INSTRUCTOR: 2/M EDILBERT B. BRIONES, MME METEOROLOGY & OCEANOGRAPHY 2
COURSE CODE / DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: METEOROLOGY & OCEANOGRAPHY 2 • Function: A-II/2 Navigation at the Management Level • STCW’78 Competences: A-II/2.F1.C8. Forecast weather and oceanographic conditions • KUP/s A-II/2 F1 C8 KUP2: Knowledge of the characteristics of various weather systems, including tropical revolving storms and avoidance of storm centres and the dangerous quadrants. • Course Outcomes: • At the end of the course, students should be able to: • C02. Explain tropical revolving storms and how to avoid and/or escape storm centers and dangerous quadrants in the northern and southern hemisphere
2 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 LEARNING OUTCOMES • After the lesson, the student shall be able to: • State the definitions adopted by the WMO with respect to Tropical Storms. • State local nomenclature of TRS • State regions and seasons of greatest frequency of TRS • State the conditions associated with the formation of tropical revolving storms • Describe with the aid of diagrams typical and possible tracks of TRS
3 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 LEARNING OUTCOMES • After the lesson, the student shall be able to: • Explain the factors associated with the decay of TRS • Explain the reasons for the naming of the dangerous semicircle • Describe the signs which give warning of the approach for the TRS • Explain the methods of determining the approximate bearing of an approaching TRS • State the correct avoidance procedure when in the vicinity of a TRS
5 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • A Tropical Cyclone is also called as a Tropical Revolving Storm (TRS). • Tropical Revolving Storm is an intense rotating depression (a region of low pressure at the surface) which develops over the tropical oceans. • It consists of a rotating mass of warm and humid air and creates strong winds, thunderstorm , heavy rains, very heavy seas and swell etc. • It has a low-pressure centre and clouds spiraling towards the eyewall surrounding the "eye", the central part of the system where the weather is normally calm and free of clouds. • Its diameter is typically around 200 to 500 km, but can reach 1000 km. • It has a maximum sustain winds of 64knots or more; 118 km/h; 12 in Beaufort Reacher scale. • The spiraling winds blow in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere around the TRS.
7 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 TRS NUMENCLATURE IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE WORLD 1. “Cyclones” is used in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. 2. “Hurricane” is used on the western side of north Atlantic and south Pacific. 3. “Cordonazo” is used on the eastern side of North Pacific. 4. “Typhoon” is used on the western side of North Pacific. 5. “Willy – willy” is used on the eastern side of South Indian Ocean.
12 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 AS PER WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO) THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA DEFINES PRECISELY THE VARIOUS DEGREES OF INTENSITY OF TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS.
13 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 AS PER WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO) THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA DEFINES PRECISELY THE VARIOUS DEGREES OF INTENSITY OF TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS.
1. Low pressure area (L) = Central position cannot be accurately assessed.
2. Tropical depression (TD) = Central position can be identified, but the maximum sustained wind is 33 kt or less. 3. Tropical storm (TS) = Maximum sustained wind is between 34 and 47 kt. 4. Severe tropical (STS) = Maximum sustained wind is between 48 and storm 63 kt. 5. Typhoon (TY) = Maximum sustained wind is 64 kt or more.
14 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 DEVELOPMENT OF TROPICAL CYCLONES 1. Warm( over 27C) moist air rises from the surface of the sea. 2. As it rises it meets cooler air and condenses to make clouds and rain. 3. This condensation releases huge amounts of energy, producing strong winds. 4. The winds are driven by the spin of the earth and go round and round. 5. As the earth rotates the winds are sucked violently upwards in a vortex which can be 1,000km wide. Wind speeds can be as high as 200km per hour. 6. These storms are fuelled by damp air when they reach land, dry air is being sucked up and they loose energy.
