MET O 2 7th WK Module

EXACT COLLEGES OF ASIA
Suclayin, Arayat, Pampanga

Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Email address: exact.colleges@yahoo.com
COURSE MODULE
(Paper-Based)
STUDENT’S COPY
I. NAME OF
Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation
PROGRAM
II. COURSE COURSE CODE
DESCRIPTIVE Meteorology and Oceanography 02
TITLE / CODE Met 02
IV. PRE-REQUISITE / COURSE

CO-REQUISITE / None CREDIT UNIT
CREDIT UNIT 5 units
The course includes the forecasting of
weather and the oceanographic
VI. COURSE conditions using synoptic chart,
DESCRIPTION characteristics of different weather
system, ocean current and tidal
condition.
MODULE
VII. MODULE TITLE / Topic 1 NUMBER
NUMBER Types of Lows
5
IX. INCLUSIVE WEEK Week 6
CO1: Interpret area weather using a synoptic chart, taking into
account local weather conditions and information received by weather
fax
CO2: Explain tropical revolving storms and how to avoid and/or
escape storm centre and dangerous quadrants in the northern and
X. COURSE OUTCOME southern hemisphere
CO3: Interpret ocean current system and principal adjoining seas
using various charts and nautical publication
CO4: Calculate the tidal conditions based on nautical publications on
board and electronically obtained
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Learning Outcome: At the end of the modules, the students should be able to:
LO2.1: Discuss the different types of Lows
 Tropical and Extratropical lows

 Meteorological Bombs
 Secondary Low
 Sting in the Scorpion Tails
 Upper-level Lows
 Cutoff Lows
A. STCW Competence Addressed by the Course Module :

Competence: Competence/s: : A-II/2 F1.C8: Forecast weather and oceanographic conditions
B. STCW KUP Addressed by the Course Module: KUP: A-II/2 F1.C8.KUP1: Ability
to understand and interpret a synoptic chart and to forecast area weather, taking into
account local weather condition and information received by weather fax.
XI. MODULE RESOURCES: Meteorology for Seafarers (Burgess)
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-

pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral
arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain or squalls. Depending on its location
and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by different names, including hurricane,
typhoon , tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific
Ocean, and a typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean; in the south Pacific
or Indian Ocean, comparable storms are referred to simply as "tropical cyclones" or "severe
cyclonic storms".
"Tropical" refers to the geographical origin of these systems, which form almost
exclusively over tropical seas. "Cyclone" refers to their winds moving in a circle, whirling
round their central clear eye, with their winds blowing counterclockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite direction of
circulation is due to the Coriolis effect. Tropical cyclones typically form over large bodies
of relatively warm water. They derive their energy through the evaporation of water from
the ocean surface, which ultimately re-condenses into clouds and rain when moist air rises
and cools to saturation. This energy source differs from that of mid-latitude cyclonic
storms, such as nor'easters and European windstorms, which are fueled primarily
by horizontal temperature contrasts. Tropical cyclones are typically between 100 and
2,000 km (62 and 1,243 miles) in diameter.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Hurricane Isabel (2003) as seen from orbit during Expedition 7 of the International Space

Station. The eye, eye wall, and surrounding rain bands, characteristics of tropical cyclones in the
narrow sense, are clearly visible in this view from space.
Eye and center
Thunderstorm activity in the eye wall of Cyclone Bansi as seen from the International
Space Station, on January 12, 2015.
At the center of a mature tropical cyclone, air sinks rather than rises. For a sufficiently
strong storm, air may sink over a layer deep enough to suppress cloud formation, thereby
creating a clear "eye". Weather in the eye is normally calm and free of clouds, although the
sea may be extremely violent.[13] The eye is normally circular and is typically 30–65 km
(19–40 miles) in diameter, though eyes as small as 3 km (1.9 miles) and as large as 370 km
(230 miles) have been observed.
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones,
are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the
weather over much of the Earth.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
What is an extratropical low?
NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary. Extratropical Low. A low pressure

center which refers to a migratory frontal cyclone of middle and higher latitudes. Tropical
cyclones occasionally evolve into extratropical lows losing tropical characteristics and
become associated with frontal discontinuity.
What is the difference between tropical and extratropical cyclones?
Tropical cyclone winds are derived from the release of energy in the form of latent heat.
Furthermore, Tropical cyclones have their strongest winds near the surface of the Earth. In
contrast, extratropical cyclones have their strongest winds near the tropopause or troposphere,
which is about 8 miles above the surface.
Extratropical cyclones can bring mild weather with a little rain and surface winds of
10–20 miles per hour (15–30 kph), or they can be cold and dangerous with torrential rain
and winds exceeding 74 miles per hour (119 kph). ... Wind gusts associated with these
storms can exceed hurricane force in intensity
Where are extratropical cyclones found?
Because extratropical cyclones form where cold and warm air masses come into
contact with each other, however, storm formation is most favorable in the mid-latitudes
(between 35 and 60 degrees latitude) of both the Pacific, near the Asian coast, and the
Atlantic, near Greenland and the North American coasts.
What are the types of tropical cyclone?
 TROPICAL STORM (TS) - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 62 to 88 kph

or 34 - 47 knots.
 SEVERE TROPICAL STORM (STS), a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 89
to 117 kph or 48 - 63 knots.
 TYPHOON (TY) - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 118 to 220 kph or 64 -
120 knots.
The different types of storms:
 Hailstorms
 Ice storms
 Snowstorms
 Thunderstorms
 Fire Storms
 wind storms
 hurricanes
 tornadoes
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Ice Storm
➤ When freezing rain persists for a long period of time, leading to the accumulation
of snow on exposed surfaces, they are called ice storms. If the rain freezes in mid-air,
then it will reach the ground in the form of sleet. Sleet is a mixture of snow and rain,
but very translucent, unlike snow.
Hailstorm
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
➤ Thunderstorm clouds create hail when the rain they produce freezes before it hits
the ground. Updrafts in the wind keep the frozen rain suspended, until it becomes too
heavy to handle, and hits the ground in the form of hail.
➤ Hailstorms are a precipitation in the form of solid ice. The chunks of ice that fall on
the ground are called hailstones. They are irregularly shaped, ranging from oblong to
spherical. Larger hailstones have onion layers ranging from clear to opaque ice. Severe
warnings are issued when the hailstones reach an alarming size.
➤ Hail is common in the areas of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado, and usually
occurs between March and October during the afternoons.
Snowstorm
➤ Snowstorms, as you can guess, are caused by heavy snowfall. Although not as
dangerous as ice storms, they have secondary dangers in the form of avalanches.
Snowstorms require a lot of outside moisture. The air converging in the center of the
system should have an outlet to diverge in the mid-levels to continue this cycle.
➤ Snowstorms lead to a dramatic drop in temperature, leading to hypothermia.
Visibility is reduced, causing a whiteout, which leads to car accidents.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Wind Storm
➤ A storm marked by high winds and no precipitation is called a wind storm. A

violent, brief wind storm accompanied by rain is called a ‘squall’. On the other hand, a
violent windstorm with air, snow, or hail is called a ‘tempest’.
➤ A dust storm is a severe windstorm forming in arid regions, while a sandstorm

usually occurs in the desert when dust particles are blown long distances. Dust storms
or sandstorms are common in arid regions. They form in an area with poor farming or
drought. Dust storms usually occur for a few minutes, to blowing for 50 straight days.
Thunderstorm
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
➤ A thunderstorm is characterized by thunder and lightning. Thunderstorms that

cause hail to fall are hailstorms. They are most common in the tropics.
➤ A darkening sky with rapidly rising anvil-shaped clouds is an obvious sign of an
approaching thunderstorm.
Firestorm
➤ A firestorm is formed when an inferno created by intense flames absorbs the

surrounding air, and fans the flames inside the center of the storm.
➤ The draft of the storm absorbs oxygen and increases combustion, thereby
increasing the production of heat.
➤ The sight of leaves combusting or crisping to ashes is an obvious sign of firestorms
in the distance.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Hurricane
➤ A tropical cyclone is used to describe windstorms that originate over tropical or

sub-tropical waters. Once a tropical cyclone reaches sustained winds over 74 miles per
hour, then it is classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone, depending upon where
the storm originates. A hurricane rotates counter-clockwise, while a cyclone rotates
clockwise.
➤ It is referred to as ‘cyclone’ in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, and typhoon in
the West Pacific. A hurricane loses strength when it reaches landfall, because it’s
deprived of the moisture it receives from the ocean. Although many think of the
hurricane as a windstorm, the main damage is caused by flooding. Hurricane Katrina
was the deadliest storm, causing damages up to $113.4 billion.
➤ An extratropical storm is formed when warm and cold air clash, and secondly, when
a hurricane leaves the tropics and transitions to an extratropical storm, thereby losing
its spinning action, and evolving to become a bigger storm. It gets its energy from the
temperature difference of the horizontal direction of the cyclone. An extratropical
storm with sustained winds between 34 – 48 knots is called a gale. Tropical cyclones
have no temperature differences across the storm. Their energy is derived by the
release of heat due to the cloud formation from the tropics.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Different types of alerts issued in case of a hurricane:
 Outlook – A hazardous event may happen.

