Due to the importance of
surface weather observation
Surface weather observations are the fundamental data used for safety as well as climatological reasons to forecast weather and issue warnings worldwide. They can be taken manually, by a weather observer, by computer through the use of automate ...
s from the surface of the ocean, the voluntary observing ship program, known as VOS, was set up to train crews how to take weather observations while at sea and also to calibrate weather sensors used aboard ships when they arrive in port, such as
barometer
A barometer is a scientific instrument that is used to measure air pressure in a certain environment. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather. Many measurements of air pressure are used within surface weather analysis ...
s and
thermometer
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or a temperature gradient (the degree of hotness or coldness of an object). A thermometer has two important elements: (1) a temperature sensor (e.g. the bulb of a mercury-in-glass thermometer ...
s.
[National Data Buoy Center]
The WMO Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) Scheme.
Retrieved on 2008-01-13. An Automatic Voluntary Observing Ships (AVOS) System is an automated weather station that transmits VOS program reports.
See also
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Old Weather
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Gulf Stream#History
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AIREP
A pilot report or PIREP is a report of actual flight or ground conditions encountered by an aircraft. Reports commonly include information about atmospheric conditions (like temperature, icing, turbulence) or airport conditions (like runway con ...
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PIREP
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Citizen Weather Observer Program
The Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) is a network of privately owned electronic weather stations concentrated in the United States but also located in over 150 countries. Network participation allows volunteers with computerized weather sta ...
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Phenology
Phenology is the study of periodic events in biological life cycles and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors (such as elevation).
Examples include the date of emergence of leav ...
References
External links
The Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)JCOMM Voluntary Observing Ship SchemeVOS on NOSA
Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet
Dutch Voluntary Observing Ships and PMO Web Site
United States Voluntary Observing Ship Program
Meteorological data and networks
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