Module 13 of 17
Interpreting forecasts, Beaufort scale, synoptic patterns, barometer work, and broadcast meteorology.
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Weather is one of the most critical factors in safe seamanship. Wind strength and direction determine sailing conditions, sea state affects comfort and safety, and visibility impacts navi...
The Beaufort Scale describes wind force from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane). It links wind speed to observed sea and land conditions. For coastal and offshore passage planning, pay particular...
The BBC Shipping Forecast covers 31 sea areas around the British Isles. It reports wind direction (the direction it blows FROM), wind speed (in Beaufort scale), weather (rain, fog, etc.),...
High pressure (anticyclone) brings generally settled, fair weather with light winds. Wind circulates clockwise around a high in the northern hemisphere. Low pressure (depression or cyclon...
A warm front marks the leading edge of warm air advancing over cold air. It brings a gradual deterioration: high cirrus cloud, then lower cloud, steady rain, poor visibility, and a rise i...
An air mass is a large body of air with broadly similar temperature and humidity. Around the British Isles, common air masses include polar maritime (cool, moist, unstable with showers),...
Buys Ballot’s Law allows you to locate the centre of a depression from the wind you experience. In the northern hemisphere: stand with your back to the wind, and the low-pressure centre i...
The barometer (barograph) is one of the most useful instruments aboard for short-range weather prediction. A steady or slowly rising barometer suggests stable or improving conditions. A f...
At Coastal Skipper level you should be able to sketch a rough synoptic chart from the general synopsis portion of the shipping forecast. This gives you a spatial picture of where highs, l...
Sea breezes develop on warm, sunny days when the land heats faster than the sea. Warm air rises over the land, and cooler air from the sea flows in to replace it. Sea breezes typically de...
Sea fog is most commonly advection fog: warm, moist air moving over a colder sea surface. The air is cooled to its dew point from below, causing water vapour to condense into fog. Around...
Weatherfax broadcasts synoptic charts and related meteorological products by radio or internet download. For a Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster candidate, the value is that a weatherfax cha...
BBC Radio 4 broadcasts the Shipping Forecast at 0048, 0520, 1201, and 1754. The Inshore Waters Forecast (for within 12nm of the coast) is broadcast at 0048 and 0535 on Radio 4. Use Inshor...
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