Topic 13:

Weather services for shipping

OBJECTIVES:
LO13.1: Determine the organization, functions and objectives of the World Meteorological Organization
LO13.2: Interpret the types of information received by facsimile machine including the services provided for
storm warnings;
LO3.3: Illustrate the weather services for shipping in maneuvering to avoid the storm center

PRETEST:
Multiple Choice Test:
Choose the correct answer and encircle the letter of your choice.
1. The year in which WMO became a specialized agency of the United Nation.
A. 1940’s C. 1950’s
B. 1960’s D. 1970’s
2. NMC stands for:
A. National Maritime Committee C. National Meteorological Center
B. National Metropolitan Center D. National Maritime Center
3. In the Northern Hemisphere, that part to the right of the storm track is called _____.
A. dangerous semicircle C. on storm track
B. less dangerous semicircle D. maneuvering semicircle
4. It is responsible to give weather bulletin
A. Weather Facsimile C. Radar
B. Wind Vane D. Barometer
5. In Southern Hemisphere, Right or less dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the _____ side.
A. Port quarter C. Port bow
B. Starboard quarter D. Starboard quarter
6. The safest procedure with respect to tropical cyclones is to _____ them.
A. meet C. follow
B. avoid D. chase
7. In the Southern Hemisphere, the dangerous semicircle is to the _____of the storm track.
A. Right C. Ahead
B. Left D. Astern
8. The message for “Storm Warning” as recommended by WMO must be issued in what language?
A. French C. Japanese
B. Spanish D. English
9. In Northern Hemisphere: Right or dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the starboard bow. How many
degrees?
A. 045° relative C. 315o true
B. 045° true D. 315o relative
10. Facing in the direction toward which the storm is moving is called the _____.
A. Dangerous semicircle C. Less Dangerous Semicircle
B. Maneuvering semicircle D. Safe semicircle

CONTENTS:

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193
Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots
of which were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Established by the ratification of
the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for
meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year later.

Organization:
WMO has a membership of 193 Member States and Territories as of May 2019. The Convention of the World
Meteorological Organization was signed 11 October 1947 and established upon ratification on 23 March 1950.

Functions of World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• To facilitate worldwide cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of
meteorological observations as well as hydrological and other geophysical observations related to meteorology,
and to promote the establishment and maintenance of centers charged with the provision of meteorological and
related services;
• To promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of meteorological and
related information;
• Promote standardization of meteorological and related observations and to ensure the uniform publication of
observations and statistics;
• Application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, water problems, agriculture and other human activities;
• To promote activities in operational hydrology and to further close cooperation between Meteorological and
Hydrological Services;
• To encourage research and training in meteorology and, as appropriate, in related fields, and to assist in
coordinating the international aspects of such research and training.

Objectives of World Meteorological Organization

• Collection and sharing of information for all WMO and related international programs.
• Flexible and extensible structure that will allow the participating centers to enhance their capabilities as
their national and international responsibilities grew
• Implementation upon the most successful components of existing WMO information systems in an
evolutionary process.
• Smooth and coordinated transition
• Basis for the core communication network will be the present communication links used within the World
Weather Watch (WWW) for the high priority real-time data
• Utilization of international industry standards for protocols, hardware and software.

TYPES OF INFORMATION RECEIVED BY FACSIMILE MACHINE INCLUDING THE SERVICES

PROVIDED FOR STORM WARNING.

The information received by the facsimile machine is the provision of metrological data or a weather bulletin.
Facsimile schedules provide information on the types of charts available from meteorological centers. Of those
listed, the surface analysis
And surface prognostic charts are of particular value to the seafarer. The surface analysis shows the surface
distribution of pressure by means of isobars and associated fronts for the synoptic hour stated.

Weather Facsimile

Synoptic reports from land stations and ships may also include the recommended station plot format, or, if
there is insufficient space, only critical elements may be plotted (e.g. wind direction and speed). Although the
chart, essentially synoptic in nature, presents prognostic data for direction and speed of movement, central
pressure values of pressure centers may also be included. Retrospective data for wind scale may also be shown.
The chart projection is usually given for clarity and quick reference and latitude and longitude intersections are
plotted at frequent intervals. If the chart intersections are plotted at frequent intervals. If the chart is a
preliminary analysis, the data shown is that of isobars which illustrate the major pressure system. The area
covered by a facsimile surface analysis varies from one transmitting source to another and the seafarer can check
its limits from schedule.

Surface analysis from any one source may cover different areas, and while a few meteorological offices may
issue one chart daily, most issue at least two: one for 000 GMT and one for 1200 GMT. Generally, the number of
charts issued is greater for the immediate area interest to the meteorological office compared with the nearer
carrying a larger horizontal area.

