MT-3131 - Meteorology

The expected outcome is that the student...	Supports STCW elements...
TOPIC - Meteorological elements	21A1.11 21A1.12 21A2
TOPIC - Shipborne meteorological instruments states the basic principle of a mercurial barometer states the basic principle of an aneroid barometer reads the atmospheric pressure from an ordinary aneroid barometer reads the temperature from a thermometer states the function of a hygrometer states the basic principles of wind sensors and demonstrates ordinary readings of wind speed
TOPIC - The atmosphere, its composition and physical properties describes the composition of the earth's atmosphere, mentioning dry air and its constituents, water vapor and aerosols draws a typical vertical temperature profile through the lower 100 km of the earth's atmosphere defines "troposphere", "tropopause", "stratosphere", "stratopause", "mesosphere", "mesopause" and "thermosphere" describes the main features of the troposphere states the importance of the sun as the principal energy source for atmospheric processes describes the nature of solar radiation, (scattering, reflection and Absorption explains the effect on insolation of a variation in latitude explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the sun's declination explains the effect on insolation of a variation in the length of daylight defines "water vapor" describes the properties of water vapor in the atmosphere defines "evaporation", "condensation", "latent heat of vaporization" defines "saturated air" describes the processes of mixing, cooling and the evaporation of water vapor, by which a sample of air may be brought to saturation defines "dew point", "absolute humidity", "relative humidity", "vapor pressure"
TOPIC - Atmospheric pressure states that pressure equals force per unit area states that the atmosphere exerts a pressure on any surface placed within it states that the atmospheric pressure on a unit area of a surface is equal to the weight of the "air column" extending from that surface to the outer fringes of the atmosphere explains that atmospheric pressure decreases with height above sea level states that atmospheric pressure acts in all directions states that the basic unit of pressure is N/m2 states that 1 millibar = 10-3 bar = 102 N/m2 states that the atmospheric pressure at sea level normally varies between about 940 mbar and 1050 mbar states that the average pressure at sea level is 1013.25 mbar explains that the surface pressure rises if air is added to the "column" above the surface, and vice versa defines "isobar"
TOPIC - Wind defines "wind" describes the Beaufort scale of wind force explains qualitatively the pressure gradient force explains qualitatively the Coriolis (geostrophic) force explains the surface wind circulation around high and low pressure centers inserts surface wind directions on a map showing pressure distribution and indicates relative wind speeds at various places within the pressure field states Buys-Ballot's Law (Baric Law) explains the method of estimating the strength of the wind from the appearance of the sea surface, using the Beaufort wind scale states the factors, other than the wind speed, which affect the appearance of the sea surface differentiates between apparent and true wind determines the true wind velocity by using a vector diagram, given the apparent wind and the ship's course and speed describes the method of estimating the wind direction from the appearance of the sea surface
TOPIC - Cloud and precipitation explains that clouds form when air containing water vapor rises, cools adiabatically and becomes saturated states the need for and defines condensation nuclei states that a cloud can consist of ice crystals, supercooled water droplets, water droplets or any combination of these names and describes the ten basic cloud types states the probable base heights of the ten principal cloud types defines "precipitation defines "rain", "drizzle", "hail", "snow" and "sleet"
TOPIC - Visibility states that visibility is reduced by the presence of particles in the atmosphere, near the earth's surface defines "fog", "mist", "haze" applies the concept of processes leading to supersaturation to a classification of fogs as mixing, cooling or evaporation fogs explains qualitatively the formation of radiation fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for its dispersal states the effect of pollution on the formation of radiation fog explains qualitatively the formation of advection fog, mentioning areas, seasons and reasons for dispersal explains qualitatively the conditions leading to the formation of sea smoke, and typical areas where sea smoke may be encountered describes methods of estimating the visibility at sea, by day and by night, and the difficulties involved
TOPIC - Climatology	21A1.12 21A1.13 21A2
TOPIC - The wind and pressure systems over the oceans explains qualitatively, with the aid of sketches the circulation cells which would exist on a rotating earth, not inclined to its orbit of rotation around the sun, and with a homogeneous surface draws the mean surface pressure and wind distribution over the earth's surface in January and July describes the characteristics and location of the doldrums, intertropical convergence zone, Trade winds, sub-tropical oceanic highs, westerlies and polar easterlies describes a monsoon regime states the areas which experience a true monsoon regime applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the causes of monsoon regimes applies previous concepts to a qualitative explanation of the weather associated with the January and July monsoons of the Indian Ocean, China Sea, north coast of Australia and west coast of Africa explains qualitatively the monsoon-type weather along the north-east coast of Brazil applies the concept of horizontal temperature differences to a qualitative explanation of the formation of land and sea breezes explains the formation of anabatic and katabatic winds states the regions of occurrence of anabatic and katabatic winds states examples of local winds
