure systems north or even northwest toward the subtropical ridge and tracked northeast from the Greenland and the Davis Strait. weakened, were absorbed by, or Canadian Maritimes to the vicinity became extratropical lows (those of Greenland and Iceland before There was considerable tropical found outside the tropics, typically turning east. With the exception of cyclone activity during the first associated with fronts). late September and early October, three months, with eight named high pressure of varying strength systems either moving into or Tropical Activity was present off the coast of forming in MPC’s waters north of . By early 31°N. and west of 35°N. Three of : Erin, the first December the high pressure these were of subtropical origin, hurricane of the Atlantic season, shifted to the British Isles and forming from cut-off occluded moved northwest into MPC’s

Figure 1 - GOES-8 enhanced infrared satellite image of Hurricane Erin valid 1515 UTC September 10, 2001. Colder, higher cloud tops such as in the central dense overcast and spiral cloud bands around the center or “eye” of Erin appear near 35°N 65°W.

38 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

waters just east of Bermuda on Unlike Erin, Felix peaked in beginning to weaken. Gabrielle the morning of September 9 and strength while south of 31°N., was became an extratropical storm attained a peak intensity with in a slow weakening trend, and near 43°N. 55°W. at 0600 UTC maximum sustained winds of 105 followed a more east-northeast September 19 with a 976-mb kt with gusts to 130 kt near track while in MPC’s area. The central pressure. The ship 33.3°N. 63.3°W. at 0000 UTC center passed east of 35°W. by MZGK7 near 46°N. 42°W. September 10. Erin was the 0600 UTC September before encountered south winds of 55 kt strongest to affect weakening to a tropical storm near eighteen hours later. The system MPC’s waters during this season. 35°N. 31°W. at 1200 UTC continued to move northeast and Figure 1 is an enhanced infrared September 17. At that time, the re-intensified east of . By satellite image of Erin, still near ship C6PW2 reported a northeast September 22, it had weakened maximum strength about 15 hours wind of 35 kt and 7-m seas (23 ft) east of Greenland and turned later, with a well-defined “eye.” near 38°N. 34°W. A high- southeast. Erin subsequently turned northeast pressure ridge east and north of and weakened before re- the center halted further eastward Hurricane Humberto: intensifying as an extratropical progress at that time. At 0600 Humberto entered MPC’s storm by 0000 UTC September 16 UTC September 19 the system forecast area near 31°N. 68°W. at (Figure 2). As the center passed weakened to a remnant low near 1200 UTC September 23 as a to the west, the seas at Buoy 35°N. 31°W. strong tropical storm and became 44141 (42°N. 56°W.) jumped from a hurricane six hours later while 3.5 meters (11 ft) to 9.5 meters Hurricane Gabrielle: Figure continuing to move north at about (31 ft) during the 10-hour period 2,shows Tropical Storm Gabrielle 10 kt. The maximum strength was ending at 1000 UTC September moving on a northeast track reached at 1200 UTC September 14. The maximum wind reported toward MPC’s offshore waters. 26 near 41°N. 59°W., with by a ship was a southwest wind of At 0000 UTC September 16 the maximum sustained winds of 90 kt 45 kt from the SeaLand Pride Lykes Discoverer (WGXO) and gusts to 110 kt. The system (WDA3673) near 36°N. 61°W. at near 32°N. 80°W. reported a then turned east and weakened to 0000 UTC September 13. Buoy north wind of 50 kt and 8-m seas an extratropical gale near 41°N. 44140 (43.7°N. 51.8°W.) reported (27 ft). The Discoverer was one 42°W. at 0000 UTC September a southwest wind of 35 kt with of several ships reporting winds of 28. At that time the ship PGBO 6.5-m seas (22 ft) at 2100 UTC 50 kt west and northwest of the south of the center near 39°N. September 14. The system is center through 1200 UTC 40°W. reported southwest winds shown at maximum intensity as an September 16. Frying Pan of 35 kt and 5-m seas (17 ft). extratropical storm in the second Shoals (FPSN7) at 33.5°N. part of Figure 2. The QuikScat 77.5°W. reported a north wind of Hurricane Karen: Karen began image in Figure 3 is valid about 7.5 45 kt at 1800 UTC September 15. as a frontal wave of low pressure hours later, indicating winds of 50 Winds reached 35 kt from the that underwent initial rapid kt or higher south and southeast of northeast at Buoy 41004 (32.5°N. intensifcation in the 24-hour period Cape Farewell, with even some 70 79.1°W.), along with seas to 4.5 ending at 0000 UTC October 12. kt wind barbs. The storm meters (15 ft) at 0600 UTC Figure 4 depicts the system as an subsequently passed east of September 16. Gabrielle then intense occluded cyclone, which, Greenland and weakened on the intensified to a hurricane near after initial weakening, re- 16th. 33°N. 71°W. at 0000 UTC intensified while losing its frontal September 17 and developed structure. The Tropical Prediction : Like Erin, Felix maximum sustained winds of 70 kt Center (TPC) classified it as a moved into MPC’s waters as a with gusts to 85 kt near 35°N. subtropical storm (Figure 4) hurricane, shown in Figure 2. 67°W. twelve hours later, before before naming it Tropical Storm

Spring/Summer 2002 39 Marine Weather Review

Figure 5

Figure 2 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis charts valid 1800 UTC September 14 and 0000 UTC September 16, 2001.

40 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 3 -High-resolution QukScat scatterometer winds valid at 0736 UTC September 16, 2001. The resolution of the wind barbs is 12.5 km, versus 25 km in regular QuikScat imagery. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS Office of Research and Applications.

Karen at 1200 UTC October 13. 39°N. 64°W., with maximum maximum sustained winds of 35 kt Figure 5 is a QuikScat image valid sustained winds of 70 kt and gusts and gusts to 45 kt. Lorenzo then about the time of the first analysis to 85 kt, before weakening to an became extratropical and merged in Figure 4, showing winds to 60 kt extratropical gale over the with an approaching cold front on on the backside of the system. Canadian Maritimes on October October 31. Figure 6 is a satellite image valid 15 and continuing to move north. at 2215 UTC October 13 showing Hurricane Noel: The Karen with indications of a central Tropical Storm Lorenzo: development of Noel was similar area or ring of convection around Lorenzo moved northwest to a to that of Karen. Low pressure an “eye.” Karen was upgraded to position near 31°N. 46°W. at 1200 developed on a northeast to a hurricane shortly before that UTC October 30 before turning to southwest oriented front near time. At 0600 UTC October 14 the north-northeast and was only a 35°N. 43°W. early on November Karen reached peak intensity near minimal tropical storm with 1 and drifted southwest before Spring/Summer 2002 41 Marine Weather Review

Figure 4 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC October 12, and 0000 UTC October 13 and 14, 2001. The time interval between charts is 12 hours, except 24 hours between the third and fourth charts.

42 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

turning northwest and intensifying ship Tellus (WRYG) near 37°N. Canadian Maritimes. The first to an occluded storm analyzed 50°W. at 1400 UTC November 5, analysis in Figure 9 has the with 984-mb central pressure near TPC upgraded the system to remains of Noel near 47°N. 34°N. 50°W. at 1800 UTC Hurricane Noel in a 1600 UTC 47°W., where they are about to be November 3. The system then November 5 advisory. Six hours absorbed. drifted north and weakened to a later the ship ELRT2 near 36°N. gale at 1200 UTC November 4 48°W. encountered southwest Hurricane Olga: Like Karen and (Figure 7), before re-intensifying winds of 35 kt and 8-m seas (27 Nöel, Olga formed from a low on and developing tropical ft). The system weakened to a a front, this time south of MPC’s characteristics such as persistent tropical storm near 40°N. 50°W. waters, which initially developed convective clouds near the center at 0000 UTC November 6 before into an occluded cut-off low. This (Figure 8). Based on a report of a merging into a developing system subsequently lost its frontal southwest wind of 65 kt from the extratropical storm over the structure as it drifted into MPC’s

Figure 5 - QuikScat satellite-sensed scatterometer winds valid about 0000 UTC October 12. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS Office of Research and Applications.

Spring/Summer 2002 43 Marine Weather Review

Figure 6 - GOES infrared satellite image valid at 2215 UTC October 13, 2001. Satellite senses temperature, which is displayed in various ahdes of gray, ranging from white (cold) to black (wwarm) in ranging this type from of image. displayed in various ahdes of gray,

44 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 7 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 1200 UTC November 4 and 5, 2001. waters late on November 24 and 500-mb analysis in Figure 11, with . At 0600 UTC continued to intensify, with TPC the same valid time as Figure 10, November 7 the ship ELRT2 classifying it as a subtropical shows this system nearly vertically near 36°N. 57°W. reported a storm (Figure 10). With a strong stacked. A 500-mb ridge building south wind of 60 kt. The Atlantic high-pressure ridge to the north, a to the north eventually forced Cartier (C6MS4) encountered large area of gale to storm force Olga to move southwest and southeast winds of 60 kt near th northeast winds developed north weaken. By early on the 29 Olga 46°N. 49°W. at 1800 UTC and west of the center. Several weakened to a tropical storm November 7. The buoy 44140 gale-force reports are plotted in south of MPC’s area. (43.8°N. 51.7°W.) at that time Figure 10. The highest wind reported 7.5-m seas (25 ft). The reported by a ship was a north Other Significant Events of the Sea-Land Developer (KHRH) wind of 55 kt, along with 10-m Period reported seas to 9.5 meters (31 ft) seas (33 ft) from the Liberty Sun along with 35-kt southwest winds, (WCOB) near 31°N. 56°W. at Western Atlantic/Canadian also at that same time. This was 1800 UTC November 25. The Maritimes Storm of 7-8 the strongest storm in terms of storm continued to intensify during November: Referring again to central pressure in the western the next two days while remaining Figure 9, the 960-mb storm shown North Atlantic during this four- nearly stationary, with TPC in the second analysis formed month period. The system upgrading it to Hurricane Olga from the merger of the low over subsequently moved north- near 31.5°N. 56°W. at 2100 UTC with the secondary northeast and weakened, before November 26. The intensity system at 39°N. 58°W., the re-intensifying while passing east peaked late on the 27th when remains of Tropical Storm Noel of Greenland by November 10. maximum sustained winds reached and the storm center near 30°N. 80 kt with gusts to 100 kt. The 63°W. which was formerly

Spring/Summer 2002 45 Marine Weather Review Figure 8 - GOES-8 infrared satellite image valid 1215 UTC November 5, or approximately the time of second analysis in Figure 7.

46 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 9 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0000 UTC November 7 and 8, 2001. 2) valid 0000 UTC November Atlantic surface analysis charts (Part 9 - MPC North Figure

Spring/Summer 2002 47 Marine Weather Review

Figure 10 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis chart (Part 2) valid 1200 UTC November 25, 2001.

