Chapter1 Flashcards
Marine meteorology is
the study of weather that affects large bodies of water including lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Marine meteorology is the study of weather that affects large bodies of water including lakes, rivers, and oceans. While the science behind the forecasts may be daunting to some, having a basic understanding of marine meteorology is extremely useful when it comes to
recognizing when and where hazardous weather might occur.
Maritime meteorology deals with
air and wave forecasts for ships operating at sea
prepare high seas forecasts for the world’s oceans
the Ocean Prediction Center, Honolulu National Weather Service forecast office, United Kingdom Met Office, and JMA
The ocean and marine environment under their country’s jurisdiction may be a large part of many
Members’ area of responsibility
Marine conditions significantly influence
the weather, affecting safety of life, economic development and management of important coastal resources
NMSs have a public responsibility to
protect their populace from weather and weather-related events that develop or intensify in oceans (non-national territories) and, for many Services, this aspect of a national marine weather programme is often funded from public revenues, as are forecast and warning services for fishermen and small craft.
…………………………………………………………………… can improve marine forecasts and warnings
For maritime and island countries, the equipping of ships for weather observations and the support of drifting or fixed-buoy observations
Where tide gauges have been installed, these and related meteorological observations should be provided to
NMS
and the support of drifting or fixed-buoy observations can improve marine forecasts and warnings. Where tide gauges have been installed, these and related meteorological observations should be provided to the NMS. On the other hand
support to marine transportation and offshore resource industries (e.g. oil, gas, etc.) may be funded through cost recovery or provided as a commercial service by the NMS or the private sector.
The applicable programme within WMO is the
Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP)
The applicable programme within WMO is the Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP), and the relevant part is the
Marine Meteorology Services Area
The applicable programme within WMO is the Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP), and the relevant part is the Marine Meteorology Services Area. This deals with
the provision of marine meteorological and oceanographic services around the globe and, consequently, facilitates and supports the delivery of the most visible outputs of the world’s marine meteorological and oceanographic organizations.
This deals with the provision of marine meteorological and oceanographic services around the globe and, consequently, facilitates and supports the delivery of the most visible outputs of the world’s marine meteorological and oceanographic organizations. These include
forecasting and warning of gales, storms, severe tropical weather systems such as tropical cyclones/typhoons/hurricanes and other marine and coastal hazards.
Marine services and products are disseminated through
the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) in response to requirements established under SOLAS and has a total of 21 METAREAs
Salinity
Annual mean sea surface salinity expressed in
the Practical Salinity Scale for the World Ocean.
Although the vast majority of seawater has a salinity of
between 3.1% and 3.8%
Although the vast majority of seawater has a salinity of between 3.1% and 3.8%, seawater is
not uniformly saline throughout the world
seawater is not uniformly saline throughout the world. Where mixing occurs with
fresh water runoff from river mouths or near melting glaciers, seawater can be substantially less saline.
The most saline open sea is
is the Red Sea, where high rates of evaporation, low precipitation and river inflow, and confined circulation result in unusually salty water.
The salinity in isolated bodies of water (for example,…………………….) can be considerably …………………..
the Dead Sea
greater still
The density of surface seawater ranges from
about 1020 to 1029 kg/m3
The density of surface seawater ranges from about 1020 to 1029 kg/m3, depending on
the temperature and salinity
Deep in the ocean, under high pressure, seawater can reach a density
of 1050 kg/m3 or higher
……………………………………………..can reach a density of 1050 kg/m3 or higher
Deep in the ocean, under high pressure, seawater
Seawater pH is limited to the range
7.5 to 8.4
The speed of sound in seawater is about
1,500 m/s, and varies with water temperature, salinity, and pressure.
Sea surface temperature (SST)
is the water temperature close to the ocean’s surface.
Sea surface temperature (SST) is the water temperature close to the ocean’s surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to
the measurement method used, but it is between 1 millimetre (0.04 in) and 20 metres (70 ft) below the sea surface.
Air masses in the Earth’s atmosphere are
highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a short distance of the shore
Localized areas of heavy snow can form in
in bands downwind of warm water bodies within an otherwise cold air mass.
Warm sea surface temperatures are known to be a cause of
tropical cyclogenesis over the Earth’s oceans
Tropical cyclones can also cause
a cool wake, due to turbulent mixing of the upper 30 metres (100 ft) of the ocean.
SST changes
diurnally
SST changes diurnally, like
the air above it, but to a lesser degree
There is less SST variation on
breezy days than on calm days
There is less SST variation on breezy days than on calm days. In addition, ocean currents such as the ………………………………………………. can effect ………………………………..
Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), can effect SST’s on multi-decadal time scales
In addition, ocean currents such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), can effect SST’s on multi-decadal time scales,[1] a major impact results from the
global thermohaline circulation
In addition, ocean currents such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), can effect SST’s on multi-decadal time scales,[1] a major impact results from the global thermohaline circulation, which affects
average SST significantly throughout most of the world’s oceans
Coastal SSTs can cause
offshore winds to generate upwelling, which can significantly cool or warm nearby landmasses, but shallower waters over a continental shelf are often warmer.
Onshore winds can cause
a considerable warm-up even in areas where upwelling is fairly constant, such as the northwest coast of South America.
Onshore winds can cause a considerable warm-up even in areas where upwelling is fairly constant, such as the northwest coast of South America. Its values are important within
numerical weather prediction as the SST influences the atmosphere above, such as in the formation of sea breezes and sea fog. It is also used to calibrate measurements from weather satellites.
a sea state is the
general condition of the free surface on a large body of water—with respect to wind waves and swell—at a certain location and moment.
Wave height of a surface wave is
the difference between the elevations of a crest and a neighbouring trough.
We divide the global ocean into regions:
Oceans
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian. We often call the region south of about 40°S or 30°S the “Southern Ocean”.
We divide the global ocean into regions:
Oceans - Atlantic, Pacific, Indian. We often call the region south of about 40°S or 30°S the “Southern Ocean”.:
- Mediterranean seas - Mediterranean, Arctic, Baltic, Gulf of Mexico, Red Sea, Persian Gulf.
- Marginal seas - many. e.g. Bering Sea, Weddell, South China, Caribbean, Norwegian, Andaman, Arabian.
- Open seas (different properties) - e.g. Sargasso.
- North/South basins - e.g. North Pacific, South Atlantic (because of dynamical divide of equator)
