The word ‘storm’ usually conjures a mental picture of destruction, floods, heavy winds, and general disruption of day to day life. But storms are much more than that. It is nature’s way of expressing itself and a way of making us aware that there is a power above that is not wholly understood by even the most advanced technology that is available to us in the form of weather reports and analysis.
Among the oceans of the world the largest, deepest, and the most intimidating is probably the Pacific Ocean. It is ironic that the person who first saw this ocean, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave it this name because the day he saw it, it was calm and quiet. So he named it “Mar Pacificio”, which means “peaceful sea” in both Portuguese and Spanish. This was in the 16th century, but this name is a misnomer, as it is very far from the truth as we have seen in this region. The Pacific Ocean is regularly visited by some of the worst storms that hit our planet.
Storms at sea are the result of a difference in pressure that gives rise to strong winds which build up to grow into a full fledged storm called the “Tropical Revolving Storm” or TRS for short. It has been estimated that if all the power of a TRS could be harnessed, it would be sufficient to light up the civilized world for a year. To measure this power, some daring researchers have flown into the eye of the storm with instruments to make this estimation. I am a seaman who has spent more than 31 years at sea. When we are on a ship and experience one such phenomenon that is the time we are made aware of the power of God. Whatever man may create be way of modern ships and other gadgets it is no match for what nature can unleash if the conditions are right.
The curious fact about these storms are the way they are born. Specifically in the South Pacific. There are a group of islands in the south pacific called the Marianas. This is a group of uninhabited islands which the home of a few undersea volcanoes which are still active. When there is an eruption the resulting high temperature lava creates a low pressure region there. This can get so severe that the surrounding winds start getting drawn into this vortex, this disturbance develops into a TRS. With the earth’s rotation this storm will move in the direction of the far eastern countries, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, etc., which are more than a thousand miles away. As the storm moves it gathers power and within a week could reach very high magnitude eventually getting labeled as a TRS by the weather experts. This phenomenon is aggravated by the fact that there is no land mass between the Marianas and the fast eastern nations, this makes the storm more powerful, as storm normally dissipate when they make landfall. But in the process of dissipation they can be devastating to the land they encounter.
The sight at sea when in the midst of a raging storm is magnificent and humbling. Wind speeds can reach upward of 200 kms per hour. As far as the eye can see the sea will be filled with a white foam whipped up by the wind. A modern ship built with powerful engines can barely move at crawling pace against the power of the wind. Normally storms such as these last about a day or two, depending on which direction the storm is travelling and which the direction the ship is taking. But in rare instances when both storm and ship have the same destination, such storms can be experienced for days or even weeks.
Life on a ship battling a storm can be frustrating and comical too. Simple activities, that we take for granted at home, like bathing, could be a challenge as the water will never fall directly down from the shower, it will oscillate with the regularity of a pendulum and one has to move with the sequence if the job is to be accomplished. Nothing remains where it is kept, everything moves in different directions and at a different pace too. One has to learn to sleep while constantly being moved by the external force of the bed in motion. Food on the table is never steady, the slightest drop in concentration for the smallest of time can land your dinner on your lap. Interesting? It can be, funny too, but not for days on end. But storms do pass eventually, and life does return to normal. But the experience can be unforgettable for the first-timer. Later with more such incidents one gets used to it but the power of this natural phenomenon must be experienced to be completely understood.
