UNIT 7

SAFETY: TASKS

Objectives of Unit 7
7.1 The Weather
7.2 The weather forecast
7.3 Reports from Coastal Stations
7.4 Sea State, Ice and Tides
Self-assessment test
Progress test
Answers to self-assessment test
Bibliography / Webography
OBJECTIVES OF UNIT 7

The main objectives are:

 understand the importance of having weather information
 use standard words and phrases
 send messages according to the models
 decode and interpret weather info

Idioms

The italicized words in the text are given below in alphabetical order.
Find out what they mean as they appear in the text and learn them by heart.

reduced visibility severe damage swell

remainder slack water tarpaulin

render first aid solid thaw

responsible source of ignition thick weather

restricted area spindrift toxic smoke

ripples spray vapour

roadstead spring tide veering wind

saturation storm vicinity

scattered white horses streaks of foam vomit

scientific subdivide

seaway suffocation
 Notes:

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

7.1 The Weather

Fill in: temperature, humidity, cloudiness, fog, precipitation or wind.

1- A change of ____________ in a clockwise direction is indicated by the word "veering".

2 - _____________ is announced by a lowering or thickening cloudiness.

3 - A change in _______________ is the most significant aspect in weather forecasting.

4 - Saturation refers to the maximum amount of _______in air at a specific temperature.

5 - Circulation of _________ is anti-clockwise around low pressure areas in the Northern

Hemisphere.

6 - An imminent change of weather is often indicated by ________________________ .

7 - The amount of air that moves from one area to the other is referred to as __________ .

8 - ________________ can be measured in three different scales.

9 - ___________ is a result of a rising mass of cool air.

10 - Adverse weather may be preceded by altocumulus ______________________ .

11 - A decrease of _____________: of air will result in the forming of clouds or

________ .

12 - ___________________ -speed is measured in nautical miles per hour.

13 - The amount of water vapour that is in the air is referred to as _________________ .

14 - When a cloud touches the ground we speak of _______________________.

15 - _____________ is formed when droplets have become large enough to fall to the ground.

3) Weather Forecast: abbreviations (learn by heart)

The abbreviations used in the General Synopsis are:
L = depression (low pressure area, also referred to as "cyclonic")
H = high pressure area (anti-cyclone)
T = trough of low pressure
R = ridge of high pressure
W = warm front
C = cold front
O = occluded front

The abbreviations used in the Forecast for Sea Areas and Reports from Coastal Stations are:

b = blue sky
m/f = mist followed by fog

A gale is indicated by a tick (√) in the column „gales”. A slash (/) indicates a change.
The use of a capital letter, for example F, or R – will indicate an intensification of that specific
weather condition.

Visibility may be indicated by:

p = poor
m = moderate
g = good
vg = very good

The Barometric Pressure is indicated by:

̶ = steady
/ = rising or rising rapidly
\ = falling or falling rapidly
 7.2 The weather forecast: fill in...
Weather Synopsis
1)
A depression of nine hundred seventy-six millibars, which was positioned at fifty-two
degrees North, three degrees East, is expected to move North and to be centred over the Northwest of
Scotland by midnight tonight.

System Present Position Movement Forecast Position At

2)
An anti-cyclone of a thousand and thirty-eight millibars, which was positioned over Ireland,
is expected to move north-east and to be centred over the Hebrides by midnight tonight.

System Present Position Movement Forecast At

Position

Forecast for Sea Areas

1) Viking:
wind northwesterly force five, increasing northerly force six to seven, rain, poor visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind; Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Viking /

2) North Utsire:
wind northerly force six, increasing northerly force eight to nine, overcast sky, moderate to good
visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
North Utsire /
 3) South Utsire:
wind north-westerly force seven, decreasing westerly force five to six, partly cloudy sky, good
visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
South Utsire /

4) Forties:
wind becoming southwesterly force three to four, periods of drizzle and light rain, good to poor
visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Forties /

5) Fisher:
wind northerly force eight, increasing northwesterly force eight to nine, heavy rain, poor visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Fisher /

6) German Bight:
wind west force six, veering northwesterly force eight, overcast sky, moderate visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
German Bight /
 7) Humber:
wind northwesterly force four, backing southwesterly force three to four, rain followed by snow,
poor visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Humber /

8) Thames:
wind variable, becoming easterly force three, partly cloudy sky, good visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Thames /

9) Portland:
wind northeast force three to four, becoming northerly force six, thunderstorm, moderate visibility.
Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility
/ Later
Portland /

10) Biscay:
wind westerly force six, increasing force eight to nine, heavy squalls, good visibility.

Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility

/ Later
Biscay /

11)
Finisterre:
wind increasing westerly force three to four, rain turning to drizzle with mist, poor visibility.
Sea Area Gales Wind: Now Weather Visibility
/ Later
Finisterre /
 12) Irish
Sea:
calm, wind increasing westerly force three to four, sleet, good to poor
visibility.
Sea Area Gales Wind: Now / Later Weather Visibility
Irish Sea /

7.3 Reports from Coastal Stations

1) Wick:
wind west force two, overcast sky, fifteen miles, a thousand and fifteen millibars, rising.

