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Code(credit): CUTM 2080(4-0-2)

 

 

Objective

• To understand the dynamics of the ocean and the atmosphere • To understand the physical processes in the ocean and atmosphere • To be well versed the factors affecting atmospheric motion and resulting windows

 

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Learning outcome

Use meteorological observing methods, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) codes and describe weather services available to marine community. Evaluate meteorological processes for marine applications. Identify and describe the weather associated with the main features of a synoptic chart. Demonstrate an appreciation of the general circulation of the atmosphere, the main climatic zones over the oceans and the ocean currents of the world.

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Course Syllabus

 

Module I:                                                                                                                                               3 hours             

Shipborne meteorological instruments

–     describes the basic principle of an aneroid barometer

–     reads the atmospheric pressure from an ordinary aneroid barometer and precision aneroid  

barometer if available

–     reads the temperature from a thermometer

–     describes the function of a hygrometer

-     describes the basic principles of wind sensors and demonstrates ordinary readings of wind speed

Module II

The atmosphere, its composition and physical properties                                                    3 hours

–     describes the composition of the earth’s atmosphere, mentioning dry air and its constituents, water vapour and aerosols

–     draws a typical vertical temperature profile through the lower 100 km of the earth’s atmosphere

–     defines ‘troposphere’, ‘tropopause’, ‘stratosphere’, ‘stratopause’, ‘mesosphere’, ‘mesopause’  

       and ‘thermosphere’ describes the main features of the troposphere

–     describes the importance of the sun as the principal energy source for atmospheric processes

–     describes the nature of solar radiation (scattering, reflection and absorption)

–     explains the effect on insolation of a variation in latitude

–     explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the sun’s declination

–     explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the length of daylight

–     defines ‘water vapour’

–     describes the properties of water vapour in the atmosphere

–     defines ‘evaporation’, ‘condensation’, ‘latent heat of vaporization’

–     defines ‘saturated air’

–     describes the processes of mixing, cooling and the evaporation of water vapour, by which a  

       sample of air may be brought to saturation

–     defines ‘dewpoint’, ‘absolute humidity’, ‘relative humidity’, ‘vapour pressure’

 

 

MODULE III

Atmospheric pressure                                                                                                                                    3 hours

• states that pressure equals force per unit area
• states that the atmosphere exerts a pressure on any surface placed within it
• states that the atmospheric pressure on a unit area of a surface is equal to the weight of the “air column” extending from that surface to the outer fringes of the atmosphere
• states that atmospheric pressure decreases with height above sea level
• states that atmospheric pressure acts in all directions
• states that the basic unit of pressure is N/m2
• states that 1 millibar = 10-3 bar = 102 N/m2
• states that the atmospheric pressure at sea level normally varies between about 940 mbar and 1050 mbar
• states that the average pressure at sea level is 1013.2 mbar
• states that the surface pressure rises if air is added to the ‘column’ above the surface, and vice versa
• defines ‘isobar’

 

MODULE IV

Wind                                                                                                                                                                     8 hours

–      defines ‘wind’

–      describes the Beaufort scale of wind force

–      explains qualitatively the pressure gradient force

–      explains qualitatively the Coriolis (geostrophic) force

–      explains the surface wind circulation around high- and low-pressure centres

–      inserts surface wind directions on a map showing pressure distribution and indicates relative     

       wind speeds at various places within the pressure field

–      explains Buys-Ballot’s Law

–      explains the method of estimating the strength of the wind from the appearance of the sea

       surface, using the Beaufort wind scale

–      lists the factors, other than the wind speed, which affect the appearance of the sea surface

–      explains three differences between apparent and true wind determines the true wind velocity 

       by using a vector diagram, given the apparent wind and the ship’s course and speed

–      describes the method of estimating the wind direction from the appearance of the sea surface

–      demonstrates the use of a geostrophic wind scale

 

MODULE V

      Cloud and precipitation                                                                                                                         4 hours

–     states that clouds form when air containing water vapour rises, cools adiabatically and becomes 

       saturated

–     describes the need for and defines condensation nuclei

–     states that a cloud can consist of ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, water droplets or any   

       combination of these

–     lists and describes the ten basic cloud types

–     describes the probable base heights of the ten principal cloud types

–     defines ‘precipitation’ defines ‘rain’, ‘drizzle’, ‘hail’, ‘snow’ and ‘sleet’

 

MODULE VI

Visibility                                                                                                                                                      4 hours

–     states that visibility is reduced by the presence of particles in the atmosphere, near the earth’s 

       surface

–     defines ‘fog’, ‘mist’, ‘haze’

