Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cool Cat: day 15

Position = N2.09.740 W 127.38.670

Miles completed = 1860
In the last 48 hours = 277
Still to go = 1172

A few days ago, Darren's mother Marion asked me a question about crossing the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) and I didn't know the answer, so I started doing some research and drawing some graphs. Wikipedia defines the ITCZ as "known by sailors as the Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together." Cruisers always talk about "crossing the Equator" which is 0 degrees, but it's not the imaginary line that's the challenge but rather crossing the "meteorological Equator."

At the NOAA website, four times/day you can get a High Seas Forecast for specific regions. One of the regions gives information regarding the axis of the ITCZ. The axis is defined as " the dividing line between the southeast trades and the northeast trades (of the Southern and Northern hemispheres, respectively). Here is the ITCZ for Tuesday with Cool Cat's Monday position noted:

By today, Cool Cat had crossed the meteorological equator and should soon be enjoying the southeast tradewinds.

In Darren's message to his dad, he said, "Think doldrums, over. Going well.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Arlete. You should be on board Cool Cat with your sextant. While you were researching I was out playing golf. I had a win last Wednesday in a field of 178 players. Thanks for your efforts, the charts were great and all new info to me.....Geo R

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