48 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 11 - MPC 500-mb analysis valid 1200 UTC November 25, 2001. Short-wave troughs are depicted as broken line segments.

high over the British Isles. The East Coast Storm of 18-19 North Atlantic Storm of 9-14 Fidelio (WQVY) reported 13.5-m December: This system December: This storm is seas (45 ft), along with northwest developed near at depicted in its most rapid phase of winds of 55 kt, near 44°N. 44°W. 1800 UTC December 18 and development in Figure 12. The at 0000 UTC December 14. The moved slowly north-northeast central pressure dropped 24 mb, storm weakened near 49°N. across the Canadian Maritimes to 979 mb, in the 24-hour period 34°W. on the 14th but was through the 19th before turning ending at 1800 UTC December replaced by another storm more northwest and weakening, 10. This development certainly following a similar track on the blocked by strong high pressure to qualifies as a meteorological 16th. This helped to maintain a long the east. The central pressure “bomb.” At 1200 UTC December band of southeast gale to storm bottomed out at 965 mb near 10 the ship ELVG7 reported a force winds from south of 46°N. 57°W. at 1200 UTC west wind of 60 kt and 8-m seas Greenland to near 40°N. 28°W. December 19. The Sea-Land (26 ft) near 40°N. 51°W. Figure through December 18, with the Motivator (WAAH ) reported 13 is a QuikScat image showing strong high pressure persisting to northwest winds of 45 kt and 13- winds to 70 kt west and northwest the east. The Lykes Liberator m seas (42 ft) near 39°N. 62°W. of the center near 44°N. 39°W. (WGXN ) near 47°N. 27°W. at this time. The highest wind Upon passing east of reported a southeast wind of 45 kt reported by a ship was a and approaching and 10.5-m seas (35 ft) at 1800 northwest wind of 60 kt from 35°W., the storm was forced UTC December 17. VCRT near 44°N. 58°W., also at north and slowed by a blocking 1200 UTC December 19.

Spring/Summer 2002 49 Marine Weather Review

Figure 12 - MPC North Atlantic surface analysis chart (Part 2) valid 1200 UTC December 9 and a second surfsce analysis (Part 1) valid 0000 UTC December 11, 2001.

Figure 13 - QuikScat scatterometer winds valid about 0745 UTC December 11, 2001. Imagery is from NOAA/NESDIS Office of Research and Applications (North Atlantic Storm of 9-14 December).

50 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Marine Weather Review North Pacific Area September through December 2001

George Bancroft

Introduction systems producing hurricane-force of the center (not shown). The winds. storm then weakened to a low in the southern Gulf of Alaska late on The weather pattern began with Tropical Activity September 16. low-pressure systems tracking east across or just south of the Typhoon Wutip: Still a typhoon Typhoon Vipa: Vipa passed just Bering Sea and into the Gulf of with maximum sustained winds of south of Japan on September 19 Alaska with former tropical 70 kt with gusts to 85 kt near with maximum sustained winds of systems in the mix, especially 31°N. 150°E at the start of 70 kt with gusts to 85 kt. By 1800 through October when the tropics September, Wutip weakened to a UTC September 21 Vipa was a were most active. There were tropical storm at 1800 UTC tropical storm with maximum seven tropical cyclones which September 1. At 1200 UTC winds 45 kt with gusts to 55 kt. appeared on MPC oceanic September 1 the ship DGLO The system then merged with a analysis charts and either became reported a southwest wind of 45 kt low in the western Bering Sea by extratropical before entering and 10-m seas (32 ft). Wutip 1200 UTC September and moved MPC’s high seas area (see became extratropical at 0000 UTC east while intensifying, developing Reference 2) or actually moved September near 39°N. 161°E and a 968-mb central pressure in the into the high seas waters as raced northeast along a front western Gulf of Alaska at 0000 tropical cyclones. All came from associated with a gale in the UTC September 14. The ship the tropical western North Pacific Bering Sea without redeveloping. ELOT3 reported a northwest and passed near or east of Japan wind of 50 kt and 10.5-m seas (35 before recurving northeast. Tropical Storm Danas: Just east ft) near 52°N. 170°W., and the of Japan near 42°N. 146°E at same wind with 13-m seas (42 ft) As the fall season progressed the 0000 UTC September 12 with near 52°N. 171°W. at 1800 UTC main track of lows shifted south maximum sustained winds of 45 kt September 13 and 0000 UTC with a southern track from near with gusts to 55 kt, Danas moved September 14, respectively. The Japan to the Gulf of Alaska northeast and became an President Truman (WNDP) becoming more active, producing extratropical gale near the Kurile near 54°N. 164°W. experienced some intense lows. Sometimes the Islands within 12 hours. The northwest winds of 60 kt at 1200 upper-air flow pattern became system later intensified into a UTC September 14. The storm more amplified and steered storms storm just south of the eastern then weakened and drifted east. coming off Japan northward Aleutians at 1200 UTC September toward the Kamchatka Peninsula 14. The ship ELXX6 near 44N. Typhoon Francisco: Francisco or the southwest Bering Sea. 166E reported a southwest wind of attained maximum strength with Many of the low-pressure systems 45 kt at 0600 UTC September 13. maximum winds of 100 kt and produced storm force winds; QuikScat scatterometer winds at gusts to 125 kt near 26°N. 148°E hence, attention is focused mainly 0600 UTC September 14 showed at 1200 UTC September 23 and on those out-of-the-ordinary winds to 60 kt west and southwest began to weaken 24 hours later

Spring/Summer 2002 51 Marine Weather Review

while drifting north. Francisco then subsequently tracked northeast Other Significant Events weakened to a tropical storm near and weakened in the northern Gulf 37°N. 150°E at 0600 UTC of Alaska on October 12. Gulf of Alaska Storm of 2-3 September 25 and accelerated November: This system northeast, becoming an Super Typhoon Podul: Podul developed rapidly as depicted in extratropical storm 44°N. 160°E attained a maximum strength of Figure 5, absorbing an arctic low- eighteen hours later. The system 140 kt with gusts to 170 kt at 0600 pressure system and cold front to then weakened while passing UTC October 24 near 17°N. the north, and deepening by 29 mb south of the Aleutians on the 26th 157°E while drifting north in the 24-hour period ending at and 27th, before re-intensifying to a northeast, then began to weaken 1800 UTC November 3. The storm near the Queen Charlotte after 0600 UTC October 26. system was at maximum intensity Islands at 1200 UTC September Figure 3 shows Podul approaching in the second analysis of Figure 5. 29. Buoy 46004 reported a front to the north and becoming The GOES-10 infrared satellite southwest winds of 40 kt and 7.5- extratropical 24 hours later. The image of the storm (Figure 6) m seas (25 ft) at this time. The typhoon actually entered the MPC reveals an “eye” at the center, a system moved inland and high seas area at 1200 UTC characteristic of an intense weakened later that day. October 27 before becoming system. Figure 7 is a high- extratropical. Figure 4 is a GMS resolution QuikScat image of Typhoon Krosa: Tropical Storm infrared satellite image showing scatterometer winds around the Krosa formed south of Japan near Podul as a white circular cloud storm about 14 hours prior to the 16°N. at 0600 UTC October 4 and mass entering the southern end of time of maximum intensity. There moved northwest, rapidly a northeast to southwest frontal are 70 kt wind barbs off the coast intensifying to a typhoon with band. The ship JRZH reported of Southeast Alaska. At 1541 maximum sustained winds of 105 north winds of 50 kt and 9-m seas UTC November there was a ship kt with gusts to 130 kt near 20°N. (30 ft) near 36°N. 157°E at 1200 (callsign unknown) reporting south 137°E at 1200 UTC October 5 UTC October 27. The system then winds of 70 kt near 55°N. 132°W. before recurving northeast and redeveloped northeast near the The vessel WCD7842 at 57°N. weakening. Figure 1 depicts Krosa eastern Aleutians on the 28th and 143°W. reported southwest winds as a tropical storm merging with a reached the Gulf of Alaska on of 50 kt and 9-m seas (30 ft) at frontal zone to the north and October 30. 2100 UTC November 3. The rapidly re-intensifying into a storm then drifted toward the west and weakened. hurricane-force extratropical storm Super Typhoon Faxai: Faxai over a 36-hour period. The central approached the southwest corner Western Pacific Storm of 12-14 pressure dropped 32 mb in the 24- of MPC’s high seas waters near November: Figure 8 depicts the hour period ending at 1800 UTC 29°N. 158°E at 1800 UTC rapid development of this storm October 10. The President December 25 as a minimal over 36 hours. Initial deepening Wilson (WCY3438) encountered typhoon, before becoming was 32 mb in the 24-hour period south winds of 65 kt near 40°N. extratropical six hours later near ending at 0600 UTC November 177°E at 0600 UTC October 10. 31°N. 161°E. Prior to this, Faxai 13, with this storm certainly Twelve hours later this ship was at was once a super typhoon with qualifying as a meteorological 39°N. 178°W. reporting west maximum sustained winds of 150 “bomb”. Between 0000 UTC and winds of 50 kt and 13.5-m seas kt and gusts to 180 kt. The system 0600 UTC November 13 the storm (44 ft). A QuikScat image for then moved east and rapidly center passed the ship DHDH 1548 UTC October 10 (Figure 2) weakened. which reported an east wind of 35 reveals hurricane force winds up kt shifting to west 115 kt with the to 75 kt to the south and north of latter location at 39°N. 155°E. the center. The storm This latter wind may appear high

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Figure 1 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0600 UTC October 9 and 1800 UTC October 10, 2001.

Figure 2 - QuickScat scatterometer winds valid about 1548 UTC October 10, 2001. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.

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Figure 3 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0000 UTC October 27 and 28, 2001.

Figure 4 - GMS-5 infrared satellite image valid 2132 UTC October 26, 2001. Satellite senses temperature on a scale from cold (white) to warm (balack) in this type of image. The valid time is about two and one-half hours prior to time of first surface analysis in Figure 3. (from NASA Global Hydrology and Climate Center)

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Figure 5 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts (Part 1) valid 1200 UTC November 2 and 1800 UTC November 3, 2001.

Figure 6 - GOES-10 infrared satellite image valid 1800 UTC November 3, 2001 (same as valid time of second analysis in Figure 5).

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Figure 7 - High-resolution QuickScat image of scatterometer winds valid about 0410 UTC November 3, 2001. The resolution is 12.5 km in this image, versus 25 km for regular QuickScat imagery. (from NOAA/ NESDIS Office of Research and Applications)

Figure 8 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0600 UTC November 12 and 1800 UTC November 13, 2001.

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Figure 9 - QuikScat satellite image of scatterometer winds valid 0826 UTC November 13, 2001. (from NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research Applications)

Figure 10 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts (Part 2) valid 0600 UTC December 3 and 4, 2001.

