Old Weather Forum

Under revision

x

---

---

---

Getting started

---

For a quick overview, see
OWA tutorial — Created by Molly Pifko/mfpif, a 2021 Old Weather intern
(Although it was written during the Arctic ship phase, it also generally applies to the Federal ship phase.)
and
Sacramento: examples


If you haven't already viewed the tutorials, please see:

• Installing and Setting Up
• Using the Spreadsheet
• Hints, Tips and Tricks
• Using the Tracker
• Uploading Your Data

If you are having trouble with LibreOffice or your spreadsheet, see LibreOffice -- Updates and Questions and Transcribing Tricks and Helpful Hints


The topic Current ships shows what ships and years are available.
The discussion topics for each ship (e.g., Sacramento (1923): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...) have more details and allow you to claim a month, ask questions, and post comments.


Weather and event pages may be in separate images


or in a single image

---

If you are new to Old Weather, take a look at Basics before beginning to transcribe.


Transcribing the Weather page









Transcribing the Events page

• Date
• Location
• Sailing information
• Ice
• Events

---

Links to other posts within this topic will open in the same tab, replacing the topic you were looking at.
These links can be recognized because they do not have an underline: Basics vs. Current ships.
The advantage of this system is that you can jump to a point within a post.
To open the link in a new tab, right click on the link and then select the "Open in new tab" option from the menu that pops up.

This system is evolving over time and the format of the logs transcribed varies widely.
We do our best to keep the instructions current, but what you see here may differ from what you see when transcribing.


If you have questions or problems, don't hesitate to ask.
That's what we are here for
You can post in the Discussion topic for your ship-year, Ask Questions Here, or send a PM (Private Message) to Randi and/or Michael.
You will also find your fellow transcribers very willing to help!

Basics

---

Entering data

• If you are on a weather page and don't see the weather grid or on an events page and do see the weather grid, make sure Log | Events is set correctly.
  
• You can only make one entry per cell. If you make a second entry, it will overwrite the first.
• To enter latitude and longitude, events, or sea surface temperature, right click to select a cell within one of the blue boxes.
  A blue-bordered box will appear on the page together with a menu from which you can select the appropriate wizard.
  
• Occasionally there will be an extra line of weather data when they change time zones and gain an hour.
  See Time zone changes for how to transcribe it.
• In general, you should enter exactly what the log keeper wrote, or your best guess at that, even if it is clearly wrong.
  However, there are some exceptions:
  - Incorrect dates and data in the wrong column should be corrected.
  - Do not try to enter the degree symbol.
  - Some abbreviations and omissions are now permitted. See Type what you see and short cuts for more details.
• Update: Michael has requested that we do not use Enter to start a new line when entering event text with the Event Input Wizard. It causes problems when he processes the data. Just let the text wrap.
  In some of my examples I have used Enter. I will work on changing the examples.

Viewing log pages in your browser

Looking at previous and subsequent pages is often helpful when you are having trouble reading something.
Clicking the Open In Browser button will open the JPG image in your default browser.
You can then look at other pages by editing the URL.

For example, starting from
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/74/96/29009674/content/hub/2016-05/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923_071.jpg
You can look at the corresponding events page by editing the page number
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/74/96/29009674/content/hub/2016-05/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923_072.jpg
You can look at the next day's weather page by editing the page number
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/74/96/29009674/content/hub/2016-05/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923/USS_Sacramento_07011923_to_08311923_073.jpg

Time

---

In the Lat/Long and Event Input Wizards you can either select a time from the drop-down list (Noon, 8AM, 8PM, 0800, 1200, and 2000) or type in a value.

Some logs use the AM/PM system, and some use the 24-hour system.
You can use whichever system you find most convenient.
When using the AM/PM system, always specify if the time is AM or PM even if it is not noted in the log.

In general, the time will be the time associated with the event.
If the time is not specified, use the start time of the watch in which the event occurs.
If you are transcribing the location at the top of the page (not normally required) or if there is no time that applies, enter 0000 or 00.

Midnight is ambiguous because it can be either the start of the day or the end.
Use 0000 to indicate Midnight at start of the day and for events during Mid to 4AM watch when the exact time is not given.
Use 2400 to indicate Midnight at end of the day.
Do not use 1200 or 12:00 for midnight even if that is what is in the log.


Examples

• Entering latitude and longitude with the Lat/Long Wizard:
  
• Entering a location with the Event Wizard:
  
• Entering a location and course with the Event Wizard:
  
  This occurs during the 4AM to 8AM watch, so you know that the time is 4:25AM.
  You could also enter the time as 0425.
• Entering multiple types of Sailing Info for two different times with the Event Wizard:
  
  This occurs during the 4AM to 8AM watch, so you know that the time is 6:00AM.
  You could also enter the time as 0600.
  Since 6:45 is in the event text box, there is no need to specify AM.

Date

---

Every page must have the correct date.
In earlier phases of OW, the general rule was not to make additions or corrections.
That is no longer the case. In OW Federal ships, the transcriptions are organized by date.
If the date is missing or incorrect your transcription of the page may be misplaced or lost.
Please add the date if it is missing and correct it if it is incorrect (not unusual in early January).
If you add or correct the date, it would be helpful if you added a Transcriber Comment with a Subtype of Date and a brief explanation.

• Weather and events in a single image are straightforward.
  You enter, or edit, the date for each image.
  
  
• Weather and events in separate images are slightly more complicated.
  You enter, or edit, the date for each weather page.
  
  When you go to the events page, the last date entered is displayed and will be saved.
  However, changes to the date displayed will not be saved.
  
