CHAPTER 14. THE WEATHER CODES A brief description of the four weather codes thal ‘are of interest to mariners is given here. For easy identiication purposes, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) fas, in is ‘Manual of Codes »- WMO 306;, allotied each code with a distinct Roman Number. Such Raman Number is preceded by the letters FM: (which isan abbreviation for ‘Form, a umber and a hyphen thus: FM 13 - X. For further details, Admiralty List cf Radio Signals Volume,3 - ALRS 3 ~ ‘Maritime Safety Information (broadcasts) ‘Services’ ~ should be consulted 4. Ship reports (FM 13— x) ‘Ships should make wesitier reports in Code FM 13 = X, referred fo as the Ships Weather Code. This code #5 described in detail in ALRS 3 and is included 38 4 separale supplement to this book to enable the student to study them at his convenience. 2. Land station reports (FM 12 X) Land stations send out weather reporis in the SYNOP code {FM 12 - X), full details of which are {ven in ALRS 3. This code is mentioned rere in case a ship, in disturbed weather, inlerceots such & weather message and wants 10 predict the weather on her own, uniil e proper wealher forecast is Teceived, Most weather bulletins, like the Atlantic 122 {14- WEATHER CODE] Weather Bulletin, Arabian Sea Bulletin, Bay of Borgal Bullain, ofc, include ship reports and selected station reports in thei Part V. ‘The SYNOP Gode is very:similar to the Ships ‘Weather Code wilh minor ciferences only: (1) BEXX is replaced by AAXX. (2) Group D......0 is omitted. (3) Group 2230.4, coded as 222 {4} Position groups GOLslaly & Qlaholels are raplaced by one group lis, wherein: IW indicates the rogion of the world in which ‘te station is situated. e.g., Europe and Asia = 00 to 49, Incia, north of 20°N-= 42; India, south of 20°N = 43, North and Central ‘America = 70 079, ete. ai Inckcates the identity ofthe lad station | that made the report. On weather maps, the ragional block eumber and the corresponding three-digt identity group of each: staion is already printed, each in is correct place. For example, on the weather map of India, Mumbai (Colaba) is indicated as 43057 = the regional block number Il of South. India is 43, and Mumbai (Colaba) is. 057. The names of various stations are not given on the map, so 2 to avoid unnecessary hassles ‘of spoliing and pronunciation. A complete lst of regions and stations is -given in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Voume 4 - ALRS 4 - List of Meteorological Stations. 123[14- WEATHER CODE) 3. The MAFOR Code (FM 61- iV} Some countries: that experience difcully in sending out weathef bullatins n plain English, use the Mariime Forecast Code (MAFOR Code) given below: MAFOR = YYGiGi OAMAan 1GDFnW; and two optional groups. Detailed explanations of each of the various letters, of this code are given in the ALRS 3. Tha itiformation given by a MAFOR Code bulletin should be treated as approximate only. 4, Tho International Analysis Code (FM 46 -1V) The International Analysis Code (AC Fiest) is used lo transmit surface: weather conditions in the form of ¢ ready weather map. covering’ an entire ‘ocean, The builtin gives the positions of pressure systems, frontal systems, isobers, tropical weathor, fc. The bullelin may bo an analysis {actual existing conditions) or a prognosis (prediction). The details of the IAC (Floet} are given ALRS 3. tn the IAC (Fleet, Part (V may consist of over 150 groups, and may require two to three hours to decode and plot on a map. ‘The invention of the facsimile rocorder (explained lator in this book), which automatically receives an entire weather mep, without the necossity of a code, hhas made the IAC (Fleet) practicaly obsolete from the rmariner's point of view. More about ships reports, In the Ships Weather Code, each group consists of five characters and the total number of groups may be as many as 20, After many years, 14 [14- WEATHER CODE] discovered that communication charges incurred by Meteorological Departments in receiving weather reporis relayed through land lines could be reduced as much es 40% by a simple sirategy. Charges for Jandline telegrams and teloxes were levied per word. Intemationaly, one word could consist of up to 10 characters. $0 it was decided, by some National ‘Weather Authoritis, 10 join the first two groups, then the third and fourth groups, then the fifiy and sixth (groups, and so an, and transmit them as a sories of ‘JO-cheracter stings, However, this slrategy has now become obsolete since Wireless Telegraphy has itself become redundant. The messages should be sent with groups fof only five alpha-numeric characters each, Some important points - ships’ weather reports eo 30 minutes is to be roundad off to tho ‘earlier hour. For example, 0530 is to bs coded as 05 not 08. The time denoted here is the time at which the barometer is read. The barometer should be read as clos 10 the synoptic hour a8 possible. GLslels The last numeral of each of these GcLilcLeLs groups should be the number of minutes divided by six, omiting the remainder For example, latitude 38° 47" is to be ‘coded ag 386 not 387 and longitude 86” 458° as 0869 nct 0870. h If the height of the base of the lowest ‘laud, above sea level, has a value that 15ad Tae Wiis Hants, 114— WEATHER CODE} is: the boundary between tWo- code fumbers, the higher code number should be reported. For example, 600 metras should be coded as § nat 4 Ships should cade VV betwoon 90 and 99only, The words ‘less thant, ‘or the symbol < is. only mesht for “code rumor So - visibility less than 50 metres. For code numbers 81 19 98, the sstanoss shown mean ‘Odjecis visible at. For example, if'an object visible at 2000 metres, WW =.85 end if visible only 41 1500 metres, WW = 94 ‘Overcast-with a few blue patches is to be coded as 7 not 6 Wied direction from Nort is to be coded 88 36 not 00. dd = 00 oniy if = 60, ‘Wind speed is reported in knots or in ‘metres per second only, as inclcated by inet in Beaufor Scale numbers, The dew point nal the wet bub temperature is to be reported, squared off to the first decimal place For ‘example 20.45 = 206, 18.75 = 186, The higher number should bs reported fist ~for example, 94 not 49, Height of sea and swell'should be in halfsmetre units - numbor of metros multipled'by 2, not divided by 2. For example 2 meires'is to be coded as C4 nat Of or 02. 18 14 WEATHER CODE} Examples in coding and decoding 1. Decode the following report: BBXX ATVH 10123 99408. 30492 41396 62828 10143 20082 40084 6078 76364 4364 22234 00175, 20808 2021 41006 Fist copy, down the groups carefully and then insert their code groups above them, seeing that the indicator figurés suit the groups, and then decode: BBXX Surface report from a ship. ATH Signal letters of ship, YWGGiy GMT 10d 12h. Wind speed 10123 reported by fs estimated in knots. S9LLals Position of ship 99408 Latitude: 40.8° South Qelatelole Longitude: 048.2" East. 30492 ‘nish Procipitation group not sent 41398 Manned station, Group Taw WW 1 included in this report, Cloud ‘base 200 - 300 metres above sea Visibility 20 kn Ndi Total cloud 6/8 of sky. Wind 62828 direction 280°, wind speed , estimated at 28 km. 48,TTT Air temperature + 14.3°C, 404.43 28TaTsTo Dew point iemperature + 08.2°C. 20°0 82 varaPPPP 40084 ‘Sapp 56028 ‘ZweWWsWa 7636 4 EN,C.CuC ase 4 222Dave 2234 OS.TWTuTw O17 8 2PaPt aki 2808 Bdaichancucthoe 3027? Pon Potarbhe 4100-6 I4— WEATHER CODE ‘Atmospheric pressure 1008.4 mb. Berograpti trace ~— ; Tendency (028 mb. Present weather: moderate, non- freezing, continuous rein.’ Past weather: Rain, fog or haze, Low cloud 4/8 of sky. Low clouds Cb, the summits of ‘which tack sharp oullines, but are neither fibrous nor'in the shape of an ail Medium clouds: Ac rasulting from the spreading out of Cu or Cb High clouds: Ci in the form of hooks or filaments, or both, progressively invading sky. Course made good last three hours: SE @ 1610 20knots,- Sea temperature + 17.5°C. Sea period: 08 seconds; sea height: 04 metres First swell from 020°. No second ‘swell. First swell period 10 seconds, height 03 metres. 