Meteorology and Oceanography
This domain tests weather interpretation, wind and wave estimation, and local Caspian effects. It rewards candidates who can read a synoptic chart and convert forecasts into ship handling decisions.
Pressure, wind, and sea state
Buys Ballot's law: in the Northern Hemisphere, with your back to the wind, low pressure is on your left. Closely spaced isobars mean strong wind. Beaufort force 6 is 22–27 kn. Wave height depends on wind speed, fetch, and duration; a short fetch produces steep, confused seas. The Caspian's northern section is shallow, so seas build quickly and short, and seasonal ice occurs in winter.
Worked example
A forecast gives 25 kn. Convert to m/s: 25 × 0.514 = 12.9 m/s. This is Beaufort force 6. In open water, expect significant waves of about 2–3 m, but with a 20 km fetch the sea will be lower and steeper. Reduce speed and alter course to avoid pounding; do not use the offshore wave height for a shallow coastal passage.
Traps
Confusing apparent wind with true wind; reading isobar spacing without considering front location; ignoring squall lines; and assuming ocean swell forecasts apply inside the Caspian. Fog and rapid visibility loss near coasts are common examination scenarios.