  
  To correct the date on an events page, use the Log | Events button to display the weather grid.
  
  Enter the correct date.
  
  Use the Log | Events button again to return to the events grid.

Weather records

---

The original page can be viewed here
The fully transcribed weather page can be viewed here
A detail of the whole grid can be viewed here

---

The Old Weather forum library has a section on Weather, sea, and ice terminology.
You may find this helpful when you are trying to puzzle out a log entry or if you would like more information.

There is also a section on Points of the compass.
You may find this helpful when transcribing wind directions (and courses).
In most of the current logs wind direction and course are indicated using letters (N, S, E, W), but sometimes you will see degrees.
Sometimes you see both: Course, 5PM to 8PM.

Most important of all: Don't hesitate to ask for help in the forum.
You can post in the Discussion topic for your ship-year, Ask Questions Here, or send a PM (Private Message) to Randi and/or Michael.

---

Transcribe any weather information that appears in a red box.
If you don't see the weather grid, make sure Events Box is not checked.

To enter a value, simply click in the box.
Be sure to note the value in the box, because it will be obscured as soon as you start to type.
You can enter the data by rows by pressing the Tab key after entering the value in the box.
You can enter the data by columns by pressing the Enter key after entering the value in the box.
As you become familiar with the basic system, you can look into the helpful macros that we have created.

Remember that this system is evolving over time and that the format of the logs transcribed varies widely.
We do our best to keep the instructions current, but what you see here may differ from what you see when transcribing.

---

While typed logs are generally easier to read, they can have some problems.
A long word, one space too many, or one space too few can put all or part of an entry in the wrong box.
Here is an example where some wind direction entries overflow the box and a missing space threw off the alignment on the 11PM line.
The original page can be viewed here
A detail of the whole grid can be viewed here

---

When clocks are set ahead or back by an hour the weather grid may have a gap or an extra line.
See Time zone changes for how to handle this.

---

As usual, the general rule is Type What You See (TWYS) even if it is obviously wrong.
And as usual, there are some special cases:

• Sometimes you are not sure what you are seeing.
  • In many cases, looking at other entries on the page and on previous and subsequent pages will help.
  • Don't hesitate to ask questions in the forum!
  • Then, make your best guess.
• Sometimes it is not possible to type what you are seeing.
  • Degree symbols should be omitted. They are not included in the character set we use.
    In the context of direction, temperature, and location the meaning is normally clear without the symbol.
    If necessary the word degrees can be written out.
  • In some contexts it may be necessary to convert fractions to decimals for clarity.
    However, in the case of wind directions and courses, TWYS.
    
  • You may see a course or wind direction written without the line in the fraction.
    
    This should be transcribed as N3/4W. N34W has a different meaning.
• If you are certain that the data is in the wrong column, enter it in the correct column and use the Event Wizard to add a Transcriber Comment.
  For example, in the afternoon the log keeper switched the weather code and cloud code columns.
  • You sometimes see a wet bulb temperature higher than the dry bulb temperature.
    This does indicate a problem, but it does not mean that the data is in the wrong column.
    Do not switch them.
• Shortcuts
  • For wind directions, cloud types, and Weather by Symbol the case does not matter.
    Periods and spaces can generally be omitted.
    For wind direction n will be treated the same as North...
  • When entering barometer height, you may want to turn on Pressure Data Auto-Fill (on the Setup sheet).
    With that, once you have entered a valid pressure, all you need to do is enter the last two digits.

---

The grid also includes some non-weather information:

• The observation times, 1-12 AM and 1-12 PM, have already been filled in for you.
  No action is necessary
  Don't worry if the log uses different notation (Meridian, Noon, Midnight, 0000 to 2400, ...).
• Hourly information on the ship's course and distance covered should be transcribed.
  See Course and Distance for more information.
• The Sea column(s) do not need to be transcribed because they are not generated by the current weather.
  However, as in this example, sometimes ice is mentioned in one of those columns.
  Any mentions of sea ice in the grid should be transcribed.
  See Ice for more information.

Time zone changes

---

Changing time zones can cause problems.

In some logs there are multiple small adjustments such as: 6:20 retarded clocks 12 minutes.
This avoids jumps of one hour that cause problems in the weather grid.
There is no need to record these entries.

However, when clocks are set ahead or back by an hour the weather grid may be affected.

If the clocks are set ahead, there may be a line with no data.
If there is a missing row of data and the page states that clocks were set ahead, please create a Transcriber Comment event (in one of the blue boxes) similar to this example.


If clocks are set back, there may be two lines with data for the same hour.
The spreadsheet is fixed at 24 entries, so we need to enter two lines of data into one line of the spreadsheet.
This can be done by putting pairs of numbers in a single box with a slash (/) to separate them.
Michael has requested that we change to a vertical bar or a comma to avoid having the numbers processed as a date.
I will update the image when I have time
This can be done by putting pairs of numbers in a single box with a vertical bar (|) to separate them.

For readability, please add a space before and after the vertical bar.
You will probably need to shift subsequent rows up one so that they are correctly aligned with the hours.

In a case like this, please create a Transcriber Comment event (in one of the blue boxes) similar to this example.

Course and Distance

---

Have a look at some of Michael's plots!

There is no need to transcribe the course when anchored because the course is simply the direction the ship is pointed. As she swings with the currents, her head points in different directions. This is not used by our analysts because there is no displacement. Here is an example: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 7-0072.jpg

The hours, 1-12 AM and 1-12 PM, have already been filled in for you.

