Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

A. 2 Meteorological observations
A. 2.1 Weather situation during the cruise leg ARK XIX/3a
Möller; H.-J.
Leaving Bremerhaven a warm front of a North Atlantic low crossed the East Frisian
Islands with some rain, drizzle and poor visibility. Weather improved in English Channel
rapidly and approaching Brest fine high pressure influenced weather was observed.
Fig. A2.1-1: Analysis from 2003-06-05 06 UTC
Settings sails at Brest on 2003-06-02 a
great and stabile low had formed at the
sea area between Iceland and Ireland. It
influenced weather at Porcupine Sea
Bight with mainly south-westerly winds
about 5 Bft. But by passing of fronts,
troughs or secondary lows wind
changed to south and increased to 7 Bft
with gusts up to 8 Bft. Then sea state
grew up from 2 metres to 4 metres for
a time.
Approaching Porcupine Bank on 2003-06-11 weather did not change fundamental. Again
mainly south-westerly winds force 5 or 6 Bft with seas about 2 metres were observed. But
on 2003-06-12 and 2003-06-14 wedges of high pressure crossed the area eastward with
decreasing wind and sea state.
In the following a great cyclone formed south of
Iceland and the well-known large-scale weather
situation set in again. On 2003-06-17 a secondary low
deepened to a gale centre in the central northern
Atlantic. It moved to northeast quickly. Its fronts
crossed to operation area of RV “Polarstern” in the
following night with storm force south and southwest.
The sea state up to 5 metres and wind force 8 Bft
decreased slowly in the afternoon of the 2003-06-18.
Fig. 2.1-2 : Satellite Image
from 2003-06-03 16:45 UTC
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