Define the following: Air masses y A large body of air of relatively similar temperature and humidity characteristic covering

thousand of square kilometers.

Source Region y y Area of formation of air masses. A source region can have one of four temperature attributes that is equatorial, tropical, polar, or arctic. Air Mass Tropical Maritime (mT) Tropical Continental (cT) Polar Maritime (mP) Polar Continental (cP) Arctic (A) Source Region The Southern Atlantic, south west of Britain Southern Europe, North of Africa including the Sahara Desert The North Atlantic Ocean Northern Europe And Siberia The Arctic Ocean Weather Warm & wet Warm & Dry Cold & Wet Cold & Dry Very cold but not very wet due to low humidity

Warm front The edge of an advancing warm air mass is called warm front warmer air is overtaking and replacing colder air.

Cold front The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass is called a cold front.

Occluded front A faster moving cold front catches and overtakes a slower moving warm front, when both occlude, it result occluded front.

Weather associated with Warm Front Weather Phenomenon Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Winds Precipitation Clouds Prior to the passing of the front Cool Decreasing Steadily South to southeast Showers, snow ,sleet of drizzle Cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, nimbostratus, and then stratus Contact with the front Warming suddenly Leveling off Variable Light drizzle Stratus, sometimes cumulonimbus After the passing of the Front Warmer then leveling off Slight rise followed by a decrease South to southwest None Clearing with scattered stratus, sometimes scattered cumulonimbus

Weather associated with Cold Front Weather Phenomenon Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Winds Precipitation Clouds Prior to the passing of the front Warm Decreasing Steadily South to southeast Showers Cirrus and cirrostratus, changing later to cumulus and cumulonimbus Contact with the front Cooling suddenly Leveling off then increasing Variable and gusty Heavy rain or snow, hail sometimes Cumulus and cumulonimbus After the passing of the Front Cold and getting colder Increasing steadily West to northwest Showers then clearing Cumulus

Secondary Depression y y y y Usually found on the cold front between the point where the warm and cold fronts are occluded and the point where the front runs parallel to the isobars. Moves around the primary (the original depression) in an anti-clockwise direction and tends to deepens as the primary fills. Phenomena associated with secondary are often more violent than those around the primary. The central pressure value of secondary depression is greater than the primary.

Life cycle of occluded front

Anti-Cyclone & pressure system Anti-cyclone are area of high pressure. In the northern hemisphere, the wind blows clockwise around the centre of the high. The isobars are widely spread so the wind blows more slightly slowly than in a low. Highs also bring more settled weather, clearer skies and in summer, sunny warm days. Winter high pressure system bring the same calm condition but this often leads to frosts as there are few clouds to trap the heat at night. High pressure in winter can also produce fog - this and the freezing temperature can make driving hazardous. High tends to stay around for longer than lows and this means that the weather can be unchanged for a week or more.

Weather associated with anticyclone a) Summer Warm anticyclone high temperature, result of haze Coastal area sea breeze develops Overnight formation of dew, radiation fog Sunrise mist or fog disperses

b) Winter During day clear skies, low temperature Overnight air temperature often decreases below freezing point, condensation occurs.

COLs y y If there are two anticyclones and two depressions arrange alternately, a feature exists between them termed a COL. Point of relatively lowest pressure between two highs and the point of relatively highest pressure between lows.

Weather associate with COL y y y y Within the col, pressure gradient is slack, the winds light and variable. Depend upon the effect of the underlying surface on the air mass above. Thunderstorm if instability, but with stability, radiation fog may develop or advection fog where warm air passes over the colder surface. During winter, Cols are relatively short lived due to the rapid movement of depression which surrounds them.

Ridges of high Pressure y y Elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough. Direct extension of a large anticyclone and produces typical anticyclone weather.

Weather associated (similar to the weather associated to anticyclone) a) Summer Warm anticyclone high temperature, result of haze Coastal area sea breeze develops Overnight formation of dew, radiation fog Sunrise mist or fog disperses

b) Winter During day clear skies, low temperature Overnight air temperature often decreases below freezing point, condensation occurs.

Trough of low pressure Elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with front.

Weather Bulletins and the contents of each section Storm warnings y Sea areas affected identified, forecast wind condition and the location, movement development or decay of the related pressure centre.

Synopsis y Identifies the major pressure systems, their movement, development or decay.

Forecast y The statement includes anticipated wind, visibility, weather and wave conditions.

Analysis or prognosis y Detail of type and location of pressure centre, central pressure values, type and location of fronts, and position of selected isobars.

Sea station report y Synoptic reports from vessels in a reduced code format.

Land station report y Synoptic reports from coastal land stations in a reduce code format.

Services provided for shipping by meteorological officers Issue of storm warnings and routine weather bulletins for shipping transmitted directly to vessels at sea via high frequency (HF) broadcast. Provision of port meteorological services Collection and exchange of ships weather report relayed via Inmarsat from ships. Provision of meteorological services for maritime search and rescue operation including oil spills incidents. Additional services: Weather and sea condition surveillance and issuance of storm warnings and advisories for shipping. Forecast for sea navigation, offshore drilling and mining operation, cable and pipe laying, and the towing of vessels and platforms. Weather watch and forecast in and around harbor areas such as cargo handling, barge loading and navigation areas. Assessment of weather condition for purposes of marine accidents investigations and insurance claims. Provision of climatological and historical weather and oceanic data for studies, site assessment and planning.

Sources of weather information Navtext continuous however available only in coastal area not for ocean passages. VHF port information. Weather FAX all over the world Immarsat C same broadcast as Navtext but for coverage area of Immarsat High Frequency (HF) broadcast ocean passages.