Introduction
Weather is a driving force everywhere as weather and climate conditions affect all aspects of life on Earth. We’re especially accustomed to how daily and seasonal weather affects our holidays, gardens, crops, but also industries such as shipping as a timely warning of bad weather can save lives and avert disasters.
But understanding the weather is more critical to shipping than just avoiding a storm. By using accurate shipping forecasts, sea journeys can be adjusted to follow a course that is optimal for any given wind direction, wind speed and wave condition. As over 90% of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry the task of staying one step ahead of the weather is vital these days as without shipping the export and import of goods on the scale necessary for the modern world would not be possible.