 Watch – A hazardous event is going to happen, but the details are unclear.
 Advisory – A hazardous event will happen shortly. It may threaten life or
property.
 Warning – A hazardous event is currently in progress. You should evacuate to a
shelter or underground bunker
Tornado
➤ Tornadoes are funnel-shaped columns of air which rotate counter-clockwise. They

are referred to as ‘twisters’. Tornadoes have narrow ends which touch the earth, and
are usually accompanied by debris and dust. A waterspout refers to a tornado over
water. While a dust devil is often mistaken for a tornado, it is a small updraft of rising
air that picks up small dust and dirt particles.
Explosive cyclogenesis
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
What is a weather bomb?
A 'weather bomb' is an unofficial term for a low pressure system whose central
pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis. Rapid
acceleration of air caused by the jet stream high up in the atmosphere can remove air from
the column, reducing its weight so causing pressure to fall at sea level.
Explosive cyclogenesis (also referred to as a weather bomb, meteorological

bomb, explosive development,] bomb cyclone or bombogenesis) is the rapid deepening
of an extratropical cyclonic low-pressure area. The change in pressure needed to classify
something as explosive cyclogenesis is latitude dependent. For example, at 60° latitude,
explosive cyclogenesis occurs if the central pressure decreases by 24 mbar (hPa) or more in
24 hours. This is a predominantly maritime, winter event, but also occurs in continental
settings, even in the summer.
This process is the extratropical equivalent of the tropical rapid deepening. Although

their cyclogenesis is totally different from that of tropical cyclones, bomb cyclones can
produce winds of 74 to 95 mph (120 to 155 km/h) the same order as the first categories of
the Saffir-Simpson scale and give heavy precipitation. Even though only a minority of the
bombs become so strong, some weaker ones have also caused significant damage.
The term "weather bomb" is popularly used in New Zealand to describe dramatic or
destructive weather events. Rarely are the events actual instances of explosive
cyclogenesis, as the rapid deepening of low pressure areas is rare around New Zealand.
This use of "bomb" may lead to confusion with the more strictly defined meteorological
term. In Japan, the term bomb cyclone (bakudan teikiatsu) is used both academically and
commonly to refer to an extratropical cyclone which meets the meteorological "bomb"
conditions.
Secondary Low
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Secondary Lows appear as a cloud vortex within the frontal cloud band. The formation of
a Secondary Low can be seen in a series of satellite images: Initially the cloudiness thickens,
and the whole front seems to be undulating.
Three stages can be distinguished in the development of a Secondary Low within an

Cel No. 0925-870-1013
occluded front:
1. Initial Stage
A Secondary Low begins to deepen within the occluded front in the area of a local
vorticity maximum. The part of the front around the low has a Wave - like structure
for a short time (compare Wave ). This Wave does not amplify, however, but turns
into an Occlusion spiral.
2. Developing Stage
Whilst the original low fills up, the secondary deepens. At this stage the occluded
front with the Secondary Low still moves forward.
3. Mature Stages
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
The occluded front splits into two parts that spiral around their respective lows. The
movement of the Secondary Low slows and it begins to fill up.
Sting in the Scorpion Tails
 A sting jet is a meteorological phenomenon which has been postulated to cause some of the most
damaging winds in extratropical cyclones, developing according to the Shapiro-Keyser
model (though perhaps not exclusively)[1] of oceanic cyclones.
 Sting jets form in hook-like weather patterns, where air rushed from warm to cold fronts. Killer
storm winds called "sting jets" rush the ground as fast as 150 mph (240 km/h).
 Sting jets get their name from the hooked tail of clouds that spawn the fierce gusts — the
clouds resemble a scorpion's tail.
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Upper-level Lows
What is an upper level disturbance?
A disturbance in the upper atmospheric flow pattern which is usually associated with

clouds and precipitation. This disturbance is characterized by distinct cyclonic flow, a pocket of
cold air, and sometimes a jet streak.
An upper-level low, also known as a cold-core low is like a surface cyclone, but like
with an upper-level trough, most of its energy is located further upward in the atmosphere.
In other words, these storms are stronger aloft than at the Earth's surface. These upper-level
lows often contain an isolated pool of cold air at their core with temperatures at our latitude
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
reaching minus 30, 40 or even 50 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

