Modern Marine Weather: From Time-honored Traditional Knowledge to the Latest Technology

by David Burch, Tobias Burch (Designed by)

Overview

A comprehensive text on how to take weather into account for the planning and navigation of voyages, local or global, using the latest technologies as well as the time-honored skills of maritime tradition, so that your time on the water remains as safe and efficient as possible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780914025641
Publisher:	Starpath Publications
Publication date:	03/30/2018
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

David Burch is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation in London as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Navigation in Washington, DC, from which he received the Superior Achievement Award for outstanding performance as a practicing navigator. He has logged more than 70,000 miles at sea, including twelve transoceanic yacht races, with several first place victories and a passage record for boats under 36 feet that lasted 16 years. He also navigated the only American entry in the storm-ridden 1993 Sydney to Hobart Race. On the academic side, he is a former Fulbright Scholar with a PhD in physics. As Founding Director of Starpath School of Navigation in Seattle he has designed courses and taken part in the teaching of marine weather and navigation for more than 30 years. He continues to work on the development of online training materials, which are presented at starpath.com. Articles on special topics in navigation and weather appear at starpath.com/articles.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Prefaces

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Lee Chesneau

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.2 Role of Marine Weather

1.3 Elements of Marine Weather

1.4 Terminology and Glossaries

1.5 Wind Terms and Symbols

1.6 Quick Look at Resources

1.7 Units and Time Conversions

2. Pressure and Wind

2.1 What Makes the Wind

2.2 Pressure and Barometers

2.3 Properties of Highs and Lows

2.4 Figuring Winds from Isobars

2.5 Apparent Wind to True Wind

2.6 Getting Started on GRIB Forecasts

3. Global Winds and Currents

3.1 Warm Air Rises

3.2 Hadley Cells and Global Winds

3.3 Winds Aloft

3.4 The Atmosphere, Air Masses, and Stability

3.5 Water—Fuel of the Atmosphere

3.6 Primary Ocean Currents

3.7 Ocean Current Models

4. Strong Wind Systems

4.1 Introduction to Strong Wind

4.2 Satellite Winds

4.3 Fronts and Low Formation

4.4 Types of Lows

4.5 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

4.6 Squalls

4.7 Sides of a Tropical Storm

4.8 Storm Avoidance Maneuvering

5. Clouds, Fog, and Sea State

5.1 Cloud Notes for Mariners

5.2 Sample Cloud Pictures

5.3 Fog

5.4 Wave Notes of Mariners

6. Wind and Terrain

6.1 The Varied Effects of Land on Wind

6.2 Isobars Crossing Channels

6.3 Wind Forecasts Near Land

7. Working With Weather Maps

7.1 Overview of Weather Maps

7.2 Using Weather Maps

7.3 Practice Reading Weather Maps

7.4 Georeferencing Image Files

7.5 Global and Regional Models

7.6 Use of 500-mb Map

7.7 Ship Reports

8. Sources of Weather Data

8.1 Overview 240

8.2 Climatic Sources for Voyage Planning

8.3 Weather by Email

8.4 Real Time Obvservations

8.5 Weather Communications at Sea

8.6 Zone Forecasts by Email

8.7 Miscellaneous Sources

9. On-board Forecasting and Tactics

9.1 Instruments and Logbook Procedures

9.2 Onboard Forecasting

9.3 Onboard Forecasting of Tropical Storms

9.4 Old Sayings Explained

9.5 Mariner's Checklist

10. Special Topics

10.1 Southern Hemisphere Weather

10.2 Monsoons

10.3 Blocking Highs

10.4 Sailing Routes to Hawaii

10.5 Chen-Chesneau 500-mb Routing Zones

10.6 Modern Pilot Chart Data

10.7 Optimum Sailboat Routing

Appendix

A1 Abbreviations

A2 Standard Atmosphere

A3 Sea State Definitions

A4 Historical Notes on Barometers

A5 Baro Calibration

A6 Global Air Masses

A7 Notes on Rain

A8 National Blend of Models

A9 Nuances of True Wind

A10 Hurricane Profiles

A11 Present Weather Symbols

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"A thoughtfully and masterfully crafted work. It will be my prime recommendation of a book focusing specifically on the application of weather information and knowledge for maritime interests, whatever the size and purpose of the vessel. David thoroughly explores the essentials of meteorology, and does so in a fascinating manner. Reading and absorbing these principles and applications will lead to safer, faster and more efficient passages."--Jeff Renner, Meteorologist, King 5 TV, Seattle, WA

"I have chosen this book as the definitive text for the wardroom of my U.S. Navy Destroyer. Superior explanations that are as useful for the professional naval officer as they are for the coastal pleasure cruiser or blue water sailor. Consistent with all of David Burch's texts: Easy to read, fascinating, and the absolute best resource." --CDR Tate Westbrook, CO USS Spruance (DDG111)

"First class reference book on the subject of marine weather and the information it contains will help every sailor, every day!" -- Peter Isler, two-time America's Cup winning navigator

"An essential reference for the coastal and offshore sailor. It goes far beyond the traditional marine weather books. ...an excellent job of laying proper foundations for understanding marine weather, and bringing clarity to a complex topic." --Jim Corenman, developer of Saildocs and SailMail

"The definitive text for those wanting to learn more about marine meteorology. ...David Burch should be applauded for this beautiful piece of work." --Kenn Batt, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney to Hobart Race weather briefer

"An instant classic. If you own one book about weather this is it. If you want to make your own intelligent forecast and pick-up local knowledge like a local, you will find all the information in this most excellent book." --Philippe Kahn, CEO, FullPower Technologies, Doublehanded Transpacific record holder

"A new and truly extraordinary treatise on an age old subject. Principles and scientific conclusions expertly revealed in layman's terms." --Roger Jones, Director, The Navigation Foundation

"...points out where to find the best stuff quickly, how to read weather maps, digest storms warnings, read clouds, interpret GRIB data and satellite winds to win yacht comfortably across an ocean." -Bob McDavitt, New Zealand MetService

From the Publisher