16 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 DEVELOPMENT OF TROPICAL CYCLONES 1. Sufficiently warm temperatures : Normally an ocean temperature of 26.5°C is the minimum requirement for TRS formation. Warm ocean water must exist over a sufficient depth of at least 50 meter. These warm waters are necessary to fuel the heat engine of the tropical cyclone. 2. Potentially unstable atmosphere : There must be an atmosphere that cools quickly with height, so that it becomes potentially unstable. If the air is unstable, then it will continue rising and the disturbance will grow. This is required to maintain convection for an extended period of time. 3. High relative humidity : A necessary amount of relative humidity must be present in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere. The required amount of humidity is about 50 to 60%.
17 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 DEVELOPMENT OF TROPICAL CYCLONES 4. Adequate value of Coriolis Effect : It has been observed that TRS does not form within 3 degrees latitude from the equator, as Coriolis effect is negligible at the equator. So a minimum distance of 500 km from the equator is normally needed to from TRS. 5. Largest low pressure : Pressure must be lowered with largest amount and this LP area must be surrounded by areas of HP, which is required for preexisting near-surface disturbance. 6. Limited vertical wind shear : Limited vertical wind shear can be positive for tropical cyclone formation. This amount should be less than 10 m/s between the surface and the tropopause. On other hand, strong wind shear can blow the tropical cyclone apart.
19 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF A TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) 1. They appear smaller size than temperate depressions 2. They form near the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, a zone of instability 3. They have nearly circular isobars 4. No fronts occur (a front is the boundary between two air masses, often distorted by warmer air bulging into the colder air) 5. They result in a very steep pressure gradient 6. They have great intensity
20 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ORIGIN, MOVEMENT AND LIFE SPAN ❑ TRS originate in latitudes between 5° & 20° and travel between W and WNW in the NH and between W and WSW in the SH, at a speed of about 12 knots. ❑ Somewhere along their track, they curve away from the equator – curve to N and then recurve to NE in the NH; curve to S and then recurve to SE in the SH. ❑ Track – The route over which a TRS is already passed. ❑ Path – The predicted route, over which, there is a possibility of the TRS passing at near future. ❑ Another point on the route is called the Vertex, which is the westernmost point, of the TRS, when recurving takes place.
23 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ORIGIN, MOVEMENT AND LIFE SPAN • The recurving is such that the storm travels around the oceanic high (which is situated at about 30°N and 30°S in the middle of large oceans). • After recurving, the speed of travel increases to about 15 to 20 knots. Sometimes, a TRS does not curve or recurve at all, but continues on its original path, crosses the coast and dissipates quickly thereafter due to friction and lack of moisture. • It is important to note that all TRSs do not follow such definite paths and speeds. • In their initial stages, occasional storms have remained practically stationary or made small loops for as long as four days.
24 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ORIGIN, MOVEMENT AND LIFE SPAN • Semi circles: If a storm is divided along the route, at which the storm is passing, then we get 2 parts, which are, • Right-hand semicircle (RHSC): It is the half of the storm, which lies to the right of the observer, who faces along the route of the storm. For a stationary observer, here the wind veers steadily. • Left-hand semicircle (LHSC): It is the half of the storm, which lies to the left of the observer, who faces along the route of the storm. For a stationary observer, here the wind backs steadily.
25 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ORIGIN, MOVEMENT AND LIFE SPAN • In the northern hemisphere (NH), conditions on the right-hand side of storms are more severe than those on their left-hand sides. For that reason, in NH, RHSC is called the “dangerous semicircle” and LHSC is called the “navigable semicircle”. • So again, as per navigator’s judgment, semicircles are two types, which are, • Navigable semicircle — It is the side of a tropical cyclone, which lies to the left of the direction of movement of the storm in the Northern hemisphere (to the right in the Southern Hemisphere), where the winds are weaker and better for the navigation purpose, although all parts of TRS are more or less dangerous to mariners. • Dangerous semicircle— It is the side of a tropical cyclone, which lies to the right of the direction of movement of the storm in the Northern Hemisphere (to the left in the Southern Hemisphere), where the storm has the strongest winds and heavy seas.
