How it works: Weather map layers
Julie Jeon avatar
Written by Julie Jeon
Updated over a week ago

Starboard provides oceanographic and meteorological information to provide context to vessel movements. This information is displayed on the map in high, medium, and low resolutions depending on the map’s zoom.

Wind velocity

Wind velocity corresponds to the wind speed and direction at a height of 10 m above the ground. We display data derived from the Global Forecast System analysis and forecast grids, which are maintained by the United States’ National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

Update frequency: daily at 1300 UTC.

Spatial resolution: medium and low; derived from a 0.25 × 0.25 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily average; derived from 6-hourly forecasts.

Delay: analysis data (which includes all of the available observational data taken during the specified period) has up to 2 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

Total wave height

Total wave height (technically known as total significant wave height) is the combined height of swell and sea waves. It is designed to represent what a mariner observes when estimating the wave height visually. We display data derived from the Global Ocean Waves Analysis and Forecast model by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.

Update frequency: twice daily at 0000 and 1200 UTC.

Spatial resolution: high, medium, and low; derived from a 0.083 × 0.083 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily average; derived from 3-hourly forecasts.

Delay: analysis data has up to 1.5 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

Sea surface temperature

Sea surface temperature is tuned to represent the water temperature at 1 m depth. We display data derived from the Global Ocean OSTIA Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis produced by MetOffice (UK) and published by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Prior to March 6, 2024 we display data from the Level 4 sea surface temperature analysis produced by the United States’ Naval Oceanographic Office as part of the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST).

Update frequency: daily at 0800 UTC.

Spatial resolution: high, medium, and low; derived from a 0.1 × 0.1 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily.

Notes: analysis data has up to 2 days (UTC) delay. We display the last available data when analyses are not yet available.

Resolution

We analyse and display layers in 3 resolutions based on a hexagonal geospatial grid.

Resolution

Average area

Average hexagon edge

High

253 km²

9 km

Medium

1,770 km²

23 km

Low

12,392 km²

60 km

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