SERVICES PROVIDED FOR STORM WARNINGS:

Forecaster in an NMC, having established from prognostic possibility of high winds over sea areas, will compile
“Storm Warnings”. The anticipated wind force and direction for the sea areas likely to be affected are stated, and
if a warning is due to tropical cyclone, the position of its center and its past and future movement are included.
Radio station stated in ALRS Vol. 3 with sub-heading ‘Storm Warning’ transmit these messages on their working
frequencies, the mode of transmission being either R/T or W/T or both.

The transmission is normally made at the end of the next silence period after receipt of the message. In certain
cases, the message is repeated at the interval between broadcast and the overall period in which transmission
are made varying from one station to another. The sub-heading ‘Storm Warnings’ is general rather than specific
since the forecast wind speed may vary from force 6 (strong breeze) to force 12 (hurricane). The message is
usually issued in the language of the country of origin and WMO recommends that it be also issued in English.
In certain parts of the world, the national broadcasting service of a country is used as a channel for transmitting
storm warnings. The transmissions are made as soon as possible after the receipt of the warning from the NMC
(normally at the first available program break) and are repeated at convenient breaks as long as the warning
remains in force. If the seafarer is to gain benefits of the storm warning services, then a policy of regular radio
watch is essential.

However, delays which may occur between the original issue of warning and it receipt on board can seriously
reduce its value which is critical in the case of tropical or temperate zone low pressure system since can develop
and deepen rapidly. The information in a warning is needed to establish concisely the forecast conditions for the
sea area concerned, but it must be interpreted intelligently using on board observation and other data, as it may
be only applicable to part of the area.

WEATHER SERVICES FOR SHIPPING IN MANEUVERING TO AVOID STORM

WARNING

The safest procedure with respect to tropical cyclones is to avoid them. If action is taken sufficiently early, this is
simply a matter of setting a course that will take the vessel well to one side of the probable track of the storm,
and then continuing to plot the positions of the storm center as given in the weather bulletins, revising the course
as needed. However, this is not always possible. If the ship is found to be within the storm area, the proper
action to take depends in part upon its position relative to the storm center and its direction of travel.
It is customary to divide the circular area of the storm into two parts.

In the Northern Hemisphere, that part to the right of the storm track (facing in the direction toward which the
storm is moving) is called the dangerous semicircle. It is considered dangerous because (1) the actual wind speed
is greater than that due to the pressure gradient alone, since it is augmented by the forward motion of the storm,
and (2) the direction of the wind and sea is such as to carry a vessel into the path of the storm (in the forward
part of the semicircle). The part to the left of the storm track is called the less dangerous semicircle, or navigable
semicircle.

In this part, the wind is decreased by the forward motion of the storm, and the wind blows vessels away from
the storm track (in the forward part). Because of the greater wind speed in the dangerous semicircle, the seas
are higher than in the less dangerous semicircle.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the dangerous semicircle is to the left of the storm track, and the less dangerous
semicircle is to the right of the storm track.

Northern Hemisphere:
Right or dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the starboard bow (045° relative), hold course and make as
much way as possible. If necessary, heave to with head to the sea.

Left or less dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the starboard quarter (135° relative), hold course and
make as much way as possible. If necessary, heave to with stern to the sea.

On storm track, ahead of center: Bring the wind 2 points on the starboard quarter (about 160° relative), hold
course and make as much way as possible. When well within the less dangerous semicircle, maneuver as
indicated above.

On storm track, behind center: Avoid the center by the best practicable course, keeping in mind the tendency
of tropical cyclones to curve northward and eastward.
Southern Hemisphere:

Left or dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the port bow (315° relative), hold course and make as much
way as possible. If necessary, heave to with head to the sea.

Right or less dangerous semicircle: Bring the wind on the port quarter (225° relative), hold course and make
as much way as possible. If necessary, heave to with stern to the sea.

On storm track, ahead of center: Bring the wind about 200° relative, hold course and make as much way as
possible. When well within the less dangerous semicircle, maneuver as indicated above.

On storm track, behind center: Avoid the center by the best practicable course, keeping in mind the tendency
of tropical cyclones to curve southward and eastward.
POST TEST

1. Explain briefly the objectives of WMO.

2. Enumerate and explain what to do if you are in the vicinity of storm area.

3. Illustrate the maneuver that you are going to do if the vessel is in the vicinity of storm area.
4. The facsimile machine is giving you storm warning signals. What will you do to monitor this particular
storm?