–     applies the concept of processes leading to supersaturation to a classification of fogs as mixing,  

       cooling or evaporation fogs

–     explains qualitatively the formation of radiation fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for  

       its dispersal

–     describes the effect of pollution on the formation of radiation fog

–     explains qualitatively the formation of advection fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for

       dispersal

–     explains qualitatively the conditions leading to the formation of sea smoke, and typical areas

       where sea smoke may be encountered

–     describes methods of estimating the visibility at sea, by day and by night, and the difficulties  

       involved

MODULE VII

The wind and pressure systems over the oceans                                                                        8 hours

–     explains qualitatively, with the aid of sketches, the circulation cells which would exist on a rotating earth, not inclined to its orbit of rotation around the sun, and with a homogeneous surface

–     draws the mean surface pressure and wind distribution over the earth’s surface in January and July

–     describes the characteristics and location of the doldrums, intertropical convergence zone, trade winds, subtropical oceanic highs, westerlies and polar easterlies

–     describes a monsoon regime

–     lists the areas which experience a true monsoon regime

–     applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the causes of monsoon regimes

–     applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the weather associated with the  

      January and July monsoons of the Indian Ocean, China Sea, north coast of Australia, west coast  

      of Africa and the north-east coast of Brazil

• applies the concept of horizontal temperature differences to a qualitative explanation of the

      formation of land and sea breezes

–     explains the formation of anabatic and katabatic winds

–     lists the regions of occurrence of anabatic and katabatic winds

–     provides examples of local winds

 

MODULE VIII

        Structure of depressions                                                                                                                       10 hours

–     defines ‘air mass’

–     explains the formation of an air mass

–     defines ‘source region’

–     explains the characteristics required of a source region

–     describes the source region characteristics of arctic, polar, tropical and equatorial air-mass types

–     defines ‘warm front’, ‘cold front’

–     knows the symbols for warm and cold fronts and identifies them on a weather map

–     describes, with the aid of a diagram, the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized

       warm front

–     describes, with the aid of a diagram, the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized

       cold front

–     defines ‘depression’

–     identifies a depression on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

–     describes the stages in the lifecycle of a polar front depression

–     describes a family of depressions

–     draws a diagram of a polar front depression, for both northern and southern hemispheres,

       showing isobars, warm and cold fronts, wind circulation and warm sector

–     draws a cross-section through a polar front depression, on the poleward and equatorial side of  

       the centre, showing fronts, cloud and precipitation areas

–     describes the usual movement of a polar front depression

–     applies previous concepts to an explanation of the weather changes experienced when a frontal   

       depression passes with its centre on the poleward side of an observer in the northern  

       hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere

–     describes the process leading to the occlusion of a polar front depression

–     identifies a trough of low pressure on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

–     describes the weather associated with the passage of a trough

 

MODULE IX

Anticyclones and other pressure systems                                                                     6 hours

–     defines ‘anticyclone’

–     draws a synoptic pattern of an anticyclone, for both northern and southern hemispheres,

       showing isobars and wind circulation

–     identifies an anticyclone on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

–     describes the weather associated with anticyclones

–     describes a ridge of high pressure

–     draws a synoptic pattern for a ridge, showing isobars and wind directions

–     describes a typical weather sequence during the passage of a ridge between depressions across    

       the observer’s position

• describes a col or a void between a convergence of pressure systems

–     draws a synoptic pattern for a col or a void between a convergence of pressure systems, showing isobars and wind directions

–     describes the weather associated with a col or a void between a convergence of pressure

       systems

–     identifies ridges and cols or voids between the convergence of pressure systems on a surface

        synoptic or prognostic chart

 

MODULE X

Weather services for shipping                                                                                                           5 hours

–     describes the organization, functions and objectives of the World Meteorological Organization

–     describes the sources of weather information available to shipping including internet and email

–     describes the information flow between merchant ships and Meteorological Offices

–     describes the services provided for shipping by Meteorological Offices

–     describes the appropriate weather bulletin and the contents of each of its sections

–     describes the types of information received by facsimile machine

–     describes the services provided for storm warnings

 

MODULE XI

Recording and reporting weather observations                                                                        6 hours

–     explains the need for meteorological codes

–     uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to code a ship’s full report

–     uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to decode a reduced report from a shore station

–     uses Beaufort letter abbreviations for present and past weather and total cloud amount

–     interprets a ship or shore station plot

 

MODULE XII

Application of meteorological information                                                                                                10 hours

–     applies previous concepts to the interpretation of symbols and isobaric patterns on weather charts and facsimile charts

 

 

 

–     applies previous concepts to the interpretation of synoptic and prognostic charts to ascertain 

       wind directions, areas of strong winds, cloud and precipitation areas, fog areas, ice, and areas of 

       fine weather

–     explains how weather observations at a ship can be used to improve the forecast derived from 

        synoptic and prognostic charts

• evaluates the weather forecast information received

 

TEXT BOOKS:

 

1. Capt.H.Subramaniam , “Marine Meteorology”, Vijaya Publications

 

 

REFERENCE BOOKS:

 

1. “Meteorology for Mariners”, HMSI, London, HMSO
2. “Marine Observer’s”,HMSO, London Academic press
3. “Elementary Meteorology”, HMSO, London, HMSO
4. R. Holoton ,“An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology”, Academic Press
5. B, “Introduction to Meteorology”, MC Graw Hill
6. University Handout

 

Session plan:

 

 

Session 1

describes the basic principle of an aneroid barometer

reads the atmospheric pressure from an ordinary aneroid barometer and precision aneroid  

barometer if available

 

Session 2

reads the temperature from a thermometer

describes the function of a hygrometer

 

 

 

 

 

Session 3

describes the composition of the earth’s atmosphere, mentioning dry air and its constituents, water vapour and aerosols

draws a typical vertical temperature profile through the lower 100 km of the earth’s atmosphere

       defines ‘troposphere’, ‘tropopause’, ‘stratosphere’, ‘stratopause’, ‘mesosphere’, ‘mesopause’  

       and ‘thermosphere’ describes the main features of the troposphere

 

session 4

explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the sun’s declination

describes the importance of the sun as the principal energy source for atmospheric processes

       describes the nature of solar radiation (scattering, reflection and absorption)

        explains the effect on insolation of a variation in latitude

 

 

Session 5

explains the effect on insolation of a variation in latitude

explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the sun’s declination

explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the length of daylight     

 

 

Session 6

        defines ‘water vapour’

        describes the properties of water vapour in the atmosphere

        defines ‘evaporation’, ‘condensation’, ‘latent heat of vaporization’

        defines ‘saturated air’

        describes the processes of mixing, cooling and the evaporation of water vapour, by which a  

       sample of air may be brought to saturation

        defines ‘dewpoint’, ‘absolute humidity’, ‘relative humidity’, ‘vapour pressure’

 

Session 7

states that pressure equals force per unit area

states that the atmosphere exerts a pressure on any surface placed within it

states that the atmospheric pressure on a unit area of a surface is equal to the weight of the “air column” extending from that surface to the outer fringes of the atmosphere

 

 

Session 8

states that atmospheric pressure decreases with height above sea level

states that atmospheric pressure acts in all directions

states that the basic unit of pressure is N/m2

states that 1 millibar = 10-3 bar = 102 N/m2

states that the atmospheric pressure at sea level normally varies between about 940 mbar and 1050 mbar

states that the average pressure at sea level is 1013.2 mbar

states that the surface pressure rises if air is added to the ‘column’ above the surface, and vice versa

     defines ‘isobar’

 

 

Session 9

        defines ‘wind’

        describes the Beaufort scale of wind force

explains qualitatively the pressure gradient force

 

 

Session 10

. explains qualitatively the Coriolis (geostrophic) force

 

Session 11

explains the surface wind circulation around high- and low-pressure centres

inserts surface wind directions on a map showing pressure distribution and indicates relative     

       wind speeds at various places within the pressure field

 

 

 

Session 12

explains Buys-Ballot’s Law

 

Session 13

explains the method of estimating the strength of the wind from the appearance of the sea

       surface, using the Beaufort wind scale

        lists the factors, other than the wind speed, which affect the appearance of the sea surface

 

 

Session 14

explains three differences between apparent and true wind determines the true wind velocity 

       by using a vector diagram, given the apparent wind and the ship’s course and speed

       

Session 15

describes the method of estimating the wind direction from the appearance of the sea surface

demonstrates the use of a geostrophic wind scale

Session 16

states that clouds form when air containing water vapour rises, cools adiabatically and becomes 

       saturated

       

Session 17

describes the need for and defines condensation nuclei

        states that a cloud can consist of ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, water droplets or any   

       combination of these

       

Session 18

lists and describes the ten basic cloud types

describes the probable base heights of the ten principal cloud types

Session 19

defines ‘precipitation’ defines ‘rain’, ‘drizzle’, ‘hail’, ‘snow’ and ‘sleet’

Session 20

     states that visibility is reduced by the presence of particles in the atmosphere, near the earth’s 

       surface

        defines ‘fog’, ‘mist’, ‘haze’

Session 21

applies the concept of processes leading to supersaturation to a classification of fogs as mixing,  

       cooling or evaporation fogs

Session 22

        explains qualitatively the formation of radiation fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for  

       its dispersal

Session 23

describes the effect of pollution on the formation of radiation fog

        explains qualitatively the formation of advection fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for

       dispersal

Session 24

explains qualitatively the conditions leading to the formation of sea smoke, and typical areas

       where sea smoke may be encountered

Session 25

        describes methods of estimating the visibility at sea, by day and by night, and the difficulties  

       involved

 