27 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • A well-developed TRS has three distinct parts: 1. The eye or vortex: A calm central area of lowest pressure, having a diameter between 4 miles and 30 miles, the average being about 10 miles. It is a roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair weather, available at the centre of a severe tropical cyclone. Weather in the eye is normally calm but the sea can be extremely violent. There is little or no precipitation and fake bvlgari watches sometimes blue sky or stars can be seen. The eye is the region of lowest surface pressure than the surrounding environment. In severe cyclones, the eye usually looks like a circular hole in the central cloud mass.
28 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) 2. The eye-wall: An inner ring of hurricane force winds having a width usually between 4 miles and 30 miles. The winds in the eye-wall blow in a perfectly circular path with a speed as high as 130 knots with occasional gusts up to 150 knots. The pressure gradient in the eye-wall is very steep and, therefore, the barograph would register a near vertical trend, downward before the eye and upward behind it, as shown in the figure. Eye wall consists of a dense ring of cloud and tall thunderstorms that produce heavy diesel rains and usually the strongest winds (about force 6 or 7) at about circular path. Changes in the structure of the eye and eye wall can cause changes in the wind speed, which is an indicator of the storm’s intensity.
29 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) 3. The Outer storm area: The area surrounding the eye-wall, having a diameter between 50 miles and 800 miles, the average being about 500 miles. Winds in this region are strong (about force 6 or 7) and the pressure gradient is much less than in the eye-wall. Here angle of indraft of wind is about 45º and this gradually decreases to 0º in the eye wall. In this area, the cirrus cloud can be in the form of strands or filaments with aligned conditions and points towards the storm centre. Here visibility is excellent, except in occasional shower’s areas.
31 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • Life cycle of a tropical cyclone • The complete life cycle of a tropical cyclone usually spans about 9 days but can be only 2 or 3 days or more than 20 days. • Formation • The formation of a tropical cyclone is dependent upon six favourable environmental conditions (described before), which are available in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. • Tropical cyclones gain energy from latent heat, driven by significant thunderstorm activity and condensation of moist air. In other words, tropical cyclone formation can be called as a gigantic vertical heat engine, which is also powered by earth’s gravity and rotation. • On satellite images, this stage appears as an unusually active, but poorly organised area of convection (thunderstorms). Sometimes curved cumulus clouds band towards an active area of thunderstorms, which indicates the location of the centre. At this stage, if tropical cyclones move inland, then they make little or no damage but may form heavy rain and flooding in some areas.
32 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • Premature Stage • In this stage, the area of convection continues and becomes more organised. Also strengthening occurs simultaneously. • The minimum surface pressure rapidly drops well below than normal level. Gale-force winds also develop with the strengthening pressure gradient. • The circulation centre is well defined and subsequently, an eye may begin to form. Satellite and radar observations of the system show as the distinctive spiral banding pattern. • Premature Stage of a tropical cyclone can cause devastating wind and storm surge effects upon coastline, but damage occurs usually within a small area.
33 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • Mature Stage • If the ocean and atmosphere environment continue to be favourable, the cyclone may continue to intensify to this stage. This is the severe cyclone stage, where the cyclone is most dangerous. Approximately half of the cyclones can come up to this stage. • During this stage, the cyclonic circulation and extent of the gales increase markedly. In satellite images, the cloud fields look highly organised and become more symmetrical, with a well-centered, distinct round eye. • This stage remains for a day or so with maximum intensity unless the cyclone remains in a highly favourable environment.
34 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 STRUCTURE TROPICAL REVOLVING STORM (TRS) • Decay Stage • At this stage, the warm core of TRS is destroyed, as the central pressure increases and the maximum surface winds weaken. • Decay may occur very rapidly if the system moves into an unfavourable atmospheric or geographic environment. At this stage, the heavy or medium rain can be available.