TOPIC - Weather systems	21A1.12 21A1.13 21A2
TOPIC - Structure of depressions defines "air mass" explains the formation of an air mass defines "source region" describes the characteristics required of a source region describes the source-region characteristics of arctic, polar tropical and equatorial air-mass types defines "warm front", "cold front" knows the symbols for warm and cold fronts and identifies them on a weather map describes, with the aid of a diagram the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized warm front describes, with the aid of a diagram the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized cold front defines "depression"( Developing Low) identifies a depression on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart describes the stages in the life cycle of a polar front depression describes a family of depressions draws a diagram of a polar front depression, for both northern and southern hemispheres, showing isobars, warm and cold fronts, wind circulation and warm sector (Northern Only, Instructor will provide Southern Hemisphere example.) draws a cross-section through a polar front depression, on the poleward and equatorial side of the center, showing fronts, cloud and precipitation areas describes the usual movement of a polar front depression applies previous concepts to an explanation of the weather changes experienced when a frontal depression passes with its center on the poleward side of an observer in the northern hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere applies previous concepts to an explanation of the weather changes experienced when a frontal depression passes with its center on the equatorial side of an observer in the northern hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere describes the process leading to the occlusion of a polar front depression identifies a trough of low pressure on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart describes the weather associated with the passage of a trough Identifies areas of formation local names Identifies formation, maturing and decay processes Identifies Weather Elements and consequences Describes Weather Broadcasts and Radio Facsimile Warnings Maneuvering Considerations
TOPIC - Anticyclones and other pressure systems defines "anticyclone" draws a synoptic pattern of an anticyclone, for both northern and southern hemispheres, showing isobars and wind circulation identifies an anticyclone on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart describes the weather associated with anticyclones defines a ridge of high pressure draws a synoptic pattern for a ridge, showing isobars and wind directions describes a typical weather sequence during the passage of a ridge between depressions across the observer's position defines a col draws a synoptic pattern for a col, showing isobars and wind directions describes the weather associated with a col (Instructor example) identifies ridges and cols on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart (Instructor example)
TOPIC - Weather reports and forecasting	21A1 21A2 21A1.12 21A1.13 21A2.04
TOPIC - Weather services for shipping describes the organization, functions and objectives of the World Meteorological Organization describes the sources of weather information available to shipping "Selected Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts" describes the information flow between merchant ships and Meteorological Offices describes the services provided for shipping by Meteorological Offices "Selected Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts" describes the appropriate weather bulletin and the contents of each of its sections describes the types of information received by facsimile machine "Selected Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts" describes the services provided for storm warnings
TOPIC - Recording and reporting weather observations. (Includes training ship cruise lectures and watch observations, class lectures, and post class observation program) explains the need for meteorological codes uses the Ship's Code and Decode Book to code a ship's full report uses the Ship's Code and Decode Book to decode a ship's full report uses the Ship's Code and Decode Book to decode a reduced report from a shore station uses Beaufort letter abbreviations for present and past weather and total cloud amount interprets a ship or shore station plot
TOPIC - Weather forecasting applies previous concepts to the interpretation of symbols and isobaric patterns on weather charts and facsimile charts applies previous concepts to the interpretation of synoptic and prognostic charts to ascertain wind directions, areas of strong winds, cloud and precipitation areas, fog areas, ice, and areas of fine weather explains how weather observations at a ship can be used to improve the forecast derived from synoptic and prognostic charts