PUBLICATIONS VISION DIGITAL ONLINE MAR046 MARITIME STUDIES Supplementary Notes MARINE METEOROLOGY Fifth Edition www.westone.wa.gov.au MARINE METEOROLOGY Supplementary Notes Fifth Edition Larry Lawrence This edition updated by Kenn Batt Copyright and Terms of Use © Department of Training and Workforce Development 2016 (unless indicated otherwise, for example ‘Excluded Material’). The copyright material published in this product is subject to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), and is owned by the Department of Training and Workforce Development or, where indicated, by a party other than the Department of Training and Workforce Development. The Department of Training and Workforce Development supports and encourages use of its material for all legitimate purposes. Copyright material available on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license unless indicated otherwise (Excluded Material). 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Published by and available from WestOne Services Prospect Place West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (08) 9229 5252 Fax: (08) 9229 5292 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.westone.wa.gov.au MARINE METEOROLOGY − SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Marine Meteorology The following lecture and study notes cover the syllabi for examinations up to the standard required for Master Class IV, (USL Code), for Diploma in Nautical Science (Fishing) and Yacht Master’s Certificate of Competence as required by the Western Australian Department of Training. Written and produced by L.C. Lawrence. Commander VRD RANR Master Coast Trade over 300 tons. Master (Fishing) Grade 1(A). Assoc. Aust. Inst. Valuers, and updated by Kenn Batt BSc (Hons), Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney. Pre-requisite Completion of Third-year Secondary Education. Recommended References Admiralty List of Radio Signals Vol. III. 1999–2000, HMSO, London Admiralty Manual of Navigation Vol. II. HMSO, London Whitaker & Colls. 1990, The Australian Weather Book, Childs & Associates, Sydney Coles, A. & Bruce, P. Heavy Weather Sailing, McGraw Hill, Maine Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, 1977, Manual of Meteorology, AGPS, Canberra Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology 1984, Observing the Weather, AGPS, Canberra Crowder, B. 2000, The Wonders of the Weather, AGPS, Canberra Gedzelman, S.D. 1980, The Science and Wonders of the Atmosphere, John Wiley & Sons, USA Houghton, D. 1991,Weather at Sea, Fern Hurst Books, East Sussex Houghton, D. 1992, Wind Strategy 2nd edn, Fern Hurst Books, East Sussex Laughlin, G. 1997, The Users Guide to the Australian Coast, Reed, Sydney Marine Meteorology I, Training Publications, 1986 Marine Observers Handbook, 1992, HMSO, London Meteorology for Mariners, 1986, HMSO, London Sturman & Tapper. 1996, Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, Oxford University Press S. & L. Dashew. 1991, Surviving the Storm, Beowulf, Arizona S. & L. Dashew. 1998, Mariners Weather Handbook, Beowulf, Arizona Van Dorn, W. 1993, Oceanography & Seamanship, Cornell Press, Maryland Von Haeften, D. 1997, How to Cope with Storms, Adlard Coles Nautical, London iii INTRODUCTION About the Co-author Kenn Batt joined the Bureau of Meteorology in 1975 and has worked as a meteorological observer, instructor and weather forecaster in most Australian states including two years in Antarctica. Currently, he is the NSW Regional Aviation and Defence Weather Services Manager, based in the Bureau’s Sydney office, where he has worked for the last 13 years mostly as a Severe Weather Forecaster. Kenn is also an accomplished yachtsman, being a member of a well-known Tasmanian yachting family, as well as having been a member of representative teams at State, National and International levels. So far he has participated in seven Sydney to Hobart yacht races, an America’s Cup and other international races as well as numerous other offshore and inshore events around the Australian coastline. He currently sails in the position of tactical navigator on ocean racing yachts. Kenn has taught Marine Meteorology to sailors for more than 15 years in universities, TAFE colleges, community colleges, and yacht clubs. He writes for various yachting magazines and is a member of the Yachting Association of NSW Training Committee. He is currently working towards a PhD in meteorology from the University of New South Wales. Acknowledgment Thanks to the Bureau of Meteorology for the use of various maps and especially to Bruce Buckley of the Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, co-author with Kenn Batt, for some of the material used in this publication. Thanks also to the Climate and Consultancy Section, Bureau of Meteorology, Perth, for assistance with additional maps and advice. iv MARINE METEOROLOGY − SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES CONTENTS Page Chapter 1 Weather – Objectives of the course 1.1 Chapter 2 Weather measuring instruments 2.1 Chapter 3 High and low-pressure systems and fronts 3.1 Chapter 4 The weather map 4.1 Chapter 5 Weather services 5.1 Chapter 6 Wind 6.1 Chapter 7 Atmospheric Moisture and Clouds 7.1 Chapter 8 Waves 8.1 Chapter 9 Severe weather 9.1 Chapter 10 Ocean currents 10.1 Appendix 1 Terminology used in Bureau of Meteorology – warning forecasts and observations 11.1 Appendix 2 Weather around the Australian coastline 12.1 Appendix 3 Some useful weather web sites 13.1 Appendix 4 Glossary 14.1 Appendix 5 Final self-test 15.1 Appendix 6 Answers to self-test questions 16.1 v INTRODUCTION How to use the weather observation record sheets – Making your studies an exciting and rewarding, practical exercise The study of meteorology whether in the marine scene or ashore, is very much a practical subject and one in which you should absorb yourself from the outset. The four pieces of basic equipment you need are, in order of importance, an observant pair of eyes, a barometer or barograph, a thermometer, a wet and dry thermometer (or hygrometer) or a sling psychrometer. It is suggested that you make two or three observations a day – say, at 0800 and 1800, on a regular basis, and at some interim time if your occupation and circumstances permit. Log these in the appropriate spaces on the weekly weather record sheets supplied. I would further suggest that, at the time of taking your morning observations, you make a 12-hour and 24-hour forecast, which will be duly noted, in the space provided. Have your daily newspaper open at the weather map (which will be 1500 on the previous day) but refrain from reading the official forecast (at least until you have made your own). To obtain the latest weather map or forecast, it would be prudent to use the World Wide Web or the Bureau of Meteorology’s Weather by Fax service (details later in Chapter 5). Check your results on a daily basis and note them accordingly. The only person you can cheat is yourself. There are no marks or penalties, but enormous satisfaction is a reward when you find that the rules really do work and you will achieve an understanding of the weather that cannot be obtained in any other way. * See listings of some good weather sites in Appendix 3. vi MARINE METEOROLOGY − SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Weekly record of weather observations TIME TEMP. BAR. R/HUM. WIND CLOUDS OTHER OBSERVATIONS MONDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts TUESDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts WEDNESDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts THURSDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts FRIDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts SATURDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts SUNDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts vii INTRODUCTION TIME TEMP. BAR. R/HUM. WIND CLOUDS OTHER OBSERVATIONS MONDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts TUESDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts WEDNESDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts THURSDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts FRIDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts SATURDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS. Accuracy of Forecasts SUNDAY …….. 20 FORECASTS.