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Lecture - Routeing Charts

The document describes what a routeing chart is and the types of climatic and navigational data included. A routeing chart summarizes possible weather conditions for a specific ocean route in a given month based on observations over 30 years. It illustrates data like winds, air pressure, ocean currents, fog and visibility, temperatures, and storm tracks. The charts must be interpreted based on general circulation patterns to understand the most probable weather systems and wind speeds in different areas along the route. Caution is advised as actual weather may vary from the summarized historical conditions.

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Ben Klein
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views

Lecture - Routeing Charts

The document describes what a routeing chart is and the types of climatic and navigational data included. A routeing chart summarizes possible weather conditions for a specific ocean route in a given month based on observations over 30 years. It illustrates data like winds, air pressure, ocean currents, fog and visibility, temperatures, and storm tracks. The charts must be interpreted based on general circulation patterns to understand the most probable weather systems and wind speeds in different areas along the route. Caution is advised as actual weather may vary from the summarized historical conditions.

Uploaded by

Ben Klein
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ROUTEING CHARTS

Contents

• What is a routeing chart?

• Types of data on the chart

• Interpretation of the chart data

• Conclusions
What is a routeing chart?

• For an ocean

• For a particular month of the year

• On which is illustrated climatic data


Climatic Data

• Major source of data

• Observations collected by Voluntary


Observing Ships

• Time period – 30 years


5
Range of Climatic Data

• Mean Monthly Air Pressure (at sea level)


• Tropical Storm Tracks
• Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
• Fog and Low Visibility
• Sea Surface Temperature and Mean Dew point
• Wind Roses (Direction & Speed percentages)
Range of Navigational Data

• Principal Ports
• Principal Routes (with distance)
• Load Line Zones
• Main Currents
• Ice limits – Pack ice and Icebergs
Mean Pressure Chart
Tropical Storm Tracks and
Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
Fog and Low Visibility
Mean Dew Point and SST
Ocean Currents & Ice Limits
Load line & routes
Load Lines
Wind Roses
Wind Rose - Information
• Wind directions and frequencies (%)
• Wind speeds and frequencies (%)

• Number of observations
• Percentage frequency of variables
• Percentage frequency of calms
Interpretation of Routeing Chart Data

• The tool for interpretation


“The General Circulation Pattern”
The General Circulation Pattern
General Circulation - Key points
• Latitudes – 0° 30° 60° 90°
• Surface pressure variation with latitude
• Names of surface pressure systems?
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Subtropical anticyclones (STAC)
Frontal depressions (FD)
• Names of surface winds?
Trade Winds – NE and SE
Westerlies – SW and NW
Examples of Interpretations

• Mean Pressure

• Wind Roses
Mean Pressure - An Example
Mean Pressure - Summary

• Pressure systems
High - STAC
Low - Frontal
Depressions

• Pressure gradient
Slack; Low wind speeds
Steep; High wind speeds
Tropical Storm Tracks and
Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
Mean Pressure - Conclusions

• Most probable pressure systems


– Subtropical anticyclones
– Frontal depressions

• Most probable horizontal pressure gradients


– Wind speeds
Wind Roses – An Example
Wind Roses - Summary

Major wind direction?


South West

Wind speed?
Range - F1 to F12
Most frequent - F5 & F6
Analyse the first rose on
leaving the Falklands:
• 12 arrows (30° sectors)
• Arrows depict the percentage of wind
observations for each direction.
• The arrows fly with the wind.
• Length of the arrow shaft being
proportional to the percentage frequency.
• The scale is further subdivided to indicate
the frequency of winds of different
Beaufort force.
Month: Rose: °N/S °E/W
No Obs: % variable: % calms:
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000
030
060
090
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
Total
December Rose: 48°S 53°W
No Obs: 670 % var: 0.7 % calms: 1.0
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000 10
030 4
060 3
090 3
120 1
150 4
180 4
210 12
240 14
270 15
300 15
330 13
Total 100
December Rose: 48°S 53°W
No Obs: 670 % var: 0.7 % calms: 1.0
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000 10 2 4 3 <1 1
030 4 <1 1 2 <1
060 3 <1 1 1
090 3 <1 <1 2
120 1 <1 <1
150 4 1 1 2 <1
180 4 1 1 2 <1
210 12 3 2 4 2 1
240 14 2 3 6 2 1
270 15 2 3 7 2 1
300 15 3 3 7 1 1
330 13 3 3 5 <1 1
Total 100 19 22 41 10 6
Analysis
Wind is most likely to be experienced from the
North West quadrant 240°T ~ 300°T (44%
frequency) with the strength most likely to be
encountered Force 4-6 (45% frequency).

Strong winds (greater than force 7) are not


particularly common (6% frequency) but risk
exists.
Wind Roses - Conclusions
• Areas of major wind directions
– S.E. Trades
– South Westerlies

• Within each area


– Most frequent wind speed
– Range of wind speed

• Relate the wind speeds and directions


to the pressure systems
Other Sources of Climatic Data

• Ocean Passages of the World

• Sailing Directions
CONCLUSION

• A summary of possible weather


conditions a vessel may
experience on a route (in pictorial
presentation)
Cautionary points
• Quantity of climatic data
• Quality of climatic data
• Climatic data is a summary of observed
conditions
• They may not be the actual weather
conditions a vessel may encounter
on a route
THE END

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