To get to a place on land, you use a road or highway. But did you know that there are highways for the sea, too?
One of them is the Alaska Marine Highway System, which ships use to transport people and vehicles to coastal communities on a year-round basis. It covers about 3,500 miles from Bellingham, Washington, to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. How long is that? Well, from Miami to Seattle is a little more than 3,000 miles.
To complete this route safely, ship captains rely on accurate weather predictions from the National Weather Service. Marine forecasters focus on wind (both speed and direction) and waves, as well as hazardous weather and reductions to visibility, since these are most dangerous to ships. Forecasters use data collected by floating weather sensors together with satellite imagery and computer models to produce a forecast. Ship captains receive these vital forecasts instantly by satellite, helping to keep them out of danger. And if they have questions about a forecast, they can call the National Weather Service office that issued the forecast, to get additional information to keep them safe. The job of marine forecasters is to “protect life and property” from the ravages of the sea.
Captains appreciate being able to call a forecaster because powerful storms can develop over waters like the Gulf of Alaska at any time of year. Imagine trying to stay afloat in hurricane force winds with waves 20 feet high. Caught in a storm without a name, you’re helpless as your ship plunges into troughs and is threatened by towering black waves. And if your ship capsizes, you won’t survive long in the freezing waters.
With storms this dangerous, you’d want all the weather information that you could get, which is why the job of marine forecasters is so vital. They help keep safe travelers on the Alaska Marine Highway System and other waters. Weather on the open ocean can be unforgiving and capable of sinking any ship. Next time you’re on a highway, be thankful that it’s made of land and not water!
