GEOGRAPHICAL

NOMINAL / LUMINOUS
RANGES OF LIGHTS

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Geographical Range
A light is said to be “raised” when the light is
first sighted on the bridge of the ship just
above the horizon.
Similarly a light is “dipped” when the light is
seen for the last time before it dips below
the horizon.
Hence “dipping or rising” distance will be the
maximum range of that particular light.
The Geographical range of the light depends
upon the following
1. Height of lighthouse above the sea level
2. Height of observer.

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Geographical Range
• The distance of visible horizon due to the height of light is FIXED, while the
observer’s distance of visible horizon changes because the height of eye is NOT
CONSTANT. (It depends upon ship’s draft.)
• The distance of the visible horizon will depend on the height of the observer’s eye
and also the height of the light house. It may be calculated as follows:
• If the ht of object & the ht of eye is given in FEET then:
• Dist (d) of horizon = 1.15√h + 1.15√h (where ‘h’ is the height of object and height of
eye in feet & 1.15 is a constant used)
• If the ht of object & the ht of eye is given in METERS then:
• Dist (d) of horizon = 2.08√h + 2.08√h (where ‘h’ is the height of object and height of
eye in meters & 2.08 is a constant)
• NOTE: the two ranges i.e. for object & for height of eye are calculated separately
and then added together. 3
Geographical Range
• The Rising & Dipping ranges calculated in this manner are called
Geographical ranges and these are theoretical ranges only.
• The light will be seen at the rising or dipping range only if the
luminosity of the light is sufficient for the range calculated.
• The list of lights now show Nominal/Luminous ranges of the lights
which depend upon the candle power of the light.
• Geographical range is a theoretical range but the luminosity of the
light & visibility conditions at the prevailing time are other important
factors which are ignored while calculating geographical range hence
geographical range of light is not accurate.
• The list of lights now show nominal/luminous ranges of lights.
Admiralty charts also show nominal ranges of the lights which
depends upon the candle power of the light. 4
Luminous Range
• Luminous Range of a light is the range of the light as determined by
the luminosity (candle power) of the light and the meteorological
visibility prevailing at that time. The elevation of the light and the
height of eye is ignored.
• Nominal range of the light is given in Admiralty charts now-a-days but
the charts printed before 1972 have the Geographical range printed.
• NOMINAL RANGE of the light is the Luminous range when the
meteorological visibility is 10 miles.
• List of countries following Nominal Range is given in the Admiralty
Lists of Lights.
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Luminous Range Diagram
• This diagram enables the mariner to determine the range at which a
light may be ‘First sighted’ or ‘Last sighted’ at night in the prevailing
visibility conditions.
• The diagram is entered from the top border, using Nominal Range given
on the chart or in Adm. list of lights.
• The figures along the curves represent estimated meteorological
visibility at the time of observation and
• Those along the left hand border give the luminous range under those
conditions.
• NOTE: The light is said to be ‘Raised’ or ‘Dipped’ when Geographical
range is used and the words ‘First sighted’ or ‘Last sighted’ are used
when Luminous range is used
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Luminous Range diagramme

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Charts printed before 1972
• The BA charts printed before 1972 have geographical range printed on
them. The geographical range of visibility of lights shown on the
charts is calculated for a height of the observer’s eye of 4.57m (15 ft).
• The light will be visible at the range of the light shown on the chart,
provided it is a dark night with clear atmosphere, under normal
conditions of refractions.
• For example if the range of a light is shown on the chart is 20 miles,
then the light will be raised or dipped at 20 miles, provided the
observer’s height of eye is 4.57 meters (15 feet)

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How to calculate raising and dipping distance
if chart is printed before 1972.
• Since the height of the light house is given on the chart, the sea
horizon for the same is obtained straightaway from the tables and
then visible sea horizon for the height of eye is allowed.
• When calculating the raising or dipping distance of the light, whose
visibility is taken from the chart, the given range should first be
reduced to sea level by subtracting the range of visible horizon of eye
4.57 meters (15 feet) i.e. 4.45 miles and then add the distance of
visible horizon for the height eye of the observer.

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Cautions When Using Luminous/Geographical Range of
Lights For Fixing Ship’s Position
• The ranges obtained are approximate.
• The transparency of atmosphere is not necessarily consistent between the observer
and the light.
• Glare from the background lights will considerably reduce the range at which the
lights will be sighted.
• The distance of an observer cannot be estimated from its apparent brightness.
• The distance at which lights are sighted varies greatly with atmospheric conditions
& the distance may be increased by abnormal atmospheric refraction.
• When ice conditions are prevalent, the window glass of the light may be covered by
frost or ice which may greatly reduce the sighting range.
• Lights placed at great elevation may be obscured by clouds than those near the sea
level. 10