Visual Navigation Aids

Determining the Computed

Visibility of a Nav Aid
• Horizon Distance = the LOS from a position above the
earth’s surface to the visual horizon.
• Geographic Range = the maximum distance that a light
may be seen in perfect visibility by an observer’s eye
who is at sea level.
• Computed Range = the distance at which a light could
be seen in perfect visibility (taking into account
elevation, observer’s height of eye, and the curvature of
the earth).
CR = Horizon Distance + Geographic Distance
 Determining the Computed
Visibility of a Nav Aid
• Luminous Range = the distance at which a
certain light, as that of a lighthouse, is visible in
clear weather, disregarding interference from
obstructions and from the curvature of the earth
and depending on the power of the light
• Nominal Range = The nominal range of a light
used as an aid to marine navigation is its
luminous range in a homogeneous atmosphere
in which the meteorological visibility is 10 sea-
miles.
 nominal range
National
charact (Not
and
er, geographical,
internatio international
colour, height luminous or
nal toponymic
period in m. ft mean) in
numbers rules Lat-Long nautical miles
 Determining the Computed
Visibility of a Nav Aid
• Computed Visibility = The maximum distance at
which a light can be seen in the current
meteorological conditions.
 COMPUTING VISIBILITY

• When operating in coastal waters,

navigators need to know when they can
expect to first see and then lose sight of a
navigational light.

Thus, they want to know the computed

visibility.
- the maximum distance at which a light
can be seen in the current meteorological
conditions.
 Visibility Terms

11.4 nm

12.5 nm

19.6 nm
23.9 nm 40+ nm

luminous range
computed range
nominal range
geographic range horizon distance

horizon
120’ HT 100’ HT
 TERMS

– Charted range - the range printed on the

chart near the light symbol.

– Computed range - the distance at which

a light could be seen in perfect visibility,
taking its elevation, the observer’s actual
height of eye, and the curvature of the
earth.
 Computed Visibility (CV)
The maximum distance at which a light can be
seen in the current meteorological conditions.
Computed visibility takes into account the
existing visibility conditions, the intensity and
elevation of the light, the observer’s height of
eye, and the curvature of the earth.

NOTE: Computed Visibility differs from

meteorological visibility which is the maximum
range at which the unaided human eye can see
an unlighted object by day in the current
meteorological conditions.
 Rule

• When you compute the visibility of a

light, the computed visibility will NEVER
exceed the light’s luminous range.
 EXAMPLE

• Computing the visibility of a light:

• height of the light = 100 ft

• height of eye = 50 ft
• visibility = 5 ½ nm
• nominal range = 23 nm
 EXAMPLE
– First: Obtain its height above water, and the
luminous range of the light from the “Luminous
Range Diagram”. The “Light List (or List of
Lights)” will contain this information.

The Light List provides information on lights

and buoys in the coastal areas and rivers of the
United States while the “List of Lights” provides
similar information for foreign waters.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NAV LIGHTS COMPUTING VISIBILITY OF NAV LIGHTS

 EXAMPLE
– The first step in using the Light List or List of
Lights is to determine the Luminous Range
(LR) from the “Luminous Range Diagram”

The luminous range can be determined by

entering the diagram at the top or bottom with
the given nominal range. Follow the nominal
range value vertically until the appropriate
visibility curve is intersected, then read the
corresponding luminous range from the left or
right hand side of the diagram.
 EXAMPLE

In our example, the light has a nominal range

of 23 nm in 5.5 nm of visibility, so from the LR
Diagram the corresponding luminous range is
13.5 nm.

NOTE: the nominal range and luminous range

are identical in 10 nm visibility.
 EXAMPLE

– Second: Find the geographic range of the

light by using the following formula:
 Geographical Range

Z
Y

X ( NM) = 1,17 { Y (feet) + Z (feet) }

X ( NM) = 2,08 { Y (mt) + Z (mt) }

 EXAMPLE

Finding Geographic Range

D= 1.17 h (ft) = 1.17 (10) = 11.7 nm

Geographic Range = 11.4 nm

horizon

100 ft height of eye

* geographic range in miles

** horizon distance in miles
 EXAMPLE

– Third: Determine the horizon distance for

the observer’s height of eye using the
same equation as the geographic range.
 EXAMPLE
Finding Horizon Distance

D = 1.144 h(ft) = 1.17 (7.07) = 8.3 nm

horizon distance = 8.3 nm
horizon distance (Do)

horizon

50 ft height of eye

* geographic range in miles

** horizon distance in miles

CHARACTERISTICS OF NAV LIGHTS COMPUTING VISIBILITY OF NAV LIGHTS

 EXAMPLEDo

– Fourth: add the geographic range and the

horizon distance which will yield the
Computed Range.
Computed Range = Geographic Range + Horizon Distance
Computed Range = 11.4 nm + 8.3 nm = 19.7 nm
G.R. Do

horizon

Luminous range = 13.5 nm (from the LR Diagram)

 EXAMPLE
– Final: Compare the Computed Range (CR) to the
Luminous Range (LR). The shorter range
represents the Computed Visibility (CV).
The light has a corresponding LR of 13.5 nm and
a CR of 19.5 nm. Therefore, the Computed
Visibility would be equal to the Luminous Range
which isC 0 13.5 nm.
This distance can be plotted by swinging an arc
with a radius equal to the computed visibility from
the light of interest across the ship’s DR track. The
resultant position can be used to calculate the time
the light can be seen by using ship’s course and
speed.
Height of light (80 feet)11.1 miles

• Example: Determine the visibility of light

Alpha for an observer with a height of eye
of 50 feet.
• Solution: From the Light List, the nominal
range is determined to be 25 miles; the
height of light Alpha is 90 feet above the
water. Determine horizon distance by formula
or table.
D = 1.17 √ h(ft) = 1.17 √50 = 8.3nm

Geographic range
Height of light (90 feet)
D= 1.17√90 = 11.1 nm
Computed Range = Geographic Range + Horizon Distance

Computed Range =11.1+8.3 = 19.4nm

Nominal range was 25 nm.
Computed Range =11.1+8.3 = 19.4nm
Nominal range was 25 nm. What????