With the seas amazingly calm the last two days, it's hard to imagine them any other way. Well... give the weather a minute and it will change!
The sun gets low in the sky over calm seas as the fog rolls in! September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff
The R/V Sikuliaq is in Marine Zone 240 on the chart for Marine weather forecast! September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
It’s always interesting to be sitting in the main lab room on the R/V Sikuliaq. It's the "hub" of the main deck where I like to work on my journals, but still stay tuned-in to the latest events on the ship and be available to help any of the researchers when they need it. Listening to the discussion that float and weave their way around the room always provides an interesting mosaic of informative! You learn a lot by just listening. Today’s quote: “The seas are gonna get lumpy” comes from Dr. Steve Okkonen. His statement followed his review of several weather related charts and the upcoming weather forecast that he then relayed to Dr. Carin Ashjian. Steve gave me the link for the marine and weather charts, that I'll also pass on to you, so you can evaluate the upcoming weather along with us!
NOAA Watches, Warnings and Advisories! September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff
NOAA Wave Watch III Significant Wave Height. How high will our waves be? September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff
It's Gonna Blow Stink!
When I saw the upcoming forecast I reflected on the saying I grew up with when seeing this type of forecast. “It’s gonna blow stink!” was our version of saying that it's going to get windy. Neither Steve or my saying bodes well for sunny skies and light winds, but it turns out that winds blowing more than 15 knots from an Easterly direction will provide an upwelling event along the Beaufort Shelf, which is just what this team of researchers is looking for! Our hopes are though that it’s just not too rough to put our nets in the water, so we can continue to collect zooplankton and Arctic cod.
What's Your Weather Forecast For the Beaufort Sea?
Ever wonder what causes those strong winds and large seas? Over the next few days I’ll post a new Beaufort Sea Weather Update journal, including a portion of the R/V Sikuliaq Underway Data Display, at least once every 12 hours. Keep an eye on the time, true wind speed and the barometric pressure numerical and chart data. I’ll also include the latest weather forecast and I’ll venture outside and take photographs of what the ocean and sky look like at the time I upload the weather information. See if you can notice a pattern between the variables!
R/V Sikuliaq Underway Data Display of wind speed and temperature. September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
R/V Sikuliaq Underway Data Display of Barometric Air Pressure. September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
Introducing the Beaufort Wind Scale!
The Beaufort Scale. September 5, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
Do you know who invented the Beaufort Wind Scale? Check it out along with a more detailed diagram at: https://www.weather.gov/mfl/beaufort
Compare and Contrast!
So how does the weather where you live compare to the weather where we are? How is it different? How is it similar? Go to the Ask the Team section of our journal and let us know!
Links:
1) NOAA Marine Forecast: Go to the following link, click on the Alaska Marine Zone #240 and you'll be taken to our forecast area http://www.weather.gov/afc/marine
2) NOAA Wave Watch III Significant Wave Height: Have fun playing around with this site too! http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/viewer.shtml?-multi_1-latest-alaska-hs
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