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NAU 102
Lesson 32
 Weather Instruments

Weather has a significant impact on

every voyage.

The safety of crew, passengers, cargo

and the ship itself is dependent on
making good weather decisions.
 Weather Instruments

We are our own weather station at sea.

We must develop an accurate
forecast using data received from
shore and that we collect ourselves.
You’ll learn how to make a forecast
in Meteorology.
 Duties of the Mate

At all times, be knowledgeable of the

current weather.
•Wind direction and speed
•Wave direction and height
•Visibility
•Trend of the barometer
 Duties of the Mate

At all times, be knowledgeable of the

weather forecast.
•Obtain 24 hour forecast from
weather fax, messages, etc.
•Interpret the forecast for your area.
•When necessary, make your own
forecast.
 Weather Instruments

Meteorological data is collected by:

Satellites Buoys

Ships (that’s you)

 Duties of the Mate

Conduct marine surface weather

observations.
•Make observations
•Log observations
•Transmit observations to National
Weather Service
 Duties of the Mate

Conduct marine surface weather

observations.
Voluntary program
7000+ ships worldwide (600 US)
4 times each day
0000, 0600, 1200, 1800 GMT
 Weather Observations

Data is collected and

formatted in
accordance with the
Marine Observer’s
Handbook.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om
/marine/handbk1.pdf
 Weather Instruments

Aneroid Barometer
Measures atmospheric pressure.

Air pressure exerts a crushing force

on a thin metal element.
Linkages move to a pointer to
indicate the pressure on a scale.
Aneroid Barometer
 Aneroid Barometer

Must be properly adjusted.

(Usually done by a professional, often for free.)

Reading must be adjusted for elevation

to give pressure at sea level.
(Note: Mercurial Barometers must also be
corrected for latitude and temperature.)
Barometers
Weather Instruments

Barograph
A recording
barometer.
 Weather Instruments

Thermometer
Measures air
temperature.
You must be able to
convert between
Celsius and
Fahrenheit scales.
Temperature Conversions
Temperature Conversions
 Weather Instruments

Hygrometer

Measures Relative Humidity and

Dew Point.
 Weather Instruments

Relative Humidity – ratio of amount

of water vapor in the air to the
amount it could hold at the current
temperature.

Dew Point – the temperature at

which water vapor will condense.
Weather Instruments

Hygrometer

Most common type: sling

psychrometer.
Sling Psychrometer
Two Thermometers: 1 wet, 1 dry
Temperature difference is noted.
Sling Psychrometer
Psychrometer
Introduction to Navigation

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