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Figure 11 - QuickScat scatterometer winds valid 1755 UTC December 3, 2001. (from NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications)

for the open ocean outside a China reported a northwest wind Two Hurricane-Force Storms typhoon, but a QuickScat pass for of 69 kt and 16.5-m seas (54 ft) in North Pacific, 22-24 0826 UTC November 13 (Figure near 39°N. 172°E at 1800 UTC December: This situation was 9) has an 80 kt wind barb near the December 3, while the Essen made possible by the presence of location of the ship. Reported seas Express (DHEE) nearby two major upper-level troughs and were 9.5 meters (31 ft) in the encountered northwest winds of a very strong jet stream. Figure 12 depicts the surface developments second report. The storm then 65 kt. The Westwood Belinda over a 36-hour period, while the moved north to near the (H9IM) at 39°N. 171°E reported 500-mb analysis in Figure 13 Kamchatka Peninsula with a 960 northwest winds of 50 kt and 16-m corresponds to the time of rapid mb central pressure before seas (53 ft) at 0000 UTC beginning to drift southwest and intensification of both systems and December 4, while ahead of the weaken. The APL China (S6TA) depicts strong jet streams and system, the Mayview Maersk encountered southwest winds of short-wave troughs supporting (OWEB2) encountered southeast 50 kt and 11.5-m seas (38 ft) near development. See Reference 1 for winds of 60 kt and 8-m seas (27 50°N. 171°E at 1800 UTC more information on the ft) near 45°N. 179°W. Figure 11 is November 14. relationships of the 500-mb chart a QuikScat image of satellite- to surface features. The western sensed winds valid at 1755 UTC storm is shown in the second part Western Pacific Storm of 3-4 December 3 featuring 65-kt north of Figure 12 at maximum intensity. December: In Figure 10 the 996- wind barbs on the back side of the This was the most intense storm of hPa developing storm is depicted storm. This system then turned the four-month period in either deepening by 44 hPa in the 24- toward the north, to just south of ocean. The eastern storm is shown hour period ending at 0600 UTC the Aleutians at 1800 UTC rapidly intensifying, but the peak December 4. This is perhaps the December 4, before drifting intensity of 960 mb was reached most impressive intensification northwest and weakening. six hours prior to the valid time of rate in either ocean during the the second surface analysis. four-month period. The APL Figure 14 is an infrared satellite

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image of the North Pacific References showing both storms, with the 1. Sienkiewicz, J. and Chesneau, 2. Bancroft, G., High Seas Text western storm at maximum L., Mariner’s Guide to the 500- Bulletins Issued by MPC intensity. The spiral cloud pattern Mb Chart (Mariners Weather (Mariners Weather Log, Vol. 40, around the well-defined center is Log, Winter 1995). No. 2, Summer 1996). indicative of a very intense system. The highest wind reported by a ship was a southwest wind of 61 kt from the Westwood Marianne (C6QD3) near 40°N. 156°W. at 1200 UTC December 22. The same ship reported a northwest wind of 50 kt and 14.5- m seas (48 ft) near 39°N. 156°W. six hours later, the highest reported in these two storms. Ship data was lacking near the western storm, except on the fringes. The Mackinac Bridge (JKES) near 46°N. 164°W. reported a south wind of 60 kt and 8-m seas (26 ft) at 0000 UTC December 24. Buoy 46035 (57°N. 178°W.) had northeast winds up to 40 kt and seas of 10.5 meters (34 ft) at 0600 UTC December 24. On the southern periphery of the storm, the CSX Reliance (WFLH) near 39°N. 170°W. encountered northwest winds of 45 kt and 11-m seas (36 ft). A QuikScat image (Figure 15) valid about 0439 UTC December 23 reveals hurricane force winds on the back side of the eastern storm, and also shows the eastern edge of the western storm which has some 60-kt wind barbs.

The eastern storm subsequently moved into the Gulf of Alaska and weakened later on December 24. The stronger western storm endured a bit longer, drifting east Figure 12 - MPC North Pacific surface analysis charts valid 0600 UTC while slowly weakening and December 22 and 1800 UTC December 23, 2001. becoming absorbed by a storm passing to the south by December 27.

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Figure 13 - MPC 500-hPa analysis valid 0000 UTC December 23, 2001. The valid time is halfway between the analysis times of the two charts in Figure 12.

Figure 14 - Composite image made up of GOES-10 and GMS infrared satellite imagery valid 1830 UTC December 23, 2001.

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Figure 15 - QuikScat scatterometer winds valid abour 0439 UTC December 23, 2001. (from NOAA/ NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.

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TROPICAL REVIEW September 2001 - December 2001

Dr. Jack Beven National Hurricane Center

Daniel Brown Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch

Introduction that the storm might be acquiring ships were reporting 30 kt or less. tropical characteristics. The This indicated the storm had The Tropical Prediction Center/ Tellus began its encounter with developed a strong inner core National Hurricane Center (TPC/ the storm at 0000 UTC 5 characteristic of a tropical NHC) became much busier as November (Table 1) as it traveled cyclone, even though its activity in the Atlantic significantly westward into the now northward- appearance on satellite images increased. A total of 20 tropical moving circulation. The key was less than classically tropical. storms and hurricanes occurred in observations were at 1200 UTC The 1400 UTC observation of 65 the Atlantic and eastern Pacific and 1400 UTC. Figure 1 shows an kt indicated that the system was during the summary period. image of the soon-to-be Noel at at hurricane strength. Subsequent Several non-tropical gale events 1145 UTC with the 1200 UTC Tellus observations helped also affected the TPC high seas ship observations plotted on it. determine the size of the wind forecast areas. Note that while Tellus was field on the southwest side of the reporting 60 kt and 992.0 hPa storm. from near the center, other nearby The Tale of the Tellus Table 1. Observations from the Tellus during its encounter with Hurricane Noel, 5-6 November Most hurricane seasons bring many encounters between ships and tropical cyclones, and examples of how ship observations aid the TPC in analysis and forecasting. One of the best such examples from the 2001 season was that of the Tellus (WRYG) and the storm that became Hurricane Noel.

A non-tropical low formed in the eastern Atlantic late on 1 November near 32°N. 40°W. This system strengthened into a storm center the next day as it drifted northwestward. Convection began to increase near the center on 3 and 4 November, which suggested

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Based on the observations from different than indicated in forecast eastern North Pacific basin the Tellus and satellite or analysis products. produced ten tropical cyclones, microwave data indicating the including one tropical depression, system was warm-core, the TPC/ The 2002 Hurricane Season four tropical storms and five NHC wrote the first advisory on hurricanes, with Hurricane Juliette Hurricane Noel at 1500 UTC 5 The 2002 hurricane season begins reaching Category 4 status on the November (Figure 2). After this in the eastern Pacific on 15 May Saffir-Simpson scale. time, Noel continued northward and in the Atlantic on 1 June. Both and weakened to a tropical storm seasons run through 30 1. Atlantic later that day. It became November. The names for this extratropical about 285 nmi season’s storms are listed in the Hurricane Erin: Erin formed southeast of Cape Race, table below. from a on 1 Newfoundland on 6 November September and quickly became a and was soon absorbed into Significant Weather of the tropical storm about 660 miles another extratropical low. Period west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands (Fig. 2). It moved The TPC normally requests in its A. Tropical Cyclones: Twelve west-northwestward over the next Forecast/Advisories that all ships tropical cyclones occurred in the few days, with maximum with 300 nmi of a tropical cyclone Atlantic basin during the summary sustained winds reaching 50 kt on send three-hourly observations. period, making this one of the 3 September. After that, westerly Increased observations (three- most active September-December caused the cyclone to hourly and hourly) are also useful periods ever. These included one weaken to an area of disturbed when a tropical cyclone is first tropical depression, two tropical weather about 400 miles east of forming regardless of whether it storms, and nine hurricanes. Four the northern on 5 forms from a non-tropical low or a of the hurricanes reached September. The shear then tropical disturbance, or when the Category 3 or higher on the Saffir- decreased and a new center observed weather is significantly Simpson Hurricane Scale. The formed the next day about 475 miles north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The reborn Erin moved north- northwestward and strengthened into a tropical storm on 7 September and to a hurricane on 8 September. It passed about 90 nmi east of Bermuda on the 9 September just before maximum winds peaked at 105 kt (Fig. 3). After a slow recurvature from 11 to 13 September, Erin accelerated northeastward and passed near Cape Race on the 14 September at just below hurricane strength. It became extratropical shortly thereafter.

Several ships encountered Erin, with the most notable observation

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Figure 1. GOES-8 infrared image of hurricane Noel at 1145 UTC 5 November 2001 with 1200 UTC ship observations overlaid on the imagery.

coming from the Semyonovosk There are no reports of damages tracked steadily west- (UCTR) which reported 48kt or casualties. northwestward and became winds at 1500 UTC 14 Tropical Storm Felix on 11 September. Also noteworthy was Hurricane Felix: A tropical September. During the next two data from the Sealand Pride wave developed into a tropical days Felix turned northwestward (WDA367) which intermittently depression on 7 September and then northward, becoming a reported tropical storm winds southwest of the Cape Verde hurricane late on 12 September. from 1200 UTC on 12 September Islands (Fig. 2). Late on 8 Maximum winds reached 100 kt to 0000 UTC on the 14 September, the westward-moving as Felix curved northeastward late September. Other significant ship depression encountered strong on 13 September. Slow weakening observations in Erin are included shear and weakened to a tropical occurred thereafter. Felix turned in Table 2. wave. As the wave continued eastward on 15 September and westward, the shear relaxed continued this motion until it Erin brought strong winds and enough to allow a new center to weakened back to a tropical storm heavy rains to portions of form early on 10 September about on 17 September, at which time it southeastern Newfoundland, with 1000 miles east of the Lesser stalled about 350 miles southwest Cape Race reporting 46-kt Antilles. This made the system the of the Azores. Increasing shear sustained winds and gusts to 58 kt season’s fourth topical cyclone to and cooler waters caused Felix to at 0200 UTC 15 September. dissipate in the deep tropics and weaken to a depression early on Bermuda reported a gust to 36 kt. then regenerate. The depression 18 September and to dissipate 64 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 2 - Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes of 2001. later that day about 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Table 2 - Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater Only a few ships encountered winds for Hurricane Erin, 1-15 September, 2001. Felix. The LTC Calvin P. Titus (KAKG) reported 35 kt winds at 1800 UTC on 16 September, while the Nariva (C6PW2) reported 34 kt winds at 1200 UTC on 17 September. There were no reports of damages or casualties.

Hurricane Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on 11 September from a non-tropical low (Fig. 2). It looped slowly for two days before moving northeastward on 13 Spring/Summer 2002 65 Marine Weather Review

some ships it affected are given in Table 3. The most significant observations were from the KRPDD (name unknown) which reported 58-kt winds at 0000 and 1800 UTC 16 September. Additionally, a buoy off the southwest Florida coast reported 44-kt sustained winds with a gust to 85 kt at 1210 UTC on 14 September. At the shore, the Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) station at St. Augustine, Florida reported 51-kt sustained winds with gusts to 65 kt, while a marine laboratory at New Pass, Florida also reported 51-kt sustained winds. Figure 3 - Close-up of image of Hurricane Erin with winds peaked at 105 kt. Image is MODIS data acquired by direct broadcast from the NASA Gabrielle is blamed for one death Terra spacecraft at the Space Science and Engineering Center, and $230 million in damage in the University of Wisonsin-Madison. United States.

September as it became a tropical storm. Gabrielle moved inland Table 3. Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater winds for near Venice, Florida on 14 Hurricane Gabrielle, 11-19 September, 2001. September as a tropical storm with 60-kt tropical storm winds. After meandering across the Florida Peninsula, the storm moved northeastward into the Atlantic near Cape Canaveral on 15 September. Gabrielle continued northeastward and became a hurricane with 70-kt winds on 17 September while located about 250 miles north of Bermuda. It weakened to a tropical storm on 18 September and became extratropical the next day about 330 miles south of Cape Race.

Even while it was a hurricane, Gabrielle had a large wind field similar to that of an extratropical low. Selected observations from

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Tropical Depression Nine: A tropical wave moving through the Caribbean spawned a tropical depression about 50 nmi north- northwest of San Andres Island on 19 September (Fig. 4). The system moved west- northwestward and made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua early on 20 September. It dissipated over land later that day, and there were no reports of damages or casualties.