Even if a number is clearly wrong, please transcribe it as written.
In you are certain that the data is in the wrong column, enter it in the correct column and use the Event Wizard to add a Transcriber Comment.

---

If both the Nautical Miles and Tenths and the Patent Log columns are filled in, you only need to transcribe the Nautical Miles and Tenths column.
If the Nautical Miles and Tenths column is not filled in or is unreadable, transcribe the Patent Log column if it is available.
Always transcribe the Course column.

The log has a column for Nautical Miles and a column for Tenths.
Please combine the values in these columns and enter them as a decimal number, as above.
For example, 3 Nautical Miles + 8 Tenths = 3.8.
Simply click in the box, note the value in the box, because it will be obscured as soon as you start to type, and then type in the value.

New: An option for entering the Miles and tenths separately has been added to the spreadsheet. If you choose this option, which is on the Setup page, then you enter the miles and tenths columns separately. When the data are saved, the spreadsheet combines the two values appropriately. So, you would enter 8 in the miles column and 3 in the tenths column, and the data would be saved as 8.3. Note, there is no need to enter a zero in the tenths column because 8 is the same as 8.0.

You can enter the data by rows (press the Tab key after entering the data) or by columns (press the Enter key after entering the data).


There are a few tricky cases.

• A change of time zones may result in clocks being set ahead causing a line with no data.
  https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 2_0233.JPG
  If the weather page or the events page states that clocks were set ahead, please create an event (in one of the blue boxes) similar to this example.
  
• A change of time zones may also result in clocks being set back causing two lines with data for the same hour.
  https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 7-0054.jpg
  If the weather page or the events page states that clocks were set back, please create an event (in one of the blue boxes) similar to this example.
  
  Since the spreadsheet is fixed at 24 entries, we need to be a little creative and enter two lines of data into one line of the spreadsheet.
  This can be transcribed by putting pairs of numbers in a single box with a vertical bar (|) to separate them.
  
  In cases like Northwind's log you may also need adjust the grid so that subsequent rows are correctly aligned with the hours.
• Occasionally, a 'half-hour' row will have been added because of a speed or course change.

Location

---

Introduction

Location is perhaps the most difficult information to transcribe because locations occur in many places and in many formats.
However, this information is as important as the weather and ice data.
Knowing that the ship encountered ice or that it was raining at 5PM is of limited use if you don't know where the ship was.

Michael uses the location information, along with Course and Distance and Sailing information, to determine the ship's hourly position.
Here are some examples of his work:

• Bear 1891 (Summer)
• Bear 1897 (Summer)
• Bear 1902

See Calculating Locations for a description of the process.

Location should only be used to record the current position of the ship.
You may see entries like "took on passengers for Nome" or "on course for King Island".
These should not be transcribed as locations.


Where are the locations?

• With the weather pages, the location fields are generally at the top and either at the bottom or in the middle.
  The exact details will vary.
  (Click on either image to open a full size page.)
  
  For more information, see Top of page location and 8AM/Noon/8PM locations under Examples.
  
• With the event pages, locations may be mentioned in the text.
  When present, these locations can be a very important complement to the 8AM/Noon/8PM locations on the weather page.
  (Click on image to open a full size page.)
  

What are the location formats?

• Latitude and longitude
  
  
  
  
  For more information, see Latitude and Longitude under Examples.
  
• Place reference
  For simplicity, the term place reference will be used for a name by itself (Nome), a name with bearing and distance (Nome bearing NNE distance 1 mi), cross bearings (East Jetty 13 True, Fort Davis 89 True), and less specific descriptions (Nome abeam 3 mi, Nome bearing NNW, from Nome to Dutch Harbor).
  In general, if precise descriptions are available, there is no need to transcribe the less specific descriptions.
  
  
  
  
  
  For more information, see Place reference under Examples.

---

Examples

If you are not quite sure how to start, take a look at Basics (this includes some shortcuts and abbreviations) and transcribing_guide_time.


Top of page location

According to Instructions for keeping the ship's log, Page 3, General Instructions, item 2c, the location at the top of the page is the location of the vessel at the beginning of the day.

In most of our current logs, the location at the top of the page is clear from information on the previous and current pages, and it is not necessary to transcribe it.

You are only required to transcribe the location in a case like this where there is no other location information on the page.

For more information, see the first example under Place references.


8AM/Noon/8PM locations

Normally all positions should be transcribed.
However:

• If they are all the same, as when the ship is in port all day, noon is sufficient.
• If the log has two fields for noon position and they are identical, only one needs to be transcribed.
  If they are different (e.g., a place reference and a lat/long), both should be entered.

Latitude and longitude

Latitude and longitude are normally entered using the Lat/Long Wizard.

• If the log does not specify whether the latitude and longitude are Obs or DR (weather page, 8AM), use the type Not Specified.
  
  
• If the log gives both Obs (observed) and DR (dead reckoning) positions (Noon), it is not necessary to include the DR.
  
  
• The above examples come from weather pages.
  You may occasionally see latitude and longitude on events pages (8AM to Merid).
  Such latitudes and longitudes are very helpful, and Michael has requested that they be transcribed using the Event Input Wizard with type Sailing Info and subtype Location.
  
  You know the time is 9:19AM rather than 9:19PM because it appears during the 8AM to Merid watch.
  
• Degrees and minutes are fairly standard.
  Beyond that, you may see:
  • Seconds
    
    
  • Minutes with the seconds as a decimal
    
    
    
  • Minutes with a fraction appended (8PM).
    The fraction must be either converted to seconds or combined with the minutes.
    - or -
• If there is no Obs, transcribe DR if it is available (Noon).
  
