The Titanic
L.G, S.T, G.M, R.J
Did weather contribute to the disaster? We analyse the Titanic's weather status.
As the Titanic cruised through the next couple of days, the weather managed to maintain its steadiness with quick spontaneous occurrences of mild fogs. Although towards the third day of the expedition, an increase in wind velocity instigated a sudden cold front: an accretion of cold air blown into warm areas due to changes of pressure. The cold front brought few showers through the sun absorbent days and average temperatures of 13-15ºC within the clear night skies. While the first cold front progressed its transition east, a second cold front emerged from its formation in North America. It was sighted by a dramatic drop in temperature of approximately 10ºC and the development of an anticyclone: a clockwise circulation of wind around an area constituting of high pressure air. An unexpected decrease in wind, temperature and the clearing of skies delivered uncanny suspicions to the crew members as the ship pursued through the eerie Arctic High conditions. The calm wind caused a deflect in the ability of sighting icebergs as the wind would drift waves as they broke the at edges of icebergs. This final remark preceded the entrance to a profusion of offending icebergs and the Titanic’s final resting place.
During the middle of Spring, April 10th, the Titanic commenced upon its ambitious maiden voyage from Southampton, England. The weather was recovering from the stringent, freezing cold winter to a moderate temperature raising Spring as the ship embarked upon its decisive expedition. The ocean liner sailed out of Southampton receiving reasonable North/ North-Westerly winds with consistent temperatures remaining between 10ºC - 15ºC. After the next passing hours, the Titanic arrived at a quick stopover in Cherbourg, France. Conditions remained great that by the next day, the Titanic advanced in a short stop over in Queenstown Harbour, Ireland April the 11th at 11:30am in a partially cloudy atmosphere and cool breezes as it left the port a few hours later. Appreciated weather greeted the ship as it sailed along the coastline of Ireland with secure winds and conditions of the sea remaining relatively calm.
The abundance of southward moving icebergs was sourced from the particularly peculiar weather conditions around Greenland during years between 1910 and 1912.
Greenland experienced a ferocious snow accumulating winter, which established mounds of compact snow and ice during 1910 and 11. This abnormal weather was trailed by vigorously warm summer temperatures and an adequate winter breeze in 1911 and 12. The effects caused from contrasting elements of the weather yielded a large constitution of icebergs. Furthermore, Greenland’s Arctic terrain caused the structure of icebergs to break off from coastal mountains in forms of sharply pointed pinnacles. The iceberg that struck the Titanic was perceived in the very last moments before its collision with the ocean liner resulting in the fatal loss of many lives.