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June Gloom comes a bit early this year
Today we’ll take a look at a regular but not always welcome Pacific Northwest springtime phenomenon: The pervasive “June Gloom,” when that cool hazy marine layer shows up, and stays.
So our weather is cool but not cold, not really sunny (but sometimes kind of sunny) but not raining either. It’s what happens this time of year.
Meteorologists call it June Gloom, and this year it showed up a bit early.
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A bit about fog (and fog horns), a signature sight (and sound) of maritime communities
We hear fog horns quite often in the waters near Astoria and elsewhere on the river. Today we’ll talk about why they are necessary, legally required and a signature feature of maritime communities.
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Another look at the deceptive conundrum of cold water and safety
We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its beauty rivals any resort on the planet. On a sunny day, it’s paradise. So why all the warnings about staying out of the water even in summer?
Today we’ll explore (in a little more depth) the topic of cold water dangers in the Pacific Northwest, and why the water never really warms up here.
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Pilot basics: a look at maritime pilots on the river
For new folks in town, or listeners new to the show, here’s a basic look at what’s going on out there on the river off Astoria in terms of maritime pilots: those seasoned, expert professionals who help transiting ships get safely in and out of the river.
We have two different sets of pilots here, and we’ll talk about what they do, and how (if you are observant) you can see them at work.
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The lives of ships
When you see a ship passing on the river, whether inbound or outbound, what you are seeing is a brief snapshot in the long life of that vessel, and the lives of the folks on board. Today we’ll talk about the lives of ships.
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Tides: how they’re measured and why they happen
Tides play such a big role in our waters both on the ocean and the river. It’s good to revisit some things about them from time to time: like why they happen, how they are measured, and how they can complicate things for folks out on the river in vessels, but make things more fun for clammers.
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Cool spring conditions remind us of cold water dangers
A reminder that we live in the Pacific Northwest, a beautiful place with cold waters and strong currents year round. As the weather gets nice, let’s keep in mind that our waters remain chilly and life threatening for the unprepared.
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A look at how ships load and balance cargo, and why it’s so important
Cargo is loaded onto ships very deliberately and with a lot of calculation and forethought. Part of the reason is to anticipate how that cargo must be unloaded and in what order, at the dock.
But even more important, imbalanced cargo can lead to tragedy and loss at sea, and even right at the dock.
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Polar Star returns from Antarctica
I always like talking about this ship, because of her unique job and the role she plays in keeping people safe in a challenging part of the world.
The USCG icebreaker Polar Star is a ship specially designed to handle difficult conditions that would sink most vessels. She’s an older ship, but well maintained, and she just returned from a special annual mission in Antarctica.
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Weather and some ship talk
Today we talk about the weather – always a fascinating topic in our coastal region. And some interesting details about today’s arriving ships.
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Monday through Friday (except major holidays) watch for 10-MINUTE SHIP REPORTS: Ship Traffic, Marine Weather, News and Interviews
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The Ship Report is also broadcast Weekdays at 8:49 am on Coast Community Radio Astoria, Oregon
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