A cold-core low, also known as an upper level low or cold-core cyclone, is
a cyclone aloft which has an associated cold pool of air residing at high altitude within the
Earth's troposphere, without a frontal structure
Four Stages of Upper Level Low:
1. Upper Level Trough:
The assumption for the development of an upper level trough is unstable potential
waves within this layer of the troposphere.
2. Tear-Off:
This stage of development is characterized by the development of an inverse

omega-shape of the isohypses within the mid-levels of the troposphere (for instance
within the height field at 500 hPa).
3. What causes a cut off low?
A cut-off low usually begins as a trough in the upper-air flow, which becomes a

closed circulation and then extends down to the surface. Also known as
closed low or cold pool. A cut-off low is marked by more or less concentric isotherms
around the core of the low.
What is a cutoff low?
A closed upper-level low which has become completely displaced (cut off) from

basic westerly current, and moves independently of that current. Cutoff lows may
remain nearly stationary for days, or on occasion may move westward opposite to the
prevailing flow aloft
4. Final stage:
Within the Upper Level Low there is convection, unless the surface is very cold. The
air near the surface is warm and the circulation is slowed down by the friction. The
convection brings warm air and the effect of the friction upwards
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
Meteorology for Seafarers

(Burgess)
- Seamanship Techniques, 3rd
Edition, DJ House, Chapter
12, Meteorology
- Modern Marine Weather,
Chapter 7, Weather Maps
Review, David Burch
VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXMeB76Vu_4
Activity: (One whole sheet of yellow paper) 300 words
1) State and expound the definitions adopted by the World

Meteorological Office (WMO) with respect to Tropical
Storms
Cel No. 0925-870-1013
2) State the local nomenclature of TRS used by the

different regions of the world
3) Explain the evolution and behaviour of cyclones

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EXACT COLLEGES OF ASIA

Suclayin, Arayat, Pampanga

IV. PRE-REQUISITE / COURSE

 Tropical and Extratropical lows

A. STCW Competence Addressed by the Course Module :

XI. MODULE RESOURCES: Meteorology for Seafarers (Burgess)

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-

Hurricane Isabel (2003) as seen from orbit during Expedition 7 of the International Space

Eye and center

What is an extratropical low?

NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary. Extratropical Low. A low pressure

What is the difference between tropical and extratropical cyclones?

Where are extratropical cyclones found?

What are the types of tropical cyclone?

 TROPICAL STORM (TS) - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 62 to 88 kph

➤ A storm marked by high winds and no precipitation is called a wind storm. A

➤ A dust storm is a severe windstorm forming in arid regions, while a sandstorm

➤ A thunderstorm is characterized by thunder and lightning. Thunderstorms that

➤ A firestorm is formed when an inferno created by intense flames absorbs the

➤ A tropical cyclone is used to describe windstorms that originate over tropical or

Different types of alerts issued in case of a hurricane:

 Outlook – A hazardous event may happen.

➤ Tornadoes are funnel-shaped columns of air which rotate counter-clockwise. They

What is a weather bomb?

Explosive cyclogenesis (also referred to as a weather bomb, meteorological

This process is the extratropical equivalent of the tropical rapid deepening. Although

Three stages can be distinguished in the development of a Secondary Low within an

Sting in the Scorpion Tails

A disturbance in the upper atmospheric flow pattern which is usually associated with

reaching minus 30, 40 or even 50 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

Four Stages of Upper Level Low:

1. Upper Level Trough:

This stage of development is characterized by the development of an inverse

3. What causes a cut off low?

A cut-off low usually begins as a trough in the upper-air flow, which becomes a

What is a cutoff low?

A closed upper-level low which has become completely displaced (cut off) from

Meteorology for Seafarers

Activity: (One whole sheet of yellow paper) 300 words

1) State and expound the definitions adopted by the World

2) State the local nomenclature of TRS used by the

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