35 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 INDICATIONS OF APPROACHING TRS • The signs and symptoms Of TRS/cyclone are as follows: 1. Heavy and long swell from Cyclone centre. Swell can be experienced as much as a thousand miles away. Swell is usually the first indication of the storm centre, hence an approaching TRS. 2. Pressure will be very much lower than the normal. When barometric pressure falls below 5 MB than normal, along with other TRS confirmation factors, the approach of TRS is confirmed. 3. Cirrus clouds in bands or filaments aligned towards the direction of the storm centre. 4. At sunset, cloud colour will be dark red or copper. 5. Clouds will be dense and heavy with threatening appearances. INSTRUCTOR: 2/M EDILBERT B.BRIONES, MME METEOROLOGY & 36 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 INDICATIONS OF APPROACHING TRS 6. Frequent lighting will be experienced. 7. Availability of storm warnings from the local authority. Weather reports based on satellite pictures and. observations from other vessels may contain storm warnings which give the position and pressure of the storm centre and also the probable direction of movement of the storm. 8. The occurrence of squalls, which are increasing in frequency and intensity. 9. The possibility of rain with violent torrential character. 10. Sea waves are becoming heavy and dangerous. 11. The shift of wind direction, in accordance with the rotation of winds of cyclonic spin.
37 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 INDICATIONS OF APPROACHING TRS ❑ ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ❑ A decrease in atmospheric pressure can indicate the presence of a tropical cyclone. ❑ The typical diurnal variation of pressure in low latitudes is evident close to and within the area of the system. 1. Read the Barometer. Correct the reading to standard datum (PAB: height above Mean sea level and index error. 2. Correct (1) for diurnal variation of pressure from table in pilot books or climatological atlases, taking into account latitude and local mean time. 3. Compare corrected reading (2) with mean pressure for the time of year. ❑ If this reading is 3hPa below the mean pressure there is a possibility of a tropical cyclone. ❑ If it is 5hPa below, then a tropical cyclone must be assumed to be present with the vessel on the outskirts of the system.
39 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED 1. Obtain the bearing of Storm Centre a) Face the wind, then the storm centre will be within 8 to 12 points on the right hand in NH (on the left hand in SH). – Buys Ballot’s Law b) The direction of the swell, this indicates roughly the storm centre. c) The direction of the densest part of the huge bank of clouds also indicates the storm centre. ❖ If barometric pressure falls 5 MB below normal, then there is a possibility that ship is in the well-developed outer storm area. ❖ If barometric pressure falls 20 MB or more below normal, then there is a possibility that ship is near the eye of a well developed TRS.
40 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED 2. Ascertain in which semi-circle the vessel lies ❖ Bring the ship in stationery or “heave to” (moving very slowly in one direction) to the position. Carefully monitor and write downwind directions, every after 2 hours. ❖ If wind direction changes clockwise (wind veers), than the vessel is at Right-hand semicircle (RHSC) and if wind direction changes anti-clockwise (wind backs), than the vessel is at Left-hand semicircle (LHSC), in both hemispheres. ❖ Veering or backing, once detected, should be continuous while the observer remains stationary, i.e. a veering wind should continue to veer and a backing wind should continue to back. ❖ If the wind veers at first and then backs, or if it backs at first and then veers, the vessel must have passed from one semicircle into another, due to change of path of the storm.
41 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED 3. Take avoiding action ❑ Actions in TRS, At sea ❖ If the vessel is in the dangerous quadrant: Proceed as fast as practicable with the wind 1 to 4 points on the stbd bow (port bow in SH) – 1 point for slow vessels (less than 12 knots) and 4 points for fast vessels (more than 12 knots) altering course as the wind veers (backs in SH). This action should be kept up until the pressure rises back to normal i.e. until the vessel is outside the outer storm area. If there is insufficient sea room, the vessel should heave to with the wind on the stbd bow (port bow in SH) until the storm passes over.