• If the observed latitude or longitude is missing (8PM), include the corresponding DR value if available.
  Either
  • Make two entries: one for the Obs value and one for the DR value.
  or
  • Make one entry with the type set to DR since that is the worst case.

Latitude and longitude combined with sailing information (8AM to Merid) can be transcribed in two ways.
Either

• Enter anchored as Sailing information and enter the latitude and longitude as shown above.

or

• Enter both items with the Event Input Wizard using type Sailing Info and subtype Mixed.
  
  The log text "in 18 fathoms of water, to await clear weather" is not useful and can be omitted.
  
  Michael breaks the spreadsheet output into hourly blocks, so additional location and/or sailing information can be entered into one entry as long as they occur during the same hour (e.g., between 9:00AM and 9:59AM in the example above).
  Do not include ice reports.

Latitude and longitude combined with ice (4 to 8 AM) can also be transcribed in two ways.
Either

• Enter the ice as Ice and enter the latitude and longitude as shown above.

or

• Enter both items with the Event Input Wizard using type Ice and subtype Mixed.
  
  Since no time is specified, use the start time of the watch.
  Putting these on separate lines is a matter of personal preference.
  
  You may also include sailing information in this Ice/Mixed entry provided it occurred at the same time.
  OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice 60 45N 165 23W. Cc 225 mag.
  The course change above occurs at 2:28, so it can be included with the ice remark.
  Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice 60 45N 165 23W. 2:55 Cc 225 mag.
  The course change above occurs at a different time, so it should be entered separately as type Sailing Info and subtype Course Change.
  
  Additional location and/or sailing information can be entered into one entry as long as it occurs during the same hour and includes a mention of ice.
  OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice 60 45N 165 23W. 2:55 entered broken ice. cc 225 mag.
  Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice 60 45N 165 23W. 2:55 cc 225 mag.

Sometimes the log omits the cardinal direction (N/S or E/W) (8PM).
Please add it if you feel confident in doing so, but remember that if you go far enough west the longitude becomes east!
Part of Alaska is in the eastern hemisphere and part of Russia is in the western hemisphere.
Usually our ships are north of the equator which is the default hemisphere. Also, our ships are usually in the Western hemisphere but, unfortunately, the Eastern hemisphere is the default. When the Longitude is converted to a decimal, 153 52 will be converted to 153.87 degrees, whereas 153 52W will be converted to -153.87 degrees. The log keepers are pretty good about adding the E and W when they cross or are near the 180th meridian so generally it is safe to add the W to the longitude if it is not given.
You can add a Transcriber Comment to explain your changes, but if they occur frequently just make one general comment.

Place references

Place references without other data are entered using the Event Input Wizard with type Sailing Info and subtype Location.

• If the only location information on the weather page is at the top, it should be transcribed (page).
  
  Remember to click in the blue box, indicated by the red circle, rather than at the top of the page.
  The time can be left blank. Michael will convert this to 0000.
  You could enter just Unalaska rather than Unalaska, Alaska.
  
• Sometimes the 8AM, Noon, or 8PM location is a place reference (weather page, Noon).
  
  You could enter Nome, Alaska rather than just Nome.
  
• Place references are common on the events pages (4am to 8am).
  
  This example may be entered as in the log, or it may be abbreviated as: Rocky Pt brg 3 t, 36 mi dist.
  
• In some logs you may see the notation magnetic (Noon).
  This is helpful information and should be included.
  

Place references combined with stopped, got underway, or a course change are entered using the Event Input Wizard with type Sailing Info and subtype Mixed.

• (8am to Meridian)
  
  This example may be entered as in the log, or it may be abbreviated as: anchored off Nome, East Jetty 13 t, Fort Davis 89 t.
  Putting these on separate lines is a matter of personal preference.
  
  (Midnight to 4am)
  
  This example may be entered as in the log, or it may be abbreviated as: Scotch Cap LH brg 320 t. 12:50 cc 308.
  
  Michael breaks the spreadsheet output into hourly blocks, so additional location and/or sailing information can be entered into one entry as long as it occurs during the same hour (e.g., between midnight and 12:59am in the example above).
  Do not include ice reports.

Place references combined with ice are entered using the Event Input Wizard with type Ice and subtype Mixed.

• (6pm to 8pm)
  
  This example may be entered as in the log, or it may be abbreviated as: 3.7 mi 5 t from Pt Belcher, steering various westerly and southerly courses following edge of ice field..
  
  You may also include sailing information in this Ice/Mixed entry provided it occurred at the same time.
  OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. Cc 225 mag.
  The course change above occurs at 2:28, so it can be included with the ice remark.
  Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 Cc 225 mag.
  The course change above occurs at a different time, so it should be entered separately as type Sailing Info and subtype Course Change.
  
  Additional location and/or sailing information can be entered into one entry as long as it occurs during the same hour and includes a mention of ice.
  OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 entered broken ice. Cc 225 mag.
  Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 Cc 225 mag.

---

Help

The Old Weather forum library has sections on:

• Geographical help
• Points of the compass

You may find these helpful when you are trying to puzzle out a log entry or if you would like more information.

Michael and propriome created OW Tools.
This is useful for locating your ship when only latitude and longitude are given and is extremely helpful with place references.

Don't hesitate to ask for help!
Use the Discussion topic for your ship-year or Ask Questions Here,
or send a message to Randi and/or Michael.

Sailing information

---

Introduction

Michael uses the sailing information listed below, along with Location and Course and Distance, to determine the ship's hourly position.
See Calculating Locations for a description of the process.