Hurricane Humberto: Humberto had an unusual origin in that it formed from a extending southwestward from Gabrielle. The cyclone developed Figure 4 - Best track of Tropical Depression Nine, 19 - 20 September on 21 September about 490 miles 2001. south of Bermuda (Fig. 2). It moved northwestward and strengthened into a tropical storm on 22 and 23 September. Ships generally avoided Humberto. that day, before rapidly On 23 September Humberto The Sealand Expedition intensifying while crossing the gradually turned northward and (WPGJ) and the Onejskyi western Caribbean. Maximum became a hurricane, passing about (UCTI) reported 37-kt winds at winds reached 125 kt just before 140 miles west of Bermuda. 1800 UTC 23 September and 1200 landfall near Monkey River Town Winds reached 85 kt early on 24 UTC 27 September, respectively. in southern Belize on the evening September, followed by some Bermuda reported a gust to 37 kt. of 8 October. Iris weakened weakening while Humberto turned There were no reports of damages rapidly after landfall and dissipated northeastward. The cyclone or casualties. over eastern Mexico on 9 unexpectedly re-intensified on 26 October. September, and maximum winds : Iris developed reached 90 kt while Humberto from a tropical wave near the Although Iris was a Category 4 was centered about 200 miles Windward Islands on 4 October hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson south-southeast of Sable Island, (Fig. 2). Moving west- scale at landfall, the core was Nova Scotia. The hurricane turned northwestward into the Caribbean very small with hurricane force eastward and weakened to a Sea, it became a tropical storm on winds extending no more than 25 tropical storm on 27 September. 6 October. Iris turned westward nmi from the center. Tropical- Humberto became extratropical and reached hurricane status on 7 storm force winds generally later that day, and the remnant October just south of the extended no more than 100 nmi circulation was eventually Barahona Peninsula of the from the center. No ships reported absorbed by a larger low over the . The tropical storm winds from Iris. far north Atlantic. hurricane passed near the However, a marine tragedy southern coast of Jamaica later occurred at landfall when the M/V

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Wave Dancer capsized in harbor Tropical Storm Karen early on 13 gusts to 85 kt. These winds near Big Creek, Belize with the October and progressing to caused tree and power line loss of 20 lives. hurricane status later that day. damage, leaving more than 23,000 Karen moved generally people without power and causing Iris caused severe damage from northward for the next 2 days, the Norwegian Majesty to break winds and an 8- to 15-ft storm with maximum winds reaching 70 anchor at the height of the storm. surge within a 60 nmi wide area of kt early on 14 October. It made Cape George, Nova Scotia southern Belize. Including those on landfall in western Nova Scotia reported 41-kt sustained winds the Wave Dancer, Iris was on 15 October as a 40-kt tropical with a gust to 56 kt when Karen responsible for 31 deaths, and storm and became extratropical made landfall. damage in Belize was estimated at while moving toward western $66 million. Newfoundland, where it merged Tropical Storm Lorenzo: with a large mid-latitude low Lorenzo formed from a non- Tropical Storm Jerry: Jerry pressure system. tropical low in the eastern developed from a tropical wave on Atlantic that developed on 26 6 October about 540 nmi east- The Nordic Empress (ELJV7) October. The low became a southeast of Barbados (Fig. 2). was anchored at Bermuda while tropical depression on 27 October Moving west-northwestward, it the subtropical storm passed and about 850 miles southwest of the reached tropical storm strength reported 79-kt sustained winds Azores and moved slowly later that day. Jerry moved with a gust to 103 kt at the westward (Fig. 2). Late on 29 through the Windward Islands at height of 153 ft. The October it reached minimal its maximum intensity of 45-kt ship also reported a 991.0 mb tropical storm strength about 1250 winds on 7 and 8 October. The pressure. Other ship observations miles west-southwest of the system then became disorganized for hurricane Karen are included Azores. Lorenzo turned to the in the eastern and in Table 4. northwest and then to the north on dissipated late on 8 October. 30 October with little change in Official land observations on strength. Accelerating rapidly to There are no ship reports of Bermuda included 58-kt sustained the north-northeast early on 31 tropical-storm-force winds from winds with gusts to 78 kt. There October, Lorenzo lost tropical Jerry. The town of Caravelle on were unofficial reports of characteristics ahead of an Martinique reported 39 kt sustained winds near 65 kt with approaching cold front about 700 sustained winds with gusts to 50 kt on 8 October. There were no reports of damages or casualties. Table 4 - Selected ship observations of 34 kt or greater winds associated with Hurricane Karen, 12-15 October 2001.Best track of Tropical Hurricane Karen: A frontal Depression Nine, 19 - 20 September 2001. system stalled about 200 nmi southeast of Bermuda on 10 October. A low formed on the front early on 11 October, and the low became a strong subtropical storm as it tracked northwestward just southwest of Bermuda early the next day (Fig. 2). The storm turned northward later that day. The cyclone then became better organized, transforming into

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miles west of the Azores. There from the Scan Partner (call sign reportedly innudated the entire were no reliable reports of unknown) and the ELWU7 (name island. Nassau, Bahamas reported tropical-storm-force winds from unknown). The Scan Partner a peak gust of 89 kt. Winds of 35 Lorenzo, and there were no passed near the center of Michelle to 45 kt occurred over portions of reports of damages or casualties. at 0730 UTC 2 November and south Florida. In addition to the reported 34-47 kt winds and a main , above normal Hurricane Michelle: This classic 988.0 mb pressure. The ELWU7 tides and battering waves late-season hurricane started as a reported 60-kt winds and a 995.0 occurred in portions of , the broad low associated with a mb pressure at 1200 UTC on 5 Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, tropical wave in the southwestern November. Other significant ship and south Florida. Seventeen Caribbean Sea on 27 October. It and buoy observations are deaths are associated with the developed into a tropical included in Table 5. hurricane, including 6 in depression on 29 October along Honduras, 5 in Cuba, 4 in the east coast of Nicaragua (Fig. Michelle was the strongest Nicaragua, and 2 in Jamaica. 2). The depression then moved hurricane to hit Cuba since 1952 Widespread severe damage inland and meandered over and left a trail of damage and occurred across western and northeastern Nicaragua for two death from Central America to the central Cuba, with additional days. Late on 31 October it moved Bahamas. Cayo Largo, Cuba damage over portions of Central into the northwestern Caribbean reported 108-kt sustained winds America, the Cayman Islands, Sea and became Tropical Storm with gusts to 115 kt, along with a Jamaica, and . Michelle. The cyclone moved 9- to 10-ft storm surge that slowly north-northwestward for the next two days as it strengthened into a hurricane. The hurricane turned slowly northward on 3 November (Fig. 5), with an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft measuring a central pressure of 933 hPa. Michelle turned northeastward on 4 November as maximum winds reached 120 kt. Later that day it hit western Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. A weakening Michelle continued northeastward through the Bahamas on 5 November and became extratropical over the southwestern Atlantic on 6 November. The system was absorbed by a cold front late that day.

Several ships encountered the Figure 5 - GOES-8 visible image of Hurricane Michelle at 1245 large circulation of Michelle. The UTC 3 November. Image courtesy of the Naval Research most significant observations were Laboratory, Monterey, CA.

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Table 5 - Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater winds Olga’s extratropical origin resulted for Hurricane Michelle, 29 October - 5 November, 2001. in a large wind field which affected many ships. Selected observations are given in Table 7. The most significant reports were from the sailing yacht Manana Tres (call sign unknown), which indicated the system had formed a strong inner core, and from the Liberty Sun (WCOB), which passed near the center just before Olga became a hurricane.

The only known damage from Olga was to the Manana Tres, which reported “lots of damage.” Swells generated by Olga affected portions of the U. S. east coast, the Bahamas, and the northeastern Caribbean islands. then moved southwestward, Hurricane Noel: The story of weakening to a tropical storm on Noel is found above. A few ships 29 November and a depression on 2. Eastern Pacific besides the Tellus encountered 30 November. Olga turned the storm, and their reports are northwestward late on 1 Hurricane Gil and Tropical included in Table 6. There were December. It then turned north- Storm Henriette: These two no reports of damages or northwestward and regained storms developed almost casualties from Noel. tropical storm strength on 2 simultaneously and eventually November. The cyclone turned interacted with each other. Gil Hurricane Olga: Olga originated eastward on 3 November and formed from an area of disturbed from yet another non-tropical low again weakened to a depression weather associated with the over the central Atlantic. The low the next day. It dissipated later southern portion of the tropical formed on 22 November, and by that day about 600 nmi east of wave which spawned Dean in the 24 November it had sufficiently Nassau. Atlantic. The disturbance moved organized convection to be westward across Central America classified a subtropical storm about 780 nmi east-southeast of Bermuda (Fig. 2). The storm Table 6 - Selected ship or buoy reports with winds of at least 34 kt for moved northwestward to Hurricane Noel, 4-6 November 2001. westward for a day or so as it acquired full tropical characteristics. It became a hurricane about 435 nmi east of Bermuda on 26 November. Olga made two loops from 26 to 28 November, during which time maximum winds reached 80 kt. It

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to the east and southeast of the Table 7 - Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane cyclones. The ship Pacific Olga, 24 November - 4 December, 2001. Highway reported 40 kt winds and 22 ft seas at 0000 UTC 7 September in this flow while about 205 nmi southeast of the center of Gil.

Tropical Storm Ivo: Ivo first formed about 100 nmi south- southwest of Acapulco on 10 September (Fig. 6). It moved slowly west-northwestward through its lifetime with its circulation hugging the coast. The cyclone became a tropical storm on 11 Septemberand reached a peak intensity of 45 kt on 12 September. It then weakened to a depression on 14 September and dissipated the next day about 300 nmi west of Baja .

