Pitufa.at

Check out the extra layers available in above map (click on More… and on Winds…). The lon/lat coordinate grid (a feature I always missed in Google maps…) is switched on by default. Also check out our easy-to-use distance calculator.

For Cruisers

The above map may be helpful for route planning. View the monthly prevailing ocean winds (check out the Winds… box above) averaged over ten years. Data was taken from COGOW [1] and originates from the ‘SeaWinds’ scatterometer onboard the ‘QuikSCAT’ satellite. Check out their interactive wind atlas, too.

The arrows show the prevailing winds at a 2-by-2 degree lon/lat grid. The direction and length of the arrows correspond to the vectorially averaged monthly wind data over 10 years and over 2-by-2 degree areas (i.e., 32 COGOW data files were averaged for one arrow). The color of an arrow corresponds to the scalar averaged wind speed in knots. In addition, each arrow links to a wind rose image located at COGOW.

In addition to the prevailing wind arrows, a layer that shows the gale probability in 5-by-5 degree areas for each month as given in the U.S. Atlas of Pilot Charts [2] can be switched on in the map above.
The red numerals show the average percentage of ship reports in which winds of at least force 8 have been recorded for the considered month.

[1] Craig M. Risien and Dudley B. Chelton: A satellite-derived climatology of global ocean winds, Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume 105, Issue 3, December 2006, Pages 221-236.

[2] U.S. Defense Mapping Agency: Pub. 105, Atlas of Pilot Charts South Atlantic Ocean, Ed. 1995; Pub. 106, Atlas of Pilot Charts North Atlantic Ocean, Ed. 2002; Pub. 107, Atlas of Pilot Charts South Pacific Ocean, Ed. 1998; Pub. 108, Atlas of Pilot Charts North Pacific Ocean, Ed. 1994; Pub. 109, Atlas of Pilot Charts Indian Ocean, Ed. 2001

Disclaimer: These data are provided “as is.” In no event shall the providers be liable for any damages, including without limitation, damages resulting from lost profits or revenue, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages, arising out of the use of these data. While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable, the accuracy and reliability of these data is not guaranteed nor warranted in any way and the providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use these data.