There is no need to transcribe drift, current, or ship's head.
An example of these can be seen in the Midnight to 4am watch here.

If you are not quite sure how to start, take a look at Basics and Time.

Sailing information is normally entered using the Event Input Wizard with type Sailing info.
When sailing information is combined with ice reports and at the exact same time, not merely the same hour, it can be entered with the type Ice.
Ice should never be reported using the type Sailing Info.

For simplicity, in the following discussion stopped/started will be used to mean any of the following: Anchored, Hove To, Stopped, or Got Underway.

---

Subtypes: Anchored, Hove To, Stopped, Got Underway

• Anchored means that the ship remains in a fixed position.
  Moored and came to can be entered as anchored.
• Hove to means that the ship is moving with tide, current, and wind.
  Drifting and lying to can be entered as hove to.
• Stopped can be used when you are not sure if the ship is anchored or hove to.
  For example, if the log says made fast to, you may not be sure whether or not the object the ship is made fast to is moving.
• Got Underway means the ship has started moving.
  Underway, proceeding, stood out, standing down, etc. can all be entered as got underway

There is no need to record entries that do not reflect a change, such as anchored as before, anchored, underway as before, and underway.
It is not always clear if an entry indicates a change, but an extra entry is better than a missed entry.

Also, there is no need to record stops lasting less than an hour if no location is mentioned. Stopping to collect oceanographic data or to switch engines or steering control can be ignored if the position is not specified. Location information should always be transcribed!

On the weather page (below the weather grid), you may see entries for hours at anchor or hours underway.
It is not necessary to transcribe these numbers or the words anchored or underway.

• Here is an example from the 4pm to 8pm watch.
  
  You know the time is 4:50PM rather than 4:50AM because it appears during the 4pm to 8pm watch.
  There is no point transcribing the log text "stood various courses out of St. Michael harbor" because we already know the ship is in St. Michael harbor and various courses is not helpful.
• When location information, such as a place name or anchor bearings, is associated with stopped/started, the location and stopped/started information can be combined using the subtype Mixed (below).
• Reports combining stopped/started and ice have stricter rules, see Ice.

---

Subtypes: Location

This is complicated and is done using the Event Input Wizard or the Lat/Long Wizard depending on what you are entering, so it has its own section.
See Location.

---

Subtype: Course Change

As the name implies, we only want changes.
The entry "Underway on course 47 pgc and true" at the beginning of the 4am to 8am watch does not need to be transcribed because the course is a continuation of what it was during the previous watch.
It is not always clear if an entry indicates a change, but an extra entry is better than a missed entry.

The log usually says course change, c.c., or cc.
However, sometimes it will just say course, and you will need to determine if it is a course change by looking at the previous mention of the course.
Course change can be abbreviated to cc. This makes course changes easier for Michael to spot.

In some of the older logs, course changes may be logged as:

• Wore ship to the Wd; or,
• Tacked ship to the Wd.

In cases like these, you can still use cc Wd.

There is no need to include comments regarding the speed.

When a course change has a True value and something else, only the True value needs to be transcribed.
For example, the entry "Changed course to 74 psc, 90 true" during the Midnight to 4 a.m. watch can be transcribed as "cc 90 t".

• During the 4am to 8am watch there are four course changes and they can be transcribed in three entries.
  
  
  
  
  Putting these on separate lines is a matter of personal preference.
  
  
  
  Because Michael breaks the spreadsheet output into hourly blocks, the course changes at 5:05 and 5:35 can be entered together, but they cannot be combined with the course changes at 4:20 and 6:28.
  You know the times are AM rather than PM because they appear during the 4am to 8am watch.
• For an example combining course change and ice, see Ice.

---

Subtype: Mixed

It is perfectly correct to transcribe stopped/started, locations, and course changes separately, but you will probably find it more convenient to combine them using the subtype Mixed.
Remember that Mixed does not allow the transcribing of ice reports.
Any mention of ice, even if it is combined with stopped/started, locations, or course changes, must use type Ice rather than type Sailing info. See Ice.

• Here are two examples from the 8am to merid watch.
  
  We know this is a course change because at 9:00 the course was changed to 145.
  
  
  This example may be entered as in the log, or it may be abbreviated as: anchored off St. Michael
  Whale Id LH brg 236 t dist 5/8 mi.
  
  You know the times are AM rather than PM because they appear during the 8am to merid watch.
  
  The 10:00 location and 10:40 course change can be combined because they occur within the same hour (10:00 to 10:59).
  Anchoring and the location need to be in a separate entry because they occur during a different hour (11:00 to 11:59).

---

Subtype: Other

As the name suggests, Other is used to transcribe information that relates to the ship's location or movement but doesn't fit in the subtypes listed above.

One example is course summaries, which give the direction and distance traveled for the watch.
Course summaries are rare, but they are very helpful when trying to plot the course.

• Here is an example from the 6pm to 8pm watch.
  
  Since no time is specified and it is a course summary for the watch, the end time of the watch should be used.
  (Normally, if no time is specified for an event, the start time of the watch should be used.)
• For an example combining a course summary and ice, see Ice.

---

Help

You may find Points of the compass helpful when you are trying to puzzle out a log entry or if you would like more information.

Don't hesitate to ask for help!
Use the Discussion topic for your ship-year or Ask Questions Here,
or send a message to Randi and/or Michael.

Ice

---

This needs to updated.

For now, here are a few comments and examples for the new spreadsheets...

