Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Diploma · 800 h · 8 modules
Diploma in Extreme Climatic Phenomena at Sea
This program offers comprehensive training to understand, predict, and mitigate the risks associated with severe weather events. You will learn about the atmospheric and oceanic dynamics that generate these phenomