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Waterspouts sighted off Oregon coast
Jun 20, 2023It’s deja vu all over again: waterspouts are back off the Oregon Coast. In 2016, a waterspout came ashore and the tornado ripped through Manzanita, causing $1 million in damages, although no one was injured.
These formations are associated with strong thunderstorms and we’ve seen them more often off the coast in recent years.
The best way to handle a waterspout at sea (or on land as a tornado) is to avoid it.
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The back eddy: a cool and sometimes useful tidal anomaly on the Columbia
Jun 16, 2023I happened to be looking out over the Columbia River in Astoria this week and saw an interesting water anomaly that I’d never noticed before. It turned out to be an effect from a tidal eddy, something to watch out for if you’re in a small boat, and another sign of the power of our mighty river and the moon and sun, which conspire together to create our tides.
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Wind and the incredible advent of the ship’s engine
Jun 15, 2023Today we’ll talk about wind and engines, and how they differ in their ability to get ships to where they want to go.
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A look at our ship schedules, and a little about time and ships
Jun 14, 2023Today we’ll talk about who’s on the river and take a quick look at the concept of a “ship schedule” on the river… it’s not like buses and trains. Ships depart and arrive according to a complex set of factors. We as the public get to see them as they go, when they go.
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Ship paint colors
Jun 13, 2023Today we’ll talk about typical ship paint color schemes and some ideas on why they are that way. A big factor: visibility at sea.
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The Rose Festival Fleet departs today
Jun 12, 2023Today our visiting Rose Festival ships depart. We’ll talk about who is headed downriver and when you might be able to see them pass by.
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River Pilots – a look at their work
Jun 09, 2023I got a listener question about river pilots and so I thought it would be fun to talk more specifically about their work, another seldom-seen aspect of river expertise and experience.
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Rose Festival Fleet update, and change of plans
Jun 08, 2023It looks like the last of the military vessels arriving for the Rose Festival in Portland are passing by us today on the river. We saw a change of plans for one ship, the USS Lake Champlain, which had been at the Port of Astoria for the past few days – she headed out to sea yesterday, after what was evidently a change in orders. But we have another arriving US Navy ship this morning. So there will be plenty to sea at the festival this weekend.
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More Rose Festival Fleet ships arrive in the river
Jun 07, 2023Today a look at our ship schedule, which includes three new arriving Rose Festival Fleet visiting vessels: two Canadian Navy ships early in the am (5:30-6:30am past Astoria inbound) and a US Navy ship that will arrive at the Port of Astoria around 2:30 pm.
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Tuesday Fleet Week update
Jun 06, 2023More about who’s coming into the river this week for the Rose Festival Fleet,
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