You can include location and/or other sailing information in an Ice entry with subtype Mixed provided it occurred at the same time as the ice.
OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. Cc 225 mag.
The course change above occurs at 2:28, so it can be included with the ice remark.
Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 Cc 225 mag.
The course change above occurs at a different time, so it should be entered separately as type Sailing Info and subtype Course Change.

Additional location and/or other sailing information can be transcribed as one entry as long as it occurs during the same hour and includes a mention of ice.
OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 entered broken ice. Cc 225 mag.
Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 2:55 Cc 225 mag.
The there is no mention of ice with the course change above, so it should be entered separately as type Sailing Info and subtype Course Change.
Not OK: 2:28 Encountered heavy pack ice off Cape Lisburne. 3:05 entered broken ice. Cc 225 mag.
The ice and course change above occurs at a different hour than the first entry, so they should be entered separately as type Ice and subtype Mixed.

• Here is an example from the 4pm to 8pm watch.
  
  You know the time is 6:50PM rather than 6:50AM because it appears during the 4pm to 8pm watch.
  The context makes it clear that underway is used in the sense of got underway.
  
  The ice at the beginning of the watch needs to be recorded separately because it is at a different hour.
  Anchoring (came to) needs to be recorded separately both because it is at a different hour and because it does not mention ice.
• Here is an example from the merid to 4pm watch.
  
  Putting these on separate lines is a matter of personal preference.
  
  The mention of anchored at 3:19 needs to be a separate entry both because it is not in the same hour and because it does not include a mention of ice.
• Here is an example from the 12 to 16 watch.
  
  Since no time is specified and it is a course summary for the watch, the end time of the watch should be used.

---

---

---

All mentions of ice in the log should be transcribed in either the blue events box below the weather grid or the one covering the events on the events page.
Remember that if you transcribe data outside the blue events boxes, the transcription will not be saved.

Right click to select a cell within one of the blue boxes.
A black-bordered box appears on the page together with a menu, from which you should select Event Input Wizard.

Time can be the watch in which the event occurs (e.g., Mid to 4AM) or the time associated with the event (e.g., 2:25).
Leave this section blank if there is no time that applies.

Type is Sea Ice. Normally the Subtype is blank, but some important exceptions are listed at the end of this post.

---

Here is a sample transcription of the sea ice reports and the associated locations for the first watch (0-4) for 1951-08-13



For Box 1:


For Box 2:

(Because the position is embedded in the ice description, it has been transcribed here even though it should also be transcribed separately with the Location Wizard.)
and


For Box 3:

and


For Box 4:

---

Revised 2018-02-19
Sometimes ice is mentioned as text on the weather page.
For example, see the Hydrographic and Meteorological Remarks section at the bottom right on this page.
If, as in this example, the events occur during different hours (1700-1759 and 1800-1859) they should be transcribed as two separate events because ice reports are broken down by hour.
If multiple reports occur during a single hour (e.g., 1705 and 1753), they can be transcribed as a single event.

---

You may also see reports of ice in the weather grid or in specialized grids further down the page.
These should be transcribed.
In some of these cases, TWYS has to be taken with a grain of salt.





Revised 2018-02-19
The mention of ice at the bottom left on this page can be transcribed as:

---

Use the Subtype Elsewhere when you are transcribing a report of ice that came in from a different location.
This can occur when an ice report from another ship/station has been entered in the log (E.g., "SS Silverwave reports ice south of Wrangel Island").

---

We have been asked whether logging ice reconnaissance flights would be helpful.
For example, see the 0400-0800 watch on this page.
If there are good ice reports in the log it is not necessary.
However, if there are no other indications of ice in the log it might be useful.
If you choose to transcribe ice reconnaissance flights, use Type Sea Ice and Subtype Reconnaissance.

---

During times when the ship is not in icy waters, it is not useful to enter reports of "No ice".
However, during times when the ship is in icy waters, comments about the absence of ice may be useful.
As when you report ice, use Type Sea Ice and leave the Subtype blank.

Events

---

Introduction

On the events page you will find ice, locations, and sailing information.
You will help meteorologists, but you may also help solar scientists and volcanologists.
You will find fascinating bits of history, encounter important people, and learn about life onboard ship.
A sample events page can be viewed here.

Certain items must be transcribed and some should be posted here in the forum, but most are optional.

If there is a date on the page, it should be transcribed.
The instructions are here.

If there is location information on the page, it should be transcribed.
The instructions are here.

The Event Input Wizard has the following types and subtypes.
The most important events are in bold.

