Canadian Coast Guard

Table 2: MAFOR DECODE TABLE

Ice Forecast

For sea ice, useful forecast time scales are generally much longer. Basic forecasts for the general sea-ice conditions include weekly, monthly and seasonal time frames.

Monitoring the Forecast

Forecasts are monitored, and amended as necessary, to reflect unexpected or changing weather conditions according to criteria based on the following principles:

when safety or security is at risk,

when inconvenience to the marine community will be extensive or,

when the product could adversely affect the credibility of the program.

Marine Forecast and Ice Areas

Marine forecasts and ice bulletins are issued for marine and ice areas as outlined in the regional maps. The sizes and boundaries of these areas are determined regionally based on the following considerations:

marine traffic density,

the ability to forecast to the proposed resolution,

the degree to which, climatologically, the marine weather is at variance, and

the ability to distribute the information effectively to the marine community.

Current Conditions

Current weather data is available to Canadians for their local area. The frequency and quality of the data will be consistent with the standards established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The data may include as appropriate:

Current temperature, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, sky condition, precipitation type, restrictions to visibility, sea state.

General information on current sea-ice will be provided to the marine community once a week to provide an adequate planning tool for those considering entering ice encumbered waters.

Emergency Response

Meteorological support is provided during emergencies and includes the provision of meteorological information and forecasts. In the case of a pollution event, Environment Canada adheres to the “polluter pay” policy for the provision of all services. Where agreements are in place, Environment Canada will make its distribution systems available to transmit vital information during emergency situations.

Delivery of Marine Warning and Forecast Services

Delivery of marine warning and forecast services to Canadians is primarily by mass communication in order to reach the greatest population base through technology available to most Canadians. The following principles apply, regardless of the specific available technologies:

WEB access. All forecast and warning information will be found at the following address:

http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada_e.html

Basic services to Canadians shall be delivered primarily by mass distribution in partnership with media, relying on current and developing technologies in radio, television, newspaper, and the Internet. These distribution mechanisms represent the primary methods by which most Canadians receive and will receive their weather information, now and in the future.

Marine and Environmental Advisories, Watches and Warnings are distributed through various mechanisms including partnerships with national and regional media distributors and local emergency measures organizations.

The Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Program

The VOS program is organized for the purpose of obtaining weather and ice, and oceanographic observations from moving ships. An international program under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) auspices, the VOS has near 8,000 vessels participating from 60 nations. It is part of the WMO Global Observing System of the World Weather Watch. Canada has near 235 vessels participating. It closely follows WMO guidelines for VOS programs. The Canadian program is supported by full-time Port Meteorological Officers (PMO). The national program office in Toronto manages the program and oversees PMO activities. The office also maintains a VOS Program Computerized Data Management System to record PMO ship visits, vessel mailing addresses, vessel equipment inventories and other information about vessels reports. Any vessel willing to take and transmit observations in marine areas where Environment Canada prepares weather forecasts (see the regional annexes) can join the program. The importance of ship reports cannot be overstated. Without your participation in VOS, there would be vast marine areas without data, making marine forecasting nearly impossible for these areas. We thank ship officers for their fine work, dedication, and commitment.

Check out the SEAS program with your local Port Meteorological Officer. In the SEAS program, observations are sent via INMARSAT C and the cost of transmission is absorbed by a consortium of countries interested in timely reports from the seas of the world.

The WMO establishes the ships synoptic code, and procedures and standards for the collection and dissemination of information worldwide. The WMO also maintains information about countries and vessels participating in the program.