Met Tech keeps one eye on the weather, the other on the horizon
[caption id="attachment_21721" align="alignnone" width="593"] Meteorologist MCpl Dan Jacklin monitors special equipment to help him prepare a weather forecast on board HMCS Ottawa. Photo by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Captain Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~Most meteorologists have the luxury of forecasting the weather in the vicinity of an airport or city where they live. The weather patterns come to the location, do their business, and move on to the next location.Such is not the case for Master Corporal Dan Jacklin, one of two meteorologist technicians deployed in HMCS Ottawa. Unlike Met Techs ashore, MCpl Jacklin must keep an eye on the weather currently around the ship and must look ahead to where the ship will be when doing his forecasting.“Sailing is a unique challenge for a Met Tech,” says MCpl Jacklin. “I am responsible for putting together a weather brief for the Commanding Officer (CO) daily. My report can have a direct impact on operations – for example if a major weather system will occur along our voyage, the CO may decide to delay to avoid the storm, or direct the Navigating Officer to adjust our route to avoid it.”To assist the Met Techs on board Ottawa are several weather forecasting devices. There are two anemometers located on the mast to measure wind speed and direction, wet and dry bulb thermometers, portable barometers, and a barograph to monitor pressure trends.“A trend on the barograph that is heading down is an indication that inclement weather is on the way. If the ship can’t avoid it completely, the Commanding Officer may order preparations to safely weather the storm,” explains MCpl Jacklin.Unlike shore postings, serving on a ship does have some advantages for Met Techs, especially those at the Master Corporal rank.“What I enjoy about serving on a ship is that I...