Reeds Weather Handbook 2nd edition

Frank Singleton

• Publisher: Adlard Coles
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781472965059
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Meteorology & Climatology

Weather determines when we sail, where we sail to – and whether we arrive safely. This essential pocket-sized guide equips the reader with all the necessary tools to predict and deal with local and distant weather conditions, whether on a day trip or a longer cruise, along the coast or further offshore. Each topic is broken down into digestible chapters, explaining the origins and effects of the full spectrum of weather conditions, including:
- using and evaluating weather forecasts
- depressions, fronts, isobars and other coastal effects
- waves and swell
- weather lore and sky watching. Meteorology is still advancing and sources of forecasts are changing. This new edition keeps the handbook up-to-date, with a particular focus on the increasing use of GRIB files, computer weather modelling and sources of forecasts, especially with the proliferation of computer forecasts becoming available free of charge. With practical explanations and helpful diagrams and photographs, this is the ideal aide-memoire for skippers and crew, especially those studying for their Day Skipper and Yachtmaster exams.

APPENDIX

Acronyms and abbreviations

You will find most of these in this book, and there are some additional ones that you might encounter.

AEMET	Spanish weather service
AIS	Automatic [ship] Identification System
ALADIN AROME ALARO	French acronyms relating to mesoscale model use and development.
ARPEGE	Meteo France global model
CAPE	Convective Available Potential Energy (a lightning risk index)
COAMPS	[US Navy] Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System
COSMO-DE	Mesoscale model for Germany; based on ICON (see below)
DWD	German weather service
ECMWF	European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
GMDSS	Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GFS	Global Forecast System (NOAA NWP model)
GPRS	General Packet Radio Service (for emails when bandwidth is limited)
GRIB	Gridded Binary (compressed data files used by NMS to exchange NWP output)
HARMONIE	Mesoscale model closely linked to HIRLAM (see below.)
HF, MF, VHF	High, Medium, Very High Frequency (radio transmissions)
HIRLAM	High Resolution Limited Area Model developed and used by some Scandinavian and western European countries.
IMO	International Maritime Organization
HMCG	UK Coastguard
HRRR	High Resolution Rapid Response. US forecast updated hourly.
ICON	The DWD global NWP model
ICON-EU JCOMM	Mesoscale version of ICON for Europe Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
KNMI	Dutch weather service
LRC	Long Range [radio] Certificate (for MF/HF/SSB and satellite)
MCA	[UK] Maritime and Coastguard Agency (parent of HMCG)
Met Éireann	Irish weather service
METAREAs	Geographical sea regions for the purpose of coordinating the transmission of meteorological information to offshore sailors
MRCC	Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
NAM	North American Mesoscale [Forecast System]
NAVAREAs	See METAREAs
NAVTEX	Navigational Telex
NEMS	NOAA Environmental Modelling System including the GFS, ensembles and mesoscale models.
NMS	National Meteorological Service
NOAA	[US] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NWP	Numerical Weather Prediction
NWS	[US] National Weather Service
OPC	[NOAA] Ocean Prediction Center
Poseidon	Greek marine research group mesoscale model
RYA	Royal Yachting Association
SOLAS	[International Convention for] Safety of Life at Sea (parent of the GMDSS)
SRC	Short Range [radio] Certificate (for VHF)
SSB	Si...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Air masses
• Fronts and depressions
• Sea and land effects
• Waves and swell
• Weather forecasting – the background
• Using forecasts – and your experience
• Sources of weather information
• Getting forecasts
• Observing – learning by experience
• Appendix
• Acknowledgements
• eCopyright