The ship ZDEB2 (name unknown) reported 37 kt winds at 0600 UTC 12 September, which was the basis for on 24 August, but it did not moved faster and passed to the upgrading Ivo to a tropical storm. become a tropical depression until north of Gil. The two cyclones Although tropical-storm force 4 September when it was located began to rotate around each other winds occurred along portions of about 850 nmi southwest of Cabo on 7 September. Henriette the coast of Mexico, there were San Lucas, Mexico (Fig. 6). On became absorbed by the no reports of damages or the same day, early morning circulation of Gil and dissipated on casualties. visible satellite images indicated 8 September. However, its that another circulation was remnant disturbance made a Hurricane Juliette: This large organized enough to be classified counterclockwise loop of Gil over and powerful hurricane was the as a tropical depression about 300 the ensuing 24 hours. Gil’s only eastern Pacific cyclone to nmi west-southwest of circulation persisted a little bit make landfall during 2001. Juliette Manzanillo, Mexico. This was longer but gradually weakened and formed from the remnants of about 765 nmi east of Gil. Gil dissipated on 9 September about Atlantic Tropical Depression Nine, reached hurricane intensity with 1150 miles east of the Hawaiian which entered the Pacific on 20 maximum winds of 85 kt on 6 Islands. September. The system organized September, while Henriette into a depression about 90 nmi strengthened to a peak of 55 kt The combination of Gil and south of the coast of Guatemala on 7 September. Initially, Gil Henriette created a large area of on 21 September and reached moved westward but Henriette southwesterly and southerly winds tropical storm strength later that

Spring/Summer 2002 71 Marine Weather Review

day (Fig. 6). Juliette moved Table 8 - Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane west-northwestward about Juliette, 23-28 September 2001. 100-200 nmi from the coast of Mexico from 21 to 26 September. It became a hurricane on 23 September and reached a peak intensity of 125 kt on 25 September (Fig. 7). On that date, an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a central pressure of 923 hPa, the second lowest measured pressure of record in the eastern Pacific. Juliette turned northward and began to weaken on 26 September. It passed just west of Cabo San Lucas as a hurricane with 80 kt winds on 28 September and made landfall on the Baja affected several ships. Selected 30 September. Two deaths are California peninsula near San significant observations are shown attributed to Juliette: a fisherman Carlos as a tropical storm with in Table 8. The most significant near Acapulco whose boat 35-kt winds on 30 September. observation was from the Zim capsized in high seas, and a surfer Juliette continued slowly Atlantic (4XFD), which reported who drowned near the Baja northward as a depression into the 55-kt winds at 0600 UTC 28 California coast. According to Gulf of California and eventually September. Mexican news agency reports, dissipated over the northern Juliette “clobbered’ the resort of portion of the Gulf on 3 October. On shore, Cabo San Lucas Cabo San Lucas, isolating it for reported sustained winds of 76 kt several days. Flooding in the state The large circulation of Juliette with a gust to 94 kt at 0000 UTC of Sonora drove more than 38,000 people from their homes. Moisture from Juliette produced thunderstorms in southern California on 30 September, knocking down trees and power lines across the Coachella Valley.

Hurricane Kiko: A portion of the tropical wave that spawned Felix likely spawned Kiko. The cyclone formed on 21 September about 550 nmi southwest of Cabo San Lucas (Fig. 6). Moving generally west-northwestward to westward, the cyclone became a tropical storm later that day and briefly Figure 6 - Eastern North Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes of 2001. became a hurricane with 65-kt

72 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 7 - GOES-10 visible image of Hurricane Juliette near peak intensity at 2100 UTC 25October 2001. Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data. winds on 23 September. Kiko that time; however, strong vertical Tropical Storm Manuel: Manuel weakened to a depression on 25 shear caused rapid weakening, formed from the remnants of September and degenerated into a and Lorena became a weak low Atlantic Hurricane Iris. While Iris low cloud swirl later that day near on 4 October about 120 nmi dissipated over Central America 19oN. 129oW. There were no southwest of Puerto Vallarta, on 9 October, a new circulation reports of damages, casualties, or Mexico. center formed over the adjacent tropical-storm-force winds. Pacific. This system became The ship ELXX7 (name organized into a tropical Tropical Storm Lorena: A unknown) reported 35-kt winds at depression on 10 October about tropical wave that crossed into the 1730 UTC 3 October, while an 175 nmi south of Acapulco (Fig. Pacific on 27 September organized unidentified ship reported 35-kt 6). After becoming a tropical into a tropical depression on 2 winds a half-hour later. There storm on 11 October, it moved October about 300 nmi south of were no reports of damages or westward to west-southwestward Acapulco, Mexico (Fig. 6). The casualties. away from Mexico and weakened cyclone moved west- to a tropical depression on 12 northwestward and became Tropical Depression Fourteen- October. Manuel then turned Tropical Storm Lorena later that E: This short-lived system formed northwestward and regained day. Lorena turned north- on 3 October about 800 nmi tropical storm status on 15 northwestward on 3 October as it southwest of Cabo San Lucas. October. It strengthened to its reached a peak intensity of 50-kt Maximum winds reached 30 kt peak intensity of 50 kt on 16 winds. The storm appeared to be a before the system dissipated the October a little over 520 nmi threat to the coast of Mexico at next day. south-southwest of Cabo San Spring/Summer 2002 73 Marine Weather Review

Lucas. Weakening occurred damages, casualties, or tropical- 25 October reached the thereafter, with Manuel becoming storm-force winds. northwestern Caribbean on 27 a depression again on 17October October. The front moved slowly and dissipating about 660 nmi southeast across the Gulf on 26 west-southwest of Cabo San B. Other Significant Events: October, and by 1200 UTC that Lucas the next day. There were day, a strong 1037 hPa high was no reports of damages, casualties, 1. Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of located well northwest of the front or tropical-storm force winds. Mexico over the central United States. Northeast winds increased to 20- Hurricane Narda: Narda formed West Atlantic Gale 30 25 kt across the northwest about 1150 nmi southwest of Cabo September: An early season Caribbean behind the front. On 28 San Lucas on 20 October (Fig. 6). cold front became stationary on 26 October, the front was stationary It became a tropical storm later September from the western across the northwestern that day and a hurricane with 75 Atlantic across south central Caribbean while a broad low kt winds on 22 October while Florida to the Bay of Campeche. pressure area (the precursor of moving west-northwestward. Winds increased late on 28 Hurricane Michelle) strengthened Narda then turned westward and September across the Gulf of over the southwestern Caribbean weakened, becoming a tropical Mexico and western Atlantic as a Sea. By 1200 UTC on 29 October, storm on 23 October and a low pressure center formed along winds increased to gale force from depression on 24 October. Strong the front just north of the Yucatan 16°N. to 20°N. between 78°W vertical wind shear caused the Peninsula. At 1200 UTC 29 and 85°W. At that time the ship tropical cyclone to dissipate about September, a 1005 mb low was Chiquita Schweiz (C6KD9) 520 nmi east-southeast of the analyzed near the Dry Tortugas, reported 34-kt winds and 4-m (13- Hawaiian Islands on 25 October. Florida. The low moved ft) seas near 18°N. 80°W. Later There were no reports of northeastward across south that day the broad low became a damages, casualties, or tropical- Florida and by 0000 UTC 30 tropical depression (Fig. 2). Gale- storm-force winds. September was located just east force winds were associated with of Palm Beach, Florida. It the stationary front located well Hurricane Octave: Octave continued northeastward and north of the depression. QuikScat developed from a large area of produced a brief period of gales data from just before 0000 UTC disturbed weather about 1000 nmi off the Georgia and north Florida 30 October indicated a large area southwest of Cabo San Lucas on coasts. The ship A. V. Kastner of 30-40 kt winds over the 31 October (Fig. 6). The west- (ZCAM9) reported northeast northern Caribbean. The area of northwestward moving cyclone winds of 35 kt at 0000 UTC 30 gale-force winds spread became a tropical storm later that September. By 1200 UTC the low northeastward, and by 1200 UTC day and a hurricane on 1 center was near 31°N. 70°W., and on 30 October covered the entire November. Octave turned gales had moved north of 31°N. Caribbean north of 18°N. At that northwestward and reached a Since no QuikScat data were time Chiquita Schweiz again peak intensity of 75 kt on 2 available due to the short duration observed gale force winds of 40 kt November before weakening to a of the event, the ship observations near the Windward Passage. By tropical storm later that day. On 3 were extremely useful in 1200 UTC 31 October, the high November, the system turned determining the magnitude of the pressure over the eastern United westward and weakened to a winds. States began to weaken and move depression, and it dissipated later northeastward. This weakened the that day about 1300 nmi west- Northwest Caribbean Gale 29- pressure gradient over the southwest of Cabo San Lucas. 31 October: A cold front that northwestern Caribbean and winds There were no reports of moved off the coast of Texas on decreased below gale force.

74 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Figure 8 - GOES-8 visible image of western Atlantic gale at 1815 UTC 15 November 2001. Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center.

However, winds in that area soon Endurance (WAUU), and central Florida. The low quickly increased with the approach of Grafton (ZCBO5) observed strengthened and became a 1006 Michelle. northeast winds of 35 to 40 kt hPa gale center near 28°N. 80°W. near 30°N. 50°W. The storm at 0600 UTC on 15 November. At Central Atlantic Gale 3-4 center moved northwestward on 3 0600 UTC, the Tellus and the November: This event was November. A QuikScat pass from Kent Sprint (VGDX) observed associated with the low that 2108 UTC that day detected 30- 40-kt winds off the north Florida eventually became Hurricane 35-kt winds north of 30°N. and Georgia coasts. The ship Noel. As the low intensified just between 48°W. and 57°W. Gales observations confirmed a 1023 north of the TPC high seas ended south of 31°N by 1800 UTC QuikScat pass which forecast area on 2 November, the UTC on 4 November as the showed an area of 30-40-kt winds increased to gale force over system turned northward. easterly winds from 30°N. to the area north of 29°N. between 33°N. west of 72°W. At 1200 45°W. and 55°W. At 0600 UTC West Atlantic Gale: 15-16 UTC, the ship Lykes that day the ship Chiquita November: A weakening Discoverer (WGXO) Schweiz again encountered gale stationary front extended east to encountered northeast winds of 37 force winds of 36 kt near 29°N. west across the western Atlantic, kt, while an unidentified ship 53°W. This helped confirm while a strong high pressure reported 40-kt winds near 31°N. QuikScat data a short time later. center located along the mid- 78.5°W. GOES-8 visible satellite By 1800 UTC that day, the low Atlantic coast produced strong imagery at 1815 UTC 15 had strengthened into a storm northeast to east winds north of November (Fig. 8) showed the center near 33°N.44°W. At that the front. A low started forming well-defined low just off the east- time the ships Chiquita Schweiz, on the western end of the front central Florida coast. The gale late on 14 November just east of center drifted northeastward and Spring/Summer 2002 75 Marine Weather Review

weakened while the high pressure center off the mid-Atlantic coast moved east into the central Atlantic. By 0600 UTC on 16 November, gale conditions ended south of 31°N. but continued over the Marine Prediction Center’s area north of 31°N. At 1800 UTC, the gale center weakened to a low near 29°N. 76°W., which eventually dissipated northeast of on 21 November.

Gulf of Mexico Cold Front 29- 30 November: A slow-moving cold front moved off the coast of southeast Texas around 0000 UTC 28 November. Early on 29 November, the front accelerated southeastward as stronger high pressure moved southward across Figure 9 - QuikSCAT data at 0755 UTC 26 December 2001. Image the central United States. By courtesy of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and 0600 UTC, the front extended Information Service. from just east of Lake Charles, Louisiana to the southwestern north of 31°N., producing periods 18 ft) continued north of 25°N. Bay of Campeche. At that time of gale force winds over the east of 55°W. through the rest of northwesterly gale force winds eastern portion of the TPC that day. began over the southwest Gulf of forecast area. Gales associated Mexico in the area south of 25°N. with the first system began at The next cold front began west of the cold front. The ship 0600 UTC 17 December. Gale producing gales along 31°N. Koeln Express (9VBL) conditions and seas of 4.5 to 6 m shortly before 1200 UTC 23 observed 37-kt winds at 1200 (15-20 ft) occurred over the TPC December. At that time this fast- UTC and 33-kt winds at 1800 forecast area north of 29°N. east moving front extend through UTC in the southwest Bay of of 50°W. At 0600 UTC and 1200 31°N. 42°W. - 21°N. 55°W. to Campeche. The short-lived gale UTC 17 December the ship near Puerto Rico. QuikScat data event ended at 0000 UTC 30 Chiquita Nederland (C6KD6) at 2134 UTC that day showed a November. encountered west to northwest 35 large area of 30 to35-kt winds to 40-kt winds near 30°N. 45°W. north of 29°N. between 45°W. Central and East Atlantic A day later the ship Coral Reef and 55°W. On 24 December at Gales 17-18 December and (C6RO6) and the ship C6RO2 0000 UTC, the ship Licorne 23-26 December: A (name unknown) experienced Pacifique (J8CV5) reported predominant longwave trough was westerly gale force winds of 35- northwest winds of 35 kt near over the central and east Atlantic 40 kt near 30°N. 45°W. at 0600 29°N. 53°W. By 0000 UTC on 25 during the later half of December. UTC and 1200 UTC. By 0000 December, the cold front reached Several fast-moving cold fronts UTC 19 December, gale from 31°N. 31°W. -19°N. 40°W. and gale centers moved conditions ended south of 31°N.; to near 15°N. 58°W. At that time southeastward, then eastward just however, swells of 3.5-5.5 m (12- gale conditions covered the area

76 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

across the Gulf of Mexico on the 16-17 October, and a 1030 hPa high pressure center moved southward to eastern Texas by 0600 UTC on the 17th. At that time gales began over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. There were no ship observations of gale force winds during the event; however, QuikScat data detected 30 to35-kt winds during the event, which ended at 1200 UTC 19 October.

