ROUTEING CHARTS

Contents

• What is a routeing chart?

• Types of data on the chart

• Interpretation of the chart data

• Conclusions
 What is a routeing chart?

• For an ocean

• For a particular month of the year

• On which is illustrated climatic data

 Climatic Data

• Major source of data

• Observations collected by Voluntary

Observing Ships

• Time period – 30 years

5
 Range of Climatic Data

• Mean Monthly Air Pressure (at sea level)

• Tropical Storm Tracks
• Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
• Fog and Low Visibility
• Sea Surface Temperature and Mean Dew point
• Wind Roses (Direction & Speed percentages)
 Range of Navigational Data

• Principal Ports
• Principal Routes (with distance)
• Load Line Zones
• Main Currents
• Ice limits – Pack ice and Icebergs
Mean Pressure Chart
 Tropical Storm Tracks and
Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
Fog and Low Visibility
Mean Dew Point and SST
Ocean Currents & Ice Limits
Load line & routes
Load Lines
Wind Roses
 Wind Rose - Information
• Wind directions and frequencies (%)
• Wind speeds and frequencies (%)

• Number of observations
• Percentage frequency of variables
• Percentage frequency of calms
Interpretation of Routeing Chart Data

• The tool for interpretation

“The General Circulation Pattern”
The General Circulation Pattern
 General Circulation - Key points
• Latitudes – 0° 30° 60° 90°
• Surface pressure variation with latitude
• Names of surface pressure systems?
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Subtropical anticyclones (STAC)
Frontal depressions (FD)
• Names of surface winds?
Trade Winds – NE and SE
Westerlies – SW and NW
 Examples of Interpretations

• Mean Pressure

• Wind Roses
Mean Pressure - An Example
 Mean Pressure - Summary

• Pressure systems
High - STAC
Low - Frontal
Depressions

• Pressure gradient
Slack; Low wind speeds
Steep; High wind speeds
 Tropical Storm Tracks and
Winds Beaufort Force 7 and Higher
 Mean Pressure - Conclusions

• Most probable pressure systems

– Subtropical anticyclones
– Frontal depressions

• Most probable horizontal pressure gradients

– Wind speeds
Wind Roses – An Example
Wind Roses - Summary

Major wind direction?

South West

Wind speed?
Range - F1 to F12
Most frequent - F5 & F6
Analyse the first rose on
leaving the Falklands:
• 12 arrows (30° sectors)
• Arrows depict the percentage of wind
observations for each direction.
• The arrows fly with the wind.
• Length of the arrow shaft being
proportional to the percentage frequency.
• The scale is further subdivided to indicate
the frequency of winds of different
Beaufort force.
Month: Rose: °N/S °E/W
No Obs: % variable: % calms:
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000
030
060
090
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
Total
December Rose: 48°S 53°W
No Obs: 670 % var: 0.7 % calms: 1.0
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000 10
030 4
060 3
090 3
120 1
150 4
180 4
210 12
240 14
270 15
300 15
330 13
Total 100
December Rose: 48°S 53°W
No Obs: 670 % var: 0.7 % calms: 1.0
Total 1-3 4 5-6 7 8-12
000 10 2 4 3 <1 1
030 4 <1 1 2 <1
060 3 <1 1 1
090 3 <1 <1 2
120 1 <1 <1
150 4 1 1 2 <1
180 4 1 1 2 <1
210 12 3 2 4 2 1
240 14 2 3 6 2 1
270 15 2 3 7 2 1
300 15 3 3 7 1 1
330 13 3 3 5 <1 1
Total 100 19 22 41 10 6
 Analysis
Wind is most likely to be experienced from the
North West quadrant 240°T ~ 300°T (44%
frequency) with the strength most likely to be
encountered Force 4-6 (45% frequency).

Strong winds (greater than force 7) are not

particularly common (6% frequency) but risk
exists.
 Wind Roses - Conclusions
• Areas of major wind directions
– S.E. Trades
– South Westerlies

• Within each area

– Most frequent wind speed
– Range of wind speed

• Relate the wind speeds and directions

to the pressure systems
 Other Sources of Climatic Data

• Ocean Passages of the World

• Sailing Directions
 CONCLUSION

• A summary of possible weather

conditions a vessel may
experience on a route (in pictorial
presentation)
 Cautionary points
• Quantity of climatic data
• Quality of climatic data
• Climatic data is a summary of observed
conditions
• They may not be the actual weather
conditions a vessel may encounter
on a route
THE END