• Ice
  Transcribing mentions of ice or of the absence of ice in the log is critical.
  One of our goals is to determine historical ice extent.
  See Ice for detailed instructions.
• Sailing Info
  Transcribing mentions of occasions when the ship stops for more than an hour or two and when it starts moving again is critical.
  Michael uses the information to help establish hourly positions for the scientists.
  See Sailing information for detailed instructions.
• Ships
  In general, transcription is optional.
  However, the science team is finding it very helpful to compare weather readings between ships.
  See Examining Logbook Pages from the Albatross Ship for Aug 23, 1899 - Oct 30, 1900
  Also, in the case of ice reports, it might indicate another log book to check.
  So, if you meet a US Navy ship or a Revenue Service/Coast Guard ship, please transcribe the name of the ship.
  If you see the same ship several days in a row, you do not need to record it each time.
  The Subtype can be left blank.
• People
  In earlier phases transcribing people's names was encouraged, but that is no longer the case.
  Transcription is optional.
  If you find something interesting, you can share it by posting in the Discussion topic for the ship-year.
  See below for a transcription example.
• Flora and Fauna
  Transcription is optional.
  If it seems interesting, you can report it in Natural Phenomena or in the Discussion topic for the ship-year
• Other
  • Aurorae
    This is very valuable information for past solar activity.
    See below for more details.
  • Volcanic and seismic
    There are several groups that use our reports of volcanic activity to update their databases.
    See below for more details.
  • Instruments
    • Please transcribe comments about adjustments to or replacements of the instruments used to measure the weather.
      As you can see from Examining Logbook Pages from the Albatross Ship for Aug 23, 1899 - Oct 30, 1900, they are important.
      For extra safety, also add a post about them to the appropriate Discussion topic.
    • There is no need to record mentions of instruments, such as thermometers, used to collect oceanographic data.
    • This can also be used for recording information about instruments used in navigation.
      For example at 0150: "Found gyro compass in error."
    See below for a transcription example.
  • Weather
    Transcription is optional. In general the information in the weather grid is sufficient.
    It may be worthwhile to note an exceptional event in Natural Phenomena or in the Discussion topic for the ship-year.
    (You will sometimes see Magazine Temperatures recorded. They are not part of the weather data.)
  • Ocean (waves, color, phosphorescence, ...)
    Transcription is optional. The state of the ocean generally has very little to do with the current weather.
    It may be worthwhile to note an extreme or unusual event in Natural Phenomena or in the Discussion topic for the ship-year.
  • Astronomical (comets, meteors, eclipses ...)
    Transcription is optional. So far no one is using this data.
    However, feel free to post in Natural Phenomena or in the Discussion topic for the ship-year.
• Transcriber Comment
  This type allows you to add your own comments.
  Choose the subtype that best matches what you are commenting on or simply leave it blank.
  See below for a transcription example.
  • Ice
  • Location
  • Weather Record
  • People
  • Ships
  • Time Change
    See Time zone changes for when to use this.
  • Date

---

Help

The Old Weather forum library has sections on:

• Nautical, military, and whaling terminology
• People's names, ranks & rates, uniforms & badges
• Ships' names
• Abbreviations and symbols (non-weather)

You may find these helpful when you are trying to puzzle out a log entry or if you would like more information.

Most important of all: Don't hesitate to ask for help in the forum.
You can use the Discussion topic for the ship-year or Ask Questions Here.
You can also send a message to Randi and/or Michael.

---

Basics

For most log books there are two blue events boxes.



If you click outside the blue events boxes the transcription will not be saved.
For example, if you want to transcribe the name of the commanding officer at the top of the page (not necessary), you need to right click within one of the blue events boxes rather than by the officer's name.
You can click anywhere inside the blue boxes, but you will probably find it less confusing if you click near the information you are transcribing when possible.

If you are on an events page and see the weather grid make sure Log | Events is set correctly.





When you transcribe in the spreadsheet, except for Transcriber comments, the general rule is TWYS (see below).
When you post in the forum, or enter Transcriber comments, you can omit sections and/or summarize.

Right click to select a cell within one of the blue boxes.
A black-bordered box appears on the page together with a menu from which you can select Event Input Wizard.



Time can be:

• The watch in which the event occurs (Mid to AM in the example above).
• The time associated with the event (7:00AM in the example above).
  Although an entry within a watch may not show AM or PM the correct choice can normally be determined from the time of the watch in which the event appears.
  Please include this information when possible.
  (We have avoided violating TWYS by separating the time from the event transcription.)
• Leave the time blank if there is no time that applies.

Types and subtypes:
Some types have subtypes and others do not.
You can leave the subtype blank if none of the options apply, or you can enter your own subtype.

Remember that this system is evolving over time and that the format of the logs transcribed varies widely.
We do our best to keep the instructions current, but what you see here may differ from what you see when transcribing.

---

Examples

People



The events page can be viewed here.
You can enter the time as 0700 if you prefer the 24-hour clock format.
You can include the complete sentence: "At 7:00 delivered to L. Rivers, Sea.2c., copy of charge and specifications preferred against him by the Commandant."
Or you can include only the name and rate: "L. Rivers, Sea.2c."
Remember that any transcription of people's names is optional.

Aurorae
Please post any reports of aurorae in Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots.
If possible, include a link to the log page, name of ship, date and time, and latitude and longitude (or other position information).
Transcription is optional. You could create an event that has nothing but time, type Other, and the subtype Aurorae to flag this.

(The time is a bit unclear in this case. You can use 1:20 AM or Mid to 4AM.)

Volcanic and seismic
Please post any reports of volcanic or seismic activity in Volcanic and seismic activity.
If possible, include a link to the log page, name of the ship, date and time, and the name of the volcano or its location.
Transcription is optional. You could create an event that has nothing but time, type Other, and the subtype Volcanic to flag this.

Instruments
Comments about weather instruments are rare but very important and should be transcribed.



The page can be viewed here.

You will frequently see mentions of soundings and occasional mentions of sounding leads, tubes, or wires lost overboard.
These do not need to be transcribed.

Transcriber Comment



See https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 1_0442.JPG
and https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 1_0443.JPG

---

Type What You See (TWYS)

As usual, the general rule is TWYS even if what is written is obviously wrong.
And as usual, there are some special cases:

• Sometimes you are not sure what you are seeing.
  • The references to the Old Weather forum library in the Help section above may be useful.
  • Don't hesitate to ask questions in the forum!
  • Then, make your best guess.
• Sometimes it is not possible to type what you are seeing.
  • Degree symbols should be omitted. They are not included in the character set we use.
    In most contexts the meaning is clear without the symbol.
    If necessary the word degrees can be written out.
  • A drawing of an anchor can by converted to the word anchor.
  • In some contexts it may be necessary to convert fractions to decimals for clarity.
    In the case of wind directions and courses, keep the fraction.
    