Session 26

explains qualitatively, with the aid of sketches, the circulation cells which would exist on a rotating earth, not inclined to its orbit of rotation around the sun, and with a homogeneous surface

Session 27

draws the mean surface pressure and wind distribution over the earth’s surface in January and July

        describes the characteristics and location of the doldrums, intertropical convergence zone, trade winds, subtropical oceanic highs, westerlies and polar easterlies

 

Session 28

        describes a monsoon regime

        lists the areas which experience a true monsoon regime

        applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the causes of monsoon regimes

 

Session 29

applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the weather associated with the  

      January and July monsoons of the Indian Ocean, China Sea, north coast of Australia, west coast  

      of Africa and the north-east coast of Brazil

 

Session 30

applies the concept of horizontal temperature differences to a qualitative explanation of the   

      formation of land and sea breezes

       

Session 31

explains the formation of anabatic and katabatic winds

        lists the regions of occurrence of anabatic and katabatic winds

        provides examples of local winds

 

Session 32

defines ‘air mass’

        explains the formation of an air mass

        defines ‘source region’

 

 

 

 

Session 33

explains the characteristics required of a source region

describes the source region characteristics of arctic, polar, tropical and equatorial air-mass types

       

Session 34

defines ‘warm front’, ‘cold front’

        knows the symbols for warm and cold fronts and identifies them on a weather map

        describes, with the aid of a diagram, the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized

       warm front

describes, with the aid of a diagram, the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized

       cold front

 

Session 35

defines ‘depression’

        identifies a depression on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

                describes the stages in the lifecycle of a polar front depression

        describes a family of depressions

 

Session 36

draws a diagram of a polar front depression, for both northern and southern hemispheres,

       showing isobars, warm and cold fronts, wind circulation and warm sector

        draws a cross-section through a polar front depression, on the poleward and equatorial side of   the centre, showing fronts, cloud and precipitation areas

        describes the usual movement of a polar front depression

        applies previous concepts to an explanation of the weather changes experienced when a frontal   

       depression passes with its centre on the poleward side of an observer in the northern  

       hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere

Session 37

describes the process leading to the occlusion of a polar front depression

        identifies a trough of low pressure on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

        describes the weather associated with the passage of a trough

 

Session 38

defines ‘anticyclone’

        draws a synoptic pattern of an anticyclone, for both northern and southern hemispheres,

       showing isobars and wind circulation

 

 

Session 39

identifies an anticyclone on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart

        describes the weather associated with anticyclones

describes a ridge of high pressure

 

       

Session 40

        draws a synoptic pattern for a ridge, showing isobars and wind directions

       

 

Session 41

describes a typical weather sequence during the passage of a ridge between depressions across    

       the observer’s position

 

 

 

Session 42

describes a col or a void between a convergence of pressure systems

        draws a synoptic pattern for a col or a void between a convergence of pressure systems, showing isobars and wind directions

Session 43

        describes the weather associated with a col or a void between a convergence of pressure

       systems

 

Session 44

identifies ridges and cols or voids between the convergence of pressure systems on a surface

        synoptic or prognostic chart

 

Session 45

describes the organization, functions and objectives of the World Meteorological Organization

       

 

Session 46

describes the sources of weather information available to shipping including internet and email

 

 

 

Session 47

describes the information flow between merchant ships and Meteorological Offices

 

Session 48

        describes the services provided for shipping by Meteorological Offices

        describes the appropriate weather bulletin and the contents of each of its sections

       

 

Session 49

describes the types of information received by facsimile machine

        describes the services provided for storm warnings

 

Session 50

        explains the need for meteorological codes

       

Session 51

uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to code a ship’s full report

       

Session 52

uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to code a ship’s full report

 

Session 53

uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to code a ship’s full report

 

Session 54

uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to decode a reduced report from a shore station

 

Session 55

uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to decode a reduced report from a shore station

 

Session 56

uses Beaufort letter abbreviations for present and past weather and total cloud amount

        interprets a ship or shore station plot

 

 

Session 57

applies previous concepts to the interpretation of symbols and isobaric patterns on weather charts and facsimile charts

 

Session 58

applies previous concepts to the interpretation of synoptic and prognostic charts to ascertain 

       wind directions, areas of strong winds, cloud and precipitation areas, fog areas, ice, and areas of 

       fine weather

 

Session 59

        explains how weather observations at a ship can be used to improve the forecast derived from 

        synoptic and prognostic charts

evaluates the weather forecast information received

 

Session 60

     Revision of subject