Coastal Wind direction Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station force
Wick

2) St. Abb's Head:

wind west force five, blue sky, three miles, nine hundred ninety-two millibars, falling.
Coastal Wind direction Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency
Station force
St. Abb's
Head

3) Dowsing:
calm, partly cloudy sky, twelve miles, a thousand and twenty-two millibars, steady.

Coastal Wind direction Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station force
Dowsing

4) Galloper:
wind southeasterly force four, sleet followed by snow, three miles, nine hundred eighty-eight millibars,
rising.
Coastal Wind direction Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency
Station force
 Galloper

5) Portland Bill:
wind northerly force five, rain followed by heavy snow, one mile, nine hundred ninety-six millibars,
rising rapidly.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station direction force
Portland Bill

6) Scilly:
wind northwesterly force nine, gale, six miles, nine hundred eighty-nine millibars, falling rapidly.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station direction force
Scilly

7) Valentia:
wind south force three, partly cloudy sky, six miles, a thousand and sixteen millibars, steady.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station direction force
Valentia

8) Ronaldsway:
wind southwest force six, rain followed by thunderstorm, seven miles, nine hundred seventy-
nine millibars, falling rapidly.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Ten

dency
Station direction force
Ronaldsway
 9) Prestwick:
calm, rain during the first few hours of the day, four miles, a thousand and thirteen millibars,
rising.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station direction force
Prestwick

10) Tiree:
wind variable, heavy fog, 1 mile, a thousand and twenty-three millibars, steady.

Coastal Wind Wind Weather Visibility Barometer Tendency

Station direction force
Tiree

The weather forecast: reading-practice

7.4 Sea State, Ice and Tides

Finish the sentence or fill in

1 - By "a generating area" is understood: _____________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2 - By "swell" is understood: ________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3 - The four factors that determine height of waves are: _________________

_______________________________________________________________

4 - The characteristics of New Ice and Nilas Ice are: ____________________

________________________________________________________________

5 - The characteristics of Young Ice and first-year ice are: _________________

________________________________________________________________

6 - The characteristics of old ice are: __________________________________

________________________________________________________________

7 - Icebergs are very notorious for their ________________________________

________________________________________________________________

8 - Tides are caused by __________ forces that cause the waters to _______ out
on one side of the earth and, simultaneously, to _______________ away on the
other side of the earth. When all these forces are added together, a _________
tide will arise; when the pull of the sun cancels out half of the moon's pull, ____
tide will arise.
Tides are always measured from _________ datum; levels are always stated at
____________________, or mean heights.
When tide is turning we speak of ____________________ tide.

Self-assessment Test
Find the meaning of he words:
abeam avoid contaminated clothes

adjacent space backing wind crew's negligence

adverse weather bergy bit current

air vent beyond repair cyclone

alert breathing equipment decrease

anti-clockwise cancel out dense fog

anticyclone casualty determine

appearance chart datum dimensions

application chemical agent distress

apply to circumstance draft restrictions

approximately clockwise dress (for a wound)

arise cloudiness drizzle

artificial respiration COLREGS droplet

attraction-force combustible dust

average consequence edge

emergency response gravitation moderate

environmental pollution hemisphere moisture

evaporate humidity navigable

exposure ice floe neap tide

extend imminent obsolete

extinguish impede obstructed

fetch injury occur

fire detection inquiry odorless

fire prevention intermediate space opposite

flammable latter overhanging crest

flare ledge oxygen

flooding level physician

foam crest liquid precede

fog local precipitation

forecast longitudinal space preservation

frostbite lukewarm prevailing wind

froth massive fire proper

gale mean propulsion system

 Progress test
Match the columns
q heavy fog
r squalls
r/s cloudy
o rain
R rain followed by snow
s overcast sky
f hail
c drizzle
d mist
F heavy rain
M sleet
h fog

Answer to Progress test. Match the columns

q squalls
r rain
r/s rain followed by snow
o overcast sky
R heavy rain
s sleet
f fog
c cloudy
d drizzle
F heavy fog
M mist
h hail

Bibliography / Webography
1. Georgescu, M. Maritime English, Students’ Coursebook, 3rd year, 2nd
term (on www.cmu-edu.eu)
2. Georgescu, M. Outboard Communication, (2010), Nautica Press,
Constanţa, ISBN 978-606-8105-13-0.
3. Chirea-Ungureanu, C. English Grammar in Use-Exercises and Quizzes,
(2010), Editura Nautica, ISBN 978-606-8105-14-7.
4. Chirea-Ungureanu, C. Developing English Communication and
Understandimg Skills on Board Ship, (2013), Editura Crizon, Constanta,
ISBN 978-606-8476-09-4.
5. Van Kluijven, P. C..The International Maritime Language Programme.
(IMLP) (2005) CD- ROM. Alkmaar: Alk & Heijnen Publishers. Maritime
English CD-ROM
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_Forecast (visited 11.08.2012)