The second event, beginning at 0600 UTC 28 October, was more prolonged. Two ships reported gale force winds - the Chiquita Joy (ZCBC2), which observed north winds of 37 kt at 1800 UTC Figure 10 - GOES-8 visible image of eastern Atlantic gale at 1215 UTC 28 October and 38 kt at 0000 26 December 2001. Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data UTC 29 October, and the Marine Center. Chemist (KMCB), which reported 35-kt winds at 0000 UTC on 29 October. Several QuikScat north of 27°N. east of 53°W. On from the TPC forecast area, and passes during the event showed 25-26 December a fast-moving gale conditions moved north of gales with winds as high as 40 kt storm center moved 31°N. However, northwest winds at 1232 UTC on 29 October. southeastward and then eastward of 25-30 kt and seas of 3.5-5.5 m Subsequent QuikScat passes on just north of 31°N. This caused (12-18 ft) continued north of 30-31 October showed 30-35 kt winds to increase 30-40 kt over 25°N. east of 50°W. until 28 winds. The event ended at 1200 the TPC forecast area. At 0600 December. UTC 1 November. UTC on the 26th, the 988-hPa storm was centered near 33°N. 2. Eastern Pacific The next event began just before 42°W. At that time the ship 1200 UTC 5 November and was Chiquita Rostock (ZCBD2) Six Gulf of Tehuantepec gale observed by several ships. The experienced west winds of 40 kt events occurred during the period ship Tristan (SKWI) encountered near 29°N. 42°W. QuikScat beginning in the middle of winds of 37 kt and 38 kt at 1200 detected 40 to 50 kt winds just October, with the estimated and 1800 UTC, respectively. southwest of the storm center and beginning and ending times given Other ships including the Saloma 30 to 40-kt winds south of 31°N. in Table 9. These events were (VRVT2), Leverkusen Express at 0755 UTC that day (Fig. 9). documented by QuikScat data or (DEHY), Overseas New GOES-8 satellite imagery at 1215 occasionally by reliable ship Orleans (WFKW), and the ship UTC 26 December (Fig. 10) observations. 30111 (name unknown) observed clearly detected the well-defined winds of 35-40 kt between 1800 storm. By 0000 UTC on 27 The first event occurred between UTC on 5 November and 1800 December, the storm weakened 17-19 October. A strong cold UTC on 6 November. It is unusual and moved northeastward away front moved southeastward to receive so many ships’

Spring/Summer 2002 77 Marine Weather Review

Table 9 - Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Events (October - December 2001).

observations of gale force winds encountered 33-kt winds well The sixth event of the period during a single Tehuantepec south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec began just before 1200 UTC 20 event. These observations were six hours later. Therefore, it is December. QuikScat data from very useful, as QuikScat data likely that gale-force winds 1208 UTC 20 December indicated only detected 30 to35-kt winds. occurred over the Gulf of 35-kt winds over the Gulf. Two The event ended at 1800 UTC 7 Tehuantepec. Winds decreased subsequent QuikScat passes near November. below gale force at 0600 UTC 12 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC on 21 November. December showed winds of 35-40 The fourth event began a few kt. days later, just before 0000 UTC The next event lasted only 24 10 November. During the event hours. Gales began just before There were no ship observations there were no ship observations 0000 UTC 10 December. High- of gale-force winds during the of gale force winds; however the resolution QuikScat data event, but the ship Pearl Ace ship Zim Asia (4XFB) observed indicated 35 to 40-kt winds near (VRUN4) observed 30-kt winds 32-kt winds at 0600 UTC on 11 that time; however, no ship at 0600 UTC on 22 December. November. Another ship, the observations of gales were Gale conditions ended shortly Bosporus Bridge (3FMV3), received. The event ended by before 1200 UTC that day. 0000 UTC 11 December.

78 Mariners Weather Log New Great Lakes Weather Station

New Great Lakes Weather Station Gives Forecasters and Mariners Crucial Data By David Gilhousen National Data Buoy Center n November 2001, the “Though there are weather- The C-MAN equipment will be National Data Buoy reporting data buoys in the lake, removed from GLLN6 because ICenter (NDBC) installed a they are retrieved by the middle of the lighthouse (where the new automatic weather station November and not re-deployed equipment is located), is in atop the Lake St. Clair until April,” said Greg Mann of the disrepair, and the Coast Guard Lighthouse near Detroit. The National Weather Service Office facility has been sold to a private station, identified as LSCM4, is in Detroit. “We produce marine party. A Canadian the 57th station in NDBC’s station, 45135, located about 20 Coastal-Marine Automated miles southwest of GLLN6, Network (C-MAN). On April 11, provides representative 2002, a buoy (station 45012) was observations for Eastern Lake deployed in the middle of Lake Ontario, and the National Weather Ontario, expanding its present Service’s Eastern Region has network to approximately 70 determined a greater need for moored buoy stations. Station observations in central Lake 45012 is located near Rochester, Ontario. The Meteorological NY at approximately 43° 37' N., Service of Canada is also aiding in 77° 24' W. this effort by providing buoy

(Photo used by permission of Don Carter) winter storage and dock space at The C-MAN station at Lake St. their facilities in Hamilton, Clair Lighthouse is funded forecasts year-round for Ontario. through Michigan’s Department Lake St. Clair, and the worst of Environmental Quality (DEQ) storms usually occur in late fall or In addition to wave height and with support from the U.S. early spring.” Lake St. Clair is a period, the buoy will measure Geological Survey (USGS.) and popular location for recreational winds, air temperature, water the Detroit Water and Sewerage boaters and ice fishermen. The temperature, and sea level Department. Lake St. Clair is a weather reporting buoys are pressure. In a 2000 survey large source of drinking water for operated by the University of conducted by WFO Buffalo of the Detroit area, and the USGS. Michigan and the Meteorological NOAA Weather Radio users, the is conducting modeling of lake Service of Canada. lack of wave measurements was currents in order to better assess identified as the single most the effect of pollutants on the The buoy in Lake Ontario will important deficiency in weather lake. The USGS needed a high serve as a replacement for our C- information. The observations quality, year-round wind MAN station at Galloo Island, NY provided by 45012 should help fill measurement for its computer (GLLN6). The Canadian Coast this void. model and worked with the DEQ Guard will be used to deploy and to fund the C-MAN station. In retrieve the buoy, since the U.S. Observations from both stations addition to the winds, the C-MAN Coast Guard has no buoy tenders can be obtained through NOAA station also measures air in Lake Ontario and maintains Weather Radio, the Dial-A-Buoy temperature, water temperature, Aids-to-Navigation buoys via an line (228-688-1948), or by dew point, and sea level pressure. agreement with the Canadians. accessing NDBC’s Web site, www.ndbc.noaa.gov. Spring/Summer 2002 79 Coastal Forecast Office News

Alaskan Waters: Collecting Ships Observations

Rich Courtney PMO WSO Kodiak, Alaska

nother pair of eyes is “second set” of eyes are used to Efforts by the Region to recruit always advantageous. It is keep the forecasts current and on ships began in the mid 1970’s. Ms. Athe main reason why many track. Most observations are Peggy Dyson of Kodiak had an police officers work in pairs, collected via High Frequency informal grapevine that was used airliners have two pilots, and Single Side Band Radio, SEAS to pass forecats over HF/SSB indeed, many vessels double the software, e-mail or by telephone. radio and collect reports with at watch for conducting hazardous sea conditions. Afterward, she evolutions such as entering port or Alaska Region has three, part-time would type the observations and restricted waters. So too, lies the Port Meteorological Officers send them over landlines to the relationship between the vessel located in Anchorage, Kodiak and Forecast offices. Later, this effort crews and meteorologists. A Valdez. The responsibilities of was expanded to other National second set of eyes measure the these offices include recruiting and Weather Service Offices. In 1999, effectiveness of computer models training ship’s personnel in tests were conducted by Weather in rapidly changing dynamic reporting weather observations, Service Office Kodiak to report weather patterns. Masters, mates principally with the SEAS limited amounts of data in the and seamen all assist in the software systems. More than 200 ship’s synoptic code. The shift to forecast process by providing the ship visits were made in pursuit of use the synoptic code was needed “ground truth” that is vital to a these duties during 2001. In to modernize the reporting process. good forecast. Meteorologists keep addition, Alaska has three forecast It allowed this valuable source of the forecast on track with the help offices, in Anchorage, Juneau and information directly into model of the vessel crews. Recruitment Fairbanks, and ten Weather analyses and integrated into the of these eyes has a very high Service Offices. Forecast Offices various office display equipment priority within the various offices in issue warnings and forecasts twice used in the NWS Forecast Offices. the Alaskan Region. daily with updates. Meteorologists Initially, the vessels only called on occasionally ride ships to data for pressure, wind, sea height Alaska has the largest coastline of familiarize themselves with ship and air temperature. The result any U.S. state with numerous operations in sea conditions. The was a resounding success, with the bays, passes and channels. Weather Service Offices located Marine Prediction Center and Forecasting correct weather in Annette Island; Barrow; Bethel; World Meteorological Organization conditions is challenging at best. Cold Bay; King Salmon; getting approximately 3000 ship There are very few shipping lanes Kotzebue; McGrath; Nome; St. observations in a region normally into the region, and this has led to Paul and Yakutat also visit ships, void of reports. In 2000, efforts very sparse weather observations collect weather observations, were sought by the Alaska Marine in the past. However, there is a furnish training, and provide Program Manager, Mr. Greg large amount of coastal traffic in calibration services. Matzen, to secure a programmer to the form of tugs, cruise ships, These offices conducted another help automate the reporting pro- ferries, oil/gas platforms and 100 visits in an effort to reach our cess. Ms. Rose Cunningham, a fishing vessels. These numerous “at-sea” customer base. programmer in the Alaskan Region