2. Decode the following report: BONY AT257 sexs seas 7Os6R OOK ONES 20208 40069 00282 20608 wager 41798 $3628 10324 51042 71682 83262. 2220 s2an 41008 128 YYGGia 08183 Wisi 43087 igh an 798 Naat 53628 1ST 10.324 28aTaTeTa 202 08 4PPPP 40069 Sacpp 1042 Tome 16 82 [14 Weamier cove! Report from a land station, GMT 08d 18h. Wind speed estimated Inknols 1-43 means Indie, south of latitude 20°N. 11-057 means "Bombay {Colaba}, In casas where a student ‘does not know which particular area or station is indicated by Ui, he may state as follows: 43 - Regional block number. it 057 - Station aumber (ALRS 4). Precipitation group not sent. Manned station. Group 7awAViWe ig meluded. Base of fowast cloud 1500 - 2000 motres above sea, Visibility 20 km. Total cloud 5 of sky. Wind direction from North, estimated at 28 knots. ‘ir temperature + 32.4°C. Dew point temperature + 20.8°C. ‘Atmogpharic pressure 1008.9 mb, Berograph traco -— ; Tendency (4)04.2 mb, Present weather. Raln_ insight ear, bul not on, ship, Past weather, Showers cf rain, cloud eovering. more than half sky throughout the eppropriate perio. 129[94— WeaTHER cong) ENAC:CuCh “Low cloud QB of sky. Cu of 83.262 moderate or strong vertical extent Medium cloud: Ac formed by the spreading out-of Cu or Cb. High ‘ctoud: Dense Ci 2220008 No course or speed — land stafon, 222 Ff OS,TATATw Sea temperature + 282°C. 00 2°82) 2PyPwHwthy "Sea ‘period: 06 seconds; Height 20°8'0'6 : O3.metres. Sdwidyrchicdwa First swell from 240°. No second BE AIT swell. 4PyiPanHoutien First: swell period 10 seconds, 4ro08 Height 04 metros. 3. Code the following ship's raport: ‘Ship: 2FRK, Position: 27° 35NN 98° 29W, Course Frade good fast thee hours: 320° ‘at 18 knots, Visioilty: 20km, Wie: 240° estimatad at 16 knots, Pressure: 1028 £ mb, Tendency. 46.4 mb, Barograph ‘race: GMT: 084 06h 10m. ‘Temperature: Dry 285°C, Wet 23,0°C, Sea 20.6°C: ° Clouds: Tote! 8/8'of sky, low clouds 4/8 of sky, babe 1000 metres above sea, Sc not resulting fort Cu, Derise Ns, Grin hooks’ progressively invading sky.” Weather. present - precpitstion near but not at statiori, Past - Cloud coveriig more then: 112° sky throughout and intermittent drizzie ‘Sea: Petiod 08 seconds, height O1 metre, Swell: From 050°, ‘pericd 10 seconds, height 02 metres.” +90 [4— WeaTHER cone Fitst copy down the groups from the’ Weather Gode book. Th fil in the numbers under each code letter as eppropnete. BBX D...,.0° WGC “GBlyLils Aclotatcto BBX RK B08 G0378 TOD a AS, “2SqTsTaTs 4PPPP 47688 10285 20298 40268 Sappp © TuwiNWs BNRC.CiCy —222DsVe 52084 «71652 84824 22273 igen Ndi 62416 OSeT Twn 2AWPHnthe © Sdidinccdo 00°20 6 AP uPan Ht 400 4 4, Code the following ship's report: Ship: VHAN, Position: 00° OSN 46*5@'E, Course made good past three hours: 170° at 10 knots, GMT: 18d 007 20m, Wind: 052° estimated at 10 knots. Visioity: 500 metros, Proseure 1008.8 mb, Tendency +96 mb, Barograph trace: —~ Temperature. Dry 285°C, Wet 23.0°C, Sea 206°C. Clouds: Sky overcast with a few biue patches. Low clouds 4 olas, bese 800 metras above sea, Cu of strong vertical extent, Ac in a chactic sky, Ce. Present weather: Visibility poor dure to dust in sus- pension in the air, not raised by wind at or near ship. Past weather: Thick haze, thunderstorm. ‘Sea: Period 04 seconds, height 0.4 metres. ‘Swell: From 270°, Period 08 seconds, height 4m. yoeoz2 8577 131[94 WEATHER CODE] BBXX' D..0 YEG Lilt, Aclotolols BBXX VHAN 16003 99000 1046 9 fehtVVNddFf | 1S)TTT 28,TATeTa PPP 41503° 70510 10285 2020840088 Sapp Tawi BNACLCuCn Re = 70694 B28 9 (222Dsvs_ OS;TwTwiw SP yPaithtw 2924-2 00:2" 08 20401 SddyGerdenttes 4PeaPeathonHyr 3 rtf 40.8 0 8: -<00- 132