42 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED ❖ If the vessel is in the path of the storm or if in the navigable semi-circle: Proceed as fast as practicable with the wind about 4 points on the stbd quarter (port quarter in SH), altering course as the wind backs (veers in SH). This action should be kept up until the pressure rises back to normal i.e. until the vessel is outside the outer storm area.
43 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED ❑ With reference to figure one the following actions are to be taken to avoid a TRS: A. Observations – ❖ In the Northern Hemisphere: 1. If the wind is veering (changing direction in a clockwise direction), the vessel is located in the dangerous semi-circle 2. If the wind is backing (changing direction in an anticlockwise direction), the vessel is located in the navigable semi-circle 3. If the wind is steady, the vessel is located in the path of the TRS ❖ In the Southern Hemisphere: 1. If the wind is veering, the vessel is located in the navigable semi-circle 2. If the wind is backing the vessel is located in the dangerous semi circle 3. If the wind is steady, the vessel is located in the path of the TRS
44 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED B. Once aware of the vessels location in relation to the TRS appropriate actions must now be taken to avoid the TRS – ❖ In the Northern Hemisphere: 1. If located in the dangerous semi circle, put the wind on the starboard bow and alter course to starboard as the wind veers 2. If located in the navigable semi circle or in the path of the TRS, put the wind on the starboard quarter and alter course to port as the wind backs ❖ In the Southern Hemisphere: 1. If located in the dangerous semi circle, put the wind on the port bow and alter course to port as the wind backs 2. If located in the navigable semi circle or the path of the TRS, put the wind on the port quarter and alter course to starboard as the wind veers
47 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED
❑ Buy Ballots Law can also be used to plot the
position of the TRS. ❑ This can be done by facing the wind and the centre of the low-pressure system, in this case the TRS, will be from 90 degrees to 135 degrees on your right-hand side in the northern hemisphere and on your left in the southern hemisphere. INSTRUCTOR: 2/M EDILBERT B.BRIONES, MME METEOROLOGY & 48 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 BUY BALLOTS LAW ❑ In the Northern Hemisphere, if a person stands with their back to the wind, the atmospheric pressure is low to the left, high to the right. This is because wind travels counterclockwise around low-pressure zones in the Northern Hemisphere.
49 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED ❑ If there is suspicion of a TRS or if the vessel is in the vicinity of a TRS and no reports of one have been received then the Master, so as to comply with ‘SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) Chapter 5, Regulation 31, Danger Messages’ is obliged to send all information he or she can about the TRS to all ships in the vicinity along with the nearest maritime radio station or signal station which they can communicate with. ❑ If winds of force 10 and above are encountered without any prior reports then this should also be reported in the same manner. For the duration of the time that the vessel was within the TRS reports should be made, if possible, every three hours.
50 OCEANOGRAPHY 2 ACTION WHEN APPROACH OF A TRS IS CONFIRMED ❑ This report should include the following: 1. Approximate position of the storm as well as the GMT time and date that it was encountered 2. Position, true course and speed of the vessel at the time of observation 3. The Barometric pressure and any changes in the previous 3 hours (not corrected for Diurnal variation). In temperate latitudes the Barometric pressure changes quickly and irregularly on a day to day basis due to the movement and development of weather systems. In the tropical latitudes in normal weather conditions the Barometric pressure readings are small and follow a regular pattern. This ‘Diurnal Variation’ in the tropical latitudes is usually corrected using a correction table but whenever Barometric pressure readings are included in a weather report or entered into the ships log the corrections are not to be applied. 4. True direction and the force of the wind 5. The sea state 6. The direction, height, period and length of the swell
Buys Ballot Law Is A Useful Law in Establishing Safe Course in Case of A Weather Disturbance As Well As A Reliable Tool To Predict Weather System Disturbances Such As Storms