80 Mariners Weather Log Coastal Forecast Office News

HQ, was assigned the task of for a tug to test this capability. topography of the land greatly developing a software program Michael asked to have the software influences the weather conditions, that would encode data reported in sent to him on a CD, along with the especially the wind direction and a limited format. The task received accompanying text for taking speed as well as sea conditions. technical assistance in scope and observations. Installation and The following month Mr. Bernie design from the author in Kodiak. training was conducted over the Meier, Master of the Crowley While the SEAS software was phone and placed on Michael’s Marine Services tug Sinuk, was designed for use by one vessel and report via Satellite, the BBXX encoder was designed to report multiple ship reports through landlines. During 2000 and 2001, some 9500 and 12,000 ship obser- vations were encoded and trans- mitted to the Marine Prediction Center respectively. These obser- vations ranged from SE Alaska’s inner channels to the Bering Sea and across the north slope of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea. With the advent of the SEAS 2000 software, an effort was started to collect ship observations directly from the vessels involved with reporting the weather. Smaller vessels, such as tugs and fishing vessels are equipped with an e- mail capability that allows Northern Spirit receives award - Superior VOS messages to be sent via Inmarsat- Performance. C. However, the message has to be in ASCII text. The new SEAS personal laptop. Observations were headed to the northern coast of software has this capability taken, encoded and sent through Alaska in support of the resupply incorporated into this. To exploit Inmarsat-C using the ship’s account effort of the oil industry. Sinuk this capability, an e-mail address with Stratosmobile. Mr. Daigler and several more Crowley tugs was established in Alaska Region continued sending one observation a provided a constant stream of HQ to accept the reports. They day for the remainder of the month, data of North Slope weather are then sent to Marine Prediction giving him a direct communication conditions. Center via landline. In May 2001 with the forecasters in the Juneau Mr. Michael Daigler, Chief Mate Observations from smaller Forecast Office. Northern Spirit’s aboard the tug Northern Spirit, coastal craft have also provided observations took on a great deal of and the author discussed a variety many benefits. The smaller craft importance, as the tug spends of ways to increase the number of tend to move outside the shipping nearly all it’s time in the inner reports directly to forecasters in lanes providing valuable data in channels of Southeast Alaska, from Alaskan waters. The new SEAS these isolated coastal areas. Ketchikan to Haines. In these tight software was mentioned, including These vessels tend to be located and congested waters, the the fact that the NWS was looking within 30 feet of the water’s

Spring/Summer 2002 81 Coastal Forecast Office News

surface and provide a closer view of the sea and swell heights. Working in the near coastal zone also provides valuable information on the topographic effects that terrain has on the weather conditions.

As the saying goes, “You can’t do much about the weather except talk about it” and that’s just what the coastal shipping in Alaska is doing. Plans for the future include additional vessels from the towing, ferry, fishing industries and oil and gas platforms to keep an eye on Tug SINUK the Alaskan weather.

Northern Spirit

82 Mariners Weather Log Coastal Forecast Office News

The crew of the CSX Anchorage was presented with an Award of Excellence while in the port of Anchorage, Alaska on November 6, 2001. Pictured from left to right are: Cadet Jim Carmany III, 3rd Mate Fred Koster, and 2nd Mate William Johnson.

Captain Douglas Lefebvre of the CSX Anchorage received the Alaska Marine Program Award of Excellence while at the Port of Anchorage on November 27, 2001. The CSX Anchorage is a Top 10 ship. They have made the 4th Captain Richard Swain (left) and Chief Mate Steve Iltich (right) highest total of observations in of the Crowley Tug Warrior while at the Port of Anchorage on Alaskan waters for both October November 21, 2001. with 92,and for the first 10 months of 2001 with 565.

Spring/Summer 2002 83 Coastal Forecast Office News

3rd Mate Jack Worman (left) while in the Port of Anchorage on December 4, 2001, and 2nd Mate Brad Goodwin (below) of the CSX Kodiak The Kodiak received the Alaska Marine Program Award of Excellence for November 2001+ It was in the Top 10 again in Alaskan waters for ship observations and has taken 478 so far this year+

Captain John Strong from the SeaCoast Tug Public Pride receiving the Alaskan Marine Program Award of Excellence for being one of the top weather reporting vessels in Alaskan waters for May 2001+ The Pacific Pride was visiting the Port of Anchorage on July 27, 2001+

Spring/Summer 2002 5 Coastal Forecast Office News

2nd Mate Don Antonio Scichili (left), Captain Domenico Aiello (center) and 2nd Mate Francesco Caccamo (right) of the LNG Tanker Polar Eagle as received the Alaska Marine Award of Excellence while in Nikiski, Alaska on December 19, 2001+

Captain Larry Thormahlen (left), Chief Mate George Nielsen (center) and 2nd Mate Mark Irish (right) of the Tug Malolo while at the Port of Anchorage on December 3, 2001+ The Malolo was on of the Top 10 weather reporting vessels in Alaskan water for the month of October 2001+ They began using and enjoying the new Windows SEAS 5+22 software this summer+

6 Mariners Weather Log VOS New Recruits

National Weather Service Voluntary Observing Ship Program New Recruits from 1 Nov 2001 to 30 Apr 2002

84 Mariners Weather Log VOS Program Awards

VOS award recipients aboard the , from left to right: Kjell Peterson, 2ND Officer, TrondClar Hauge, and Mariven Castro, 3RD Officer!

Jim Nelson, PMO Houston/Galveston (on right) presents award to Captain William L! Miles (on left) of the Lykes Discoverer (WGXO)! Lykes Discoverer provided our forecasters with 756 weather observations in 2000! This is Captain Miles’ second year in a row on two different ships receiving our annual award! When Captain Miles is off, Captain David S! Putty is Master! The National Weather Service and NOAA extend their thanks to both Masters for their great support!

2 Mariners Weather Log VOS Program Awards

Receiving a SEAS award for the NOAA ship Albatross are (from right to left): ENS Sean Suk, Junior Officer; ENS John Crofts, Junior Officer; CDR Michael Abbott, Commanding Officer; Stephen Wagner, Operations Officer; and ENS Jeff Taylor, Navigation Officer!

PMO Jack Warrelmann presents VOS award to CAPT Satish L! Hardas and First Officer Girish C! Lele of the M/V Bernardo Quintana A! Shown right to left are: First Officer Lele, CAPT Hardas, and PMO Warrelmann!

Spring/Summer 2002 3 VOS Program Awards

1st Officer ODD Toedegaard of the Marit Maersk

PMO Jack Warrelmann presents VOS award to the NOAA ship Gordon Gunter! Shown right to left are: PMO Jack Warrelmann, LT JG Thomas J! Peltzer (NAV O), ENS Andrew A! Hall (OPS O), and ENS Sean D! Cimilluca!

4 Mariners Weather Log VOS Program Awards

PMO Jack Warrelmann presents VOS award to the NOAA ship Oregon II! Pictured right to left are: ENS Nick Toth, Master James C! Rowe, PMO Jack Warrelmann, 3rd Mate Dave Nelson and LT! CDR Ray Slagle!

The Shiraoi Maru was selected by Pat Brandow, PMO Seattle, as one of the top performers of 2000! A VOS plaque was presented to the crew! Pictured left to right are: Wei Shu Jiang, Chief Officer; Zhao Ki Jun, Captain; and Wang Hui Dong, 3rd Mate!

Spring/Summer 2002 5 VOS Program Awards

VOS award presented to the Delaware Bay Pictured from left to right are: Jim Farrington (Northeast Atlantic SEAS Representative), AB Al Shurtleff and Captain G! Gregorek! Not shown: Chief Mate - J! Bartek, 2nd Mate K! Quinn, 3rd Mate G! Tarzetti and AB J! Forester!

Pictured left to right are: Seaman Surveyor Bernard Pooser, Surveyor, Navigational Officer LTJG Jon Neuhaus, and Seaman Surveyor Cleo Lewis of the NOAA ship Whiting

6 Mariners Weather Log Meteorological Services

Meteorological Services—Observations

Tim Kenefick, PMO, /New Jersey U.S. Port Meteorological National Weather Service, NOAA Robert Webster, PMO Officers 110 Lower Main Street, Suite 201 National Weather Service, NOAA South Amboy, NJ 08879-1367 501 West Ocean Blvd., Room 4480 Headquarters Tel: 732-316-5409 Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 Fax: 732-316-7643 Tel: 562-980-4090 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 562-980-4089 David McShane E-mail: [email protected] Voluntary Observing Ship Technical Leader National Data Buoy Center Great Lakes Ports Robert Novak, PMO Building 1100, Room 353A National Weather Service, NOAA Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 Amy Seeley, PMO 1301 Clay Street, Suite 1190N Tel: 228-688-1768 National Weather Service, NOAA Oakland, CA 94612-5217 Fax: 228-688-3153 333 West University Dr. Tel: 510-637-2960 E-mail: [email protected] Romeoville, IL 60446-1804 Fax: 510-637-2961 Tel: 815-834-0600 Ext. 269 E-mail: [email protected] Robert A. Luke Fax: 815-834-0645 Voluntary Observing Ship Program Leader E-mail: [email protected] Patrick Brandow, PMO National Data Buoy Center National Weather Service, NOAA Building 1100, Room 353D George Smith, PMO 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 National Weather Service, NOAA BIN C15700 Tel: 228-688-1457 Hopkins International Airport Seattle, WA 98115-6349 Fax: 228-688-3153 Cleveland, OH 44135 Tel: 206-526-6100 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 216-265-2374 Fax: 206-526-4571 or 6094 Fax: 216-265-2371 E-mail: [email protected] Atlantic Ports E-mail: [email protected] Richard Courtney Robert Drummond, PMO Gulf of Mexico Ports National Weather Service, NOAA National Weather Service, NOAA 600 Sandy Hook Street, Suite 1 Kodiak, AK 99615-6814 2550 Eisenhower Blvd, Suite 312 John Warrelmann, PMO Tel: 907-487-2102 P.O. Box 165504 National Weather Service, NOAA Fax: 907-487-9730 Port Everglades, FL 33316 New Orleans International Airport E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 954-463-4271 Box 20026 Fax: 954-462-8963 New Orleans, LA 70141 Lynn Chrystal, OIC E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 504-589-4839 National Weather Service, NOAA Lawrence Cain, PMO E-mail: [email protected] Box 427 Valdez, AK 99686-0427 National Weather Service, NOAA National Weather Service, NOAA Tel: 907-835-4505 13701 Fang Road Houston Area Weather Office Fax: 907-835-4598 Jacksonville, FL 32218-7933 1620 Gill Road E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 904-741-5186 Dickinson, TX 77539-3409 Fax: 904-741-0078 Tel: 281-534-2640 Ext. 277 Larry Hubble E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 281-337-3798 National Weather Service Alaska Region Peter Gibino, PMO, Norfolk 222 West 7th Avenue #23 National Weather Service, NOAA Pacific Ports Anchorage, AK 99513-7575 4034-B G. Washington Highway Tel: 907-271-5135 Yorktown, VA 23692-2724 Derek LeeLoy Fax: 907-271-3711 Tel: 757-877-1692 Ocean Services Program Coordinator E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 757-877-9561 National Weather Service Pacific Region E-mail: [email protected] HQ SEAS Field Grosvenor Center, Mauka Tower James Saunders, PMO 737 Bishop Street, Suite 2200 Representatives National Weather Service, NOAA Honolulu, HI 96813-3201 Maritime Center I, Suite 287 Tel: 808-532-6439 GOOS Center Manager 2200 Broening Highway Fax: 808-532-5569 Steve Cook Baltimore, MD 21224-6623 E-mail: [email protected] 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive Tel: 410-633-4709 La Jolla, CA 92037-1508 Fax: 410-633-4713 Tel: 858-546-7103 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 619-546-7185 E-mail: [email protected]

