About the Marine Modeling and Analysis Branch Hazard map

The hazard map is intended to provide a quick look summary of ocean areas that might have conditions of concern. This is an experimental product being modified regularly in order to reach that goal.

Conditions currently included are: Sea ice, vessel icing, ocean fog, and high waves. The valid time is 00Z (effectively midnight Greenwich Mean Time) of the day marked on the map. The information sources are: sea ice taken from the current day's operational automated sea ice analysis, vessel icing taken from the operational model's nowcast, fog taken from the operational model's nowcast, wave heights are taken from the experimental global ocean wave model.

The critical values are currently taken to be: sea ice concentration greater than 15%, any vessel icing, fog (visibility less than 3 nautical miles, 5.6 km), and significant wave heights greater than 2.5 or 5 meters. The 2.5 meters level (8 ft) is given low priority (see below) and shown in a pale red. Waves greater than 5 meters (16 ft) are given the highest priority and shown in bright red.

Two map presentations are available. You are automatically shown the northern hemisphere latitude-longitude map on loading the products page. There is also a north pole-centered map which you can reach by clicking where told to.

Only one hazard is marked for a given location. The highest precedence is given to waves over 5 m. If there are high waves in an area, that is what is shown, regardless of the other conditions. Next is vessel icing, then fog, sea ice, and finally waves over 2.5 meters (8 ft).

Clicking on the name of a hazard in the above list will take you to the branch page which deals with that item in detail. Please note that only one hazard is marked on the figure. If two hazards are present, the one highest on the list is shown. Only high waves are shown in an area, for example, even if there is also fog or vessel icing. Vessel icing is shown rather than fog.

As this is a new and experimental product we are particularly interested in your comments on how to make it more useful. Please write , NCEP.EMC.MarineWeb@noaa.gov with your suggestions.

Last update 26 May 1998
Last modified 8 July 2002