Mariners Weather Log
ISSN 0025-3367U.S. Department of Commerce
Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & Acting NOAA Administrator Acting Administrator
National Weather Service
Dr. Louis Uccelini
NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services
Editorial Supervisor
Paula M. Rychtar
Layout and Design
Stuart Hayes NTSC Technical Publications Office
Articles, photographs, and letters should be sent to:
Ms. Paula M. Rychtar, Editorial Supervisor
Mariners Weather Log
NDBC (W/OPS 51)
Building 3203
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
Phone: (228) 688-1457
Fax: (228) 688-3923
E-mail:
paula.rychtar@noaa.gov
From the Editor
Hello and welcome to the December issue of the Mariners Weather Log. We have some great articles that I am sure you will find interesting and informative. One of our submissions comes from the Deutscher Wetterdienst, the German Meteorological Office and provides even more credence to the importance of ship observations. In keeping with that theme, I would like to expound upon the importance of marine observations and the ever growing need for the collection of environmental data across the oceans and in particular within the data sparse regions of the world. VOS, as you all know, is a global effort. One of our key issues and of great concern is the lack of data available within the remote regions of our oceans. Our never ending need to recruit vessels into VOS that are transiting through these locations continues to be a priority. In this effort, we have found some creative and unconventional methods to enlist the help of tall ships, training ships and yachts; engaging them in data collection, transmitting data real time and possibly in the deployment of drifting buoys. Automatic Identification System (AIS) gives new hope by providing a snapshot of ships traveling these areas; identifying these ships, making contact and enlist their help to our cause. It is also hopeful that the mandatory AIS messages can provide additional information such as sea level pressure data (at the very minimum) from all ships traversing across the oceans. This would compliment our data collection and our ability to provide better model guidance and climate studies.
A warm wish to all of you, that you may have a safe and happy holiday season. Be patient and kind, and treat others as you would like to be treated. Some of you reading this are far from home and away from family and friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you do, and remember... Only YOU know the weather at your position! Report it!
- Paula
On the Cover: Near flat calm mid Pacific Ocean. Image from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) archives.
Some Important Web Page Addresses
| NOAA | http://www.noaa.gov |
| National Weather Service | http://www.weather.gov |
| National Data Buoy Center | http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov |
| AMVER Program | http://www.amver.com |
| VOS Program | http://www.vos.noaa.gov |
| TURBOWIN e-logbook Software | http://knmi.nl/turbowin |
| Mariners Weather Log | http://www.vos.noaa.gov/mwl.shtml |
| Marine Dissemination | http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm |
| U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center | http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ |