CHAPTER Observation of Visibility CHAPTER Observation of Visibility Visibility shows us not only to what extent an object can be seen from the observer but also a simple way to know the atmospheric stability Visibility is decreased by such floating substances in the atmosphere as water droplets in the form of fog, rain or snow and solid particles in the form of sand dust, smoke or crystallized salt from sea water spray Visibility is also affected by the refraction and diffusion of light due to the inhomogeneity of air Visibility observations are therefore utilized not only for meteorological analysis but also for information on visibility troubles of public transportation or for data for the management of atmospheric pollution 6.1 Definition of visibility Visibility (horizontal visibility) is defined as the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions can be seen and recognized against the sky at the horizon during daylight or could be seen and recognized during the night if the general illumination were raised to the normal daylight level If visibility is different according to directions, adopt the shortest distance Visibility should be observed with unaided eyes or glasses but not with a telescope, binoculars or a sextant See "Guide to Ships' Weather Reports" for coding the observed results 6.2 Daytime observation If you can see a ship, an island or a buoy at the limit of visibility, the most precise way is to use a radar for the measurement of visibility However you can rarely utilize a fixed object in the distance on the ocean and so you need to be well trained and experienced for visibility observation In general, a simple method is applied by making use of the relation between the height of observation above the sea surface (h in (m)) and the distance to the horizon (L in (km)): L = 3.6Jh as shown in Tab.6.1 Table 6.1 The hei ht of observation above the sea surface and the distance to the horizon 10 15 20 25 30 Hei ht of observers' e es above sea level m Distance of ob'ects on the horizon at sea km 40 10 11 14 16 18 20 23 For example, if you can not see the horizon clearly from a bridge at 15 m above the sea !urface but can clearly see it from the deck at m above the sea surface, you can assume the risibility from the table around 12 km between 14 km and 10 km 51 CHAPTER Observation of Visibility 6.3 Night-time observation The estimation of visibility at night is not easy What the meteorologist is interested in knowing is the degree of transparency of the atmosphere But the distance seen at night depends on the amount of illumination; and the distance at which a light is seen depends on its intensity or candle-power If there is no obvious change in meteorological conditions, the visibility just after dark will be the same as that recorded just before dark irrespective of the fact that one may not be able to see as far A deterioration in visibility can sometimes be detected afterwards and the visibility code figure adjusted accordingly In doing this, care must be taken not to confuse the effect of a decrease in visibility The presence of a "loom" around the vessel's navigation lights is frequently a guide to deteriorating visibility In addition, it is necessary to allow for the period (usually from to 15 minutes) of adaptation during which the eyes become accustomed to the dark 52 CHAPTER Observation of Atmospheric Phenomena and Weather takes place from or inside a cloud or, less often, from high structures on the ground or from mountains Thunder T: A sharp or rumbling sound which accompanies lightning It is emitted by rapidly expanding gases along the channel of a lightning discharge 7.2 Observation and recording of atmospheric phenomena Observation of atmospheric phenomena includes the estimation of their intensity Intensity is classified into ranks; light, moderate and heavy To make your observation on an atmospheric phenomenon, you need also to record the following; 1) Time of appearance 2) Name of the phenomenon 3) Situation 4) Time of ending 7.2.1 Intensity of rain Light: Scattered drops that not completely wet an exposed surface, regardless of duration, to a condition where individual drops are easily seen; slight spray is observed over the decks; puddles form slowly; sound on roofs ranges from slow pattering to gentle swishing; steady small streams may flow in scuppers and deck drains Moderate: Individual drops are not clearly identifiable; spray is observable just above deck and other hard surfaces; puddles form rapidly; sound on roofs ranges from swishing to gentle roar Heavy: Rain seemingly falls in sheets; individual drops are not identifiable; heavy spray to height of several inches is observed over hard surfaces; visibility is greatly reduced; sound on roofs resembles roll of drums or distant roar 7.2.2 Intensity of drizzle with visibility Light: Visibility km or more Moderate: Visibility less than km but not less than 0.5 km Heavy: Visibility less than 0.5 km 7.2.3 Intensity of snow Light: Visibility km or more Moderate: Visibility less than km but not less than 0.2 km Heavy: Visibility less than 0.2 km 55 CHAPTER 7.2.4 Observation of Atmospheric Phenomena and Weather Intensity of hail and Ice pellets Light: Few stones or pellets falling with little, if any, accumulation Moderate: Slow accumulation Heavy: Rapid accumulation 7.2.5 Intensity of thunder, thunderstorm and lightning Light thunder: Slightly perceived as a distant thunder Moderate thunder: Thunder with considerably large sound so as to vibrate a window pane Heavy thunder: Thunder with deafening and astonishing sound and with effect of rattling windows Light thunderstorm: Light thunder with a flash of light Moderate thunderstorm: Moderate thunder with a flash of light Heavy thunderstorm: Heavy thunder with a flash of light Light lightning: Slightly perceived in the daytime and clearly visible in the nighttime Moderate lightning: Perceived without confrontation in the daytime and perceived from inside a lighted room Heavy lightning: A flash of light brightens the surrounding area in the daytime and in the nighttime everything is dazzled by a heavy flash of light 7.3 Present we?ther and past weather Weather should be recorded by codes under present weather and past weather as described in "Ships' Weather Code Card" and "Guide to Ship's Weather Reports" The present weather is defined as the state of the atmosphere at the time of observation or during the hour (60 minutes) preceding it Table 7.1 shows the relationship between weather summary and codes of present weather, total cloud amount, and visibility The past weather refers to the type(s) of weather which occurred since the previous main synoptic hour (00, 06, 12 or 18UTC) Table 7.2 shows the period to be covered by the past weather at each observation time And table 7.3 shows the past weather codes The code figures for the past weather and the present weather should be selected in such a way that they form a description as complete as possible of the weather consistent between the past and the present 56