Spring/Summer 2002 85 Meteorological Services

GOOS Staff John Steger, LCDR U.S. Coast Guard AMVER Canada AOML/GOOS Center Center 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Randy Sheppard, PMO Miami, FL 33149-1026 Richard T. Kenney Meteorological Service of Canada Tel: 305-361-4356 AMVER Maritime Relations Officer 16th Floor, 45 Aldernay Drive Fax: 305-361-4366 United States Coast Guard Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 2N6 E-mail: [email protected] Battery Park Building Tel: 902-426-6703 E-mail: [email protected] Northeast Atlantic SEAS Rep. New York, NY 10004 Tel: 212-668-7764 Jim Farrington Jack Cossar, PMO Fax: 212-668-7684 SEAS Logistics/AMC Meteorological Service of Canada E-mail: [email protected] 439 West York Street 6 Bruce Street Norfolk, VA 23510 St. John’s, Newfoundland A1N 4T3 Tel: 757-441-3062 Other Port Meteorological Tel: 709-722-4798 Fax: 757-441-6495 Fax: 709-722-5097 E-mail: [email protected] Officers E-mail: [email protected] Pacific Northwest SEAS Rep. Australia Michael Riley, PMO Bob Decker Meteorological Service of Canada SEAS Logistics/PMC Head Office 700-1200 West 73rd Avenue 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Bin C15700 Marine Observations Unit Vancouver, British Columbia V6P 6H9 Seattle, WA 98115-0700 Bureau of Meteorology Tel: 604-664-9136 Tel: 206-526-4280 150 Lonsdale Street, 7th Floor Fax: 604-664-9195 Fax: 206-526-4281 Melbourne, VIC 3000 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +613 9669 4651 Fax: +613 9669 4168 Ron Fordyce, Supt. Marine Data Unit Southwest Pacific SEAS Rep. Rick Shukster, PMO E-mail: [email protected] Carrie Wolfe Roland Kleer, PMO Southern California Marine Institute Melbourne Meteorological Service of Canada 820 S. Seaside Avenue Michael J. Hills, Port Meteorological Agent Port Meteorological Office San Pedro, Ca 90731-7330 Victoria Regional Office 100 East Port Blvd. Tel: 310-519-3181 Bureau of Meteorology Hamilton, Ontario L8H 7S4 Fax: 310-519-1054 150 Lonsdale Street, 26th Floor Tel: 905-312-0900 E-mail: [email protected] Melbourne, VIC 3000 Fax: 905-312-0730 Southeast Atlantic SEAS Rep. Tel: +613 9669 4982 E-mail: [email protected] Ann-Marie Wilburn Fax: +613 9663 4957 [email protected] AOML/GOSO Center E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Fremantle Richard Dupuis, PMO Miami, FL 33149-1026 Malcolm Young, Port Meteorological Agent Meteorological Service of Canada Tel: 305-361-4336 MalMet Services Pty Ltd 100 Alexis Nihon Blvd., 3rd Floor Fax: 305-361-4366 Unit 3/76 Gardner Street Ville St. Laurent, H4M 2N8 E-mail: [email protected] COMO WA 6152 Gobal Drifter Program Tel: +618 9474 1974 China Craig Engler Fax: +618 9260 8475 E-mail: [email protected] AOML/PHOD YU Zhaoguo 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Sydney Shanghai Meteorological Bureau Miami, FL 33149-1026 Captain Einion E. (Taffy) Rowlands, PMA 166 Puxi Road Tel: 305-361-4439 NSW Regional Office Shanghai, China Fax: 305-361-4366 Bureau of Meteorology, Level 15 E-mail: [email protected] 300 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 NIMA Fleet Liaisons Tel:+612 9296 1547 Commander Lutz O. R. Niegsch Fax: +612 9296 1648 PMO, Danish Meteorological Inst. E-mail: [email protected] Joe Schruender, East Coast Fleet Liaison Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Christopher G. Janus, West Coast Fleet Copenhagen, Denmark Liaison Tel: +45 39157500 ATTN: GIMM (MS D-44) Fax: +45 39157300 4600 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 20816-5003 Tel: 301-227-3120 Fax: 301-227-4211 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

86 Mariners Weather Log Meteorological Services

United Kingdom Southwest England Greece Captain James M. Roe, PMO Headquarters 8 Viceroy House, Mountbatten Business George E. Kassimidis, PMO Capt. E. J. O’Sullivan Centre Port Office, Piraeus Marine Observations Manager, Met. Office Millbrook Road East Tel: +301 921116 Observations Supply - Marine Networks Southampton SO15 lHY Fax: +3019628952 Beaufort Park Tel: +44 023 8022 0632 Easthampstead, Wokingham Fax: +44 023 8033 7341 Hong Kong Berkshire RG40 3DN France Tel: +44-1344 85-5723 C. F. Wong, PMO Fax: +44-1344 85-5873 Yann Prigent, PMO Hong Kong Observatory Email: [email protected] Station Mét., Noveau Semaphore 134A Nathan Road Quai des Abeilles, Le Havre Bristol Channel Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +33 35422106 Tel: +852 2926 3113 Captain A Maytham MM, FRMetS, PGCE Fax: +33 35413119 Met Office Fax: +852 2311 9448 Port Met Officer - Bristol Channel P. Coulon E-mail: [email protected] Titan House Rm 107 Station Météorologique Cardiff Bay Business Centre de Marseille-Port Israel Lewis Road 12 rue Sainte Cassien Cardiff. CF24 5BS 13002 Marseille Hani Arbel, PMO Tel: +44 (0) 29 2045 1323 Tel: +33 91914651 Ext. 336 Haifa Port Fax:+44 (0) 29 2045 1326 Tel: 972 4 8664427 E-mail: [email protected] Germany Aharon Ofir, PMO East England Marine Department Captain John Steel, PMO Volker Weidner, PMO Ashdod Port Customs Building, Albert Dock Deutscher Wetterdienst Tel: 972 8 8524956 Hull HU1 2DP Met. Hafendienst Tel: +44 01482 320158 Postfach 70 04 21 Japan Fax: +44 01482 328957 22004 Hamburg Tel: 040 3190 8826 Headquarters Northeast England Kanno Yoshiaki Captain Gordon Young, PMO Volker Weidner, PMO Marine Div., Climate and Marine Dept. Able House, Billingham Reach Ind. Estate Peter Gollnow, PMO Japan Meteorological Agency Billingham, Cleveland TS23 lPX Horst von Bargen, PMO 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku Tel: +44 0642 560993 Deutscher Wetterdienst Tokyo, 100-8122 Japan Fax:+44 0642 562170 Jenfelder Allee 70a 22043 Hamburg Fax: +03-3211-6908 Northwest England Tel: +49 40 66901411 Email: [email protected] Colin B. Attfield, PMO Fax: +49 40 66901496 Utsunomiya Tadayoshi, PMO Room 331, Royal Liver Building E-mail: [email protected] Kobe Marine Observatory Liverpool L3 1JH 1-4-3, Wakinohamakaigan-Dori, Chuo-ku Tel:+44 0151 236 6565 Henning Hesse, PMO Kobe, 651-0073 Japan Fax: +44 0151 227 4762 Deutscher Wetterdienst An de Neuen Schleuse Fax: +078-222-8946 Scotland and Northern Ireland 27570 Bremerhaven Yazawa Yasushi, PMO Captain Peter J. Barratt, PMO Tel: +49 471 7004018 Nagoya Local Meteorological Observatory Navy Buildings, Eldon Street Fax: +49 471 7004017 2-18, Hiyoricho, Chigusa-ku Greenock, Strathclyde PA16 7SL E-mail: [email protected] Nagoya, 464-0039 Japan Tel: +44 01475 724700 Fax: +052-762-1242 Fax: +44 01475 892879 Ulrich Ranke, PMO Deutscher Wetterdienst Uwabe Willy, PMO Southeast England Flughafendamm 45 Yokohama Local Met. Observatory Captain Harry H. Gale, PMO 28199 Bremen 99 Yamate-cho, Naka-ku Trident House, 21 Berth, Tilbury Dock Tel: +49 421 5372163 Yokohama, 231-0862 Japan Tilbury, Essex RM18 7HL Fax: +49 421 5372166 Fax: +045-622-3520 Tel: +44 01385 859970 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44 01375 859972 Christel Heidner, OMP Kenya Christine Bergs, PMO Deutscher Wetterdienst Ali J. Mafimbo, PMO Seestr. 15a PO Box 98512 18119 Rostock Mombasa, Kenya Tel: +49 381 5438830 Tel: +254 1125685 Fax: +49 381 5438863 Fax: +254 11433440 E-mail: [email protected]

Spring/Summer 2002 87 Meteorological Services

Malaysia Norway South Africa NG Kim Lai Tor Inge Mathiesen, PMO Assistant Meteorological Officer Norwegian Meteorological Institute C. Sydney Marais, PMO Malaysian Meteorological Service Allegaten 70, N-5007 c/o Weather Office Jalan Sultan, 46667 Petaling Bergen, Norway Capt Town International Airport 7525 Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +475 55236600 Tel: + 2721-934-0450 Ext. 213 Fax: +475 55236703 Fax: +2721-934-3296 Mauritius Gus McKay, PMO Poland Meteorological Office Mr. S Ragoonaden Durban International Airpot 4029 Meteorological Services Jozef Kowalewski,PMO Tel: +2731-422960 St. Paul Road, Vacoas, Mauritius Institute of Meteorology and Water Mgt. Fax: +2731-426830 Tel: +230 6861031 Maritime Branch Fax: +230 6861033 ul.Waszyngtona 42, 81-342 Gdynia Poland Mnikeli Ndabambi Tel: +4858 6205221 Assistant Director, Meteorological Training Netherlands Fax: +4858 6207101 South African Weather Bureau E-mail: kowalews@stratus/imgw.gdynia.pl Tel: +2712-309-3090 Jan Schaap, PMO Fax: +2712-323-4518 KNMI, Afd. WM/OW Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] Port Meteorological Office Postbus 201 Mahmud Rajkhan, PMO Sweden 3730 AE De Bilt, Netherlands National Met. Environment Centre Tel: +3130-2206391 Eddah Morgan Zinderland Fax: +3130-2210849 Tel:+ 9662 6834444 Ext. 325 SMHI E-mail: [email protected] S-601 76 Norrköping, Sweden Singapore Tel: 516-924-0499 (0227) New Zealand Edmund Lee Mun San, PMO Julie Fletcher, MMO Meteorological Service, PO Box 8 MetService New Zealand Ltd. Singapore Changi Airport P.O. Box 722 Singapore 9181 Wellington, New Zealand Tel: +65 5457198 Tel: +644 4700789 Fax: +65 5457192 Fax: +644 4700772

88 Mariners Weather Log U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Data Buoy Center Building 1100, Room 353D Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 Attn: Mariners Weather Log

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In this Issue:

Edmund Fitzgerald Remembered ...... 4

The Beatrice Hurricane ...... 12

Seventeenth Century Seafarer, William Dampier...... 16

VOS Climate Project ...... 24

New Great Lakes Weather Station ...... 79