  • If you see a course or wind direction written without the line in the fraction, add the line.
    
    This should be transcribed as N3/4W. N34W has a different meaning.
• We have relaxed a few of the rules from earlier versions of OW.
  • Multiple people, and ships, can be entered in one People Event Text box.
    Similarly, multiple ships, and people, can be entered in one Ships Event Text box.
  • Sometimes an important event is interrupted by an unimportant comment.
    Although the ideal is not to omit that text, we do have alternatives:
    You can transcribe it as two separate events, but sometimes the result is not clear.
    Now, you can indicate that text was left out by leaving a blank line.
• In general, case and punctuation are not vital.

Type What You See and shortcuts

---

In Progress!!!

Type What You See (TWYS)



Here is a comment from Philip Brohan from the early days of the project:

philip.brohan wrote:Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:45 pm I have mixed feelings on this issue too, but our general principle is that we don't try and fix errors and omissions by the log-keepers, and we should stick to that here. Please input exactly what is in the logs.

I know we'd get better data if we used our judgement to fix it, and it hurts to abandon that, but it's necessary. Remember that much work on oW is done by people who don't read the forum - so if we agree on special cases here we'll get inconsistent results because not everyone will see the discussion. Also, if we edit the logs we corrupt the data for some possible future uses.

What we really need to do is set up a parallel interface, so we can record exactly what is in the logs as we do today, and also record our comments and corrections, to be stored separately. We are working on this, but it's hard - for the moment please just record whatever idiocies the log-keepers come up with using the current interface, and use the forum to tell us about the peculiarities (and suggest fixes).

Thanks,

Philip

This is still basically true except for two points:

• Bob's system allows you to use Transcriber Comment events to add comments.
• Philip now encourages us to correct the date or location if they are incorrect. However, this is optional. TWYS is always correct.
  For more information see: Transcribing: Locations and Transcribing: Date

The TWYS (Type What You See) rule has officially been relaxed!

This has been done to reduce typing for transcribers and extraneous data for Michael.

However, TWYS is still correct, and it is the best policy when in doubt.
In general, you should not make additions or corrections.

If you are not sure what you are seeing, you can enter a tilde (~) in it's place.
However, don't hesitate to ask for help!

---

Shortcuts

Directions like N.N.E can be transcribed as NNE or nne. Use whichever is easiest for you.
As long as there is no risk of confusion, North, South, East, and West can be transcribed as N, S, E, and W or n, s, e, and w. Similarly, there is no need to preserve the case for Cloud Forms, Cloud From or Weather. In theory, an uppercase letter in the weather code signifies a heavy intensity. I.e. oS indicates overcast with heavy snow. While the Royal Navy logkeepers were consistent in following this rule, none of our ships seem to do so. Some logkeepers use uppercase for everything, so the uppercase letters seem to have no significance.

It is not necessary to include log readings such as (log 45.7) or other mentions of the log.

If the log says something like Anchored in 17 fathoms with 45 fathoms on port chain, all that you need to do is create an Event with Type Sailing Info and Subtype Anchored. You can leave the Event Text box empty.

If the course is given in multiple formats, you only need to transcribe one.
If the true course is given, it should be transcribed: course 270 p.g.c. 272 true can be transcribed as: cc 272T.

Similarly, changed course to 92 pgc (89 true) can be transcribed as: cc 89T.

1¹/₄ can be transcribed as 1.25, 1 1/4, or as 11/4.

You can omit p.s.c. (per standard compass), pstgc (per steering compass), and p.g.c. (per gyro compass). When more than one course or bearing is given, there is no need to repeat T for True or Mag for magnetic if all the bearings or courses are of the same type.


Approved Abbreviations:

	atp	abeam to port
	ats	abeam to starboard
	abm	abeam
	approx	approximately
	b	by (as in SbySE)
	brg, brgs	bearing, bearings
	BB	Bell Buoy
	C or c	Calm (when in the weather grid)
	cc	course change, course changed to, course, on course, wore ship, tacked
	dist	distance, distant, range
	F or f	Fog (when in the weather grid)
	G	per gyro compass (pgc, p.g.c)
	GB	Gas Buoy
	Id	Island
	Is	Island
	LB	Lighted Buoy
	LBB	Lighted Bell Buoy
	LGB	Lighted Gas Buoy
	LWB	Lighted Whistle Buoy
	LH	Light House
	LS	Lightship
	LV	Light Vessel
	Lt	Light
	L tan	left tangent
	LY	Lying to
	M or mag	magnetic
	mi	miles, mile
	Mt	Mount, Mountain
	Pt	Point
	R tan	right tangent
	rng	range
	mi	miles, mile
	S	per standard compass (psc, p.s.c)
	Stn	Station
	T or t	True
	Var	various, variable
	WB	Whistle Buoy
	yd	yards

Examples:

• Point Spencer Light bearing 180 (magnetic) distance 11/4 miles, changed course to SWxS
  can be transcribed as:
  Pt Spencer Lt brg 180 mag dist 11/4 mi, cc SWxS
• 0645 anchored off Teller Mission in 19 fathoms water with 45 fathoms on port chain, bearings Point Spencer 265 (magnetic), Mission Flagpole 357 (magnetic), Teller village 95 (magnetic) distance 2.5 miles.
  can be transcribed as:
  0645 Anchored off Teller Mission brgs Pt Spencer 265 M, Mission Flagpole 357, Teller village 95 dist 2.5 mi

---

---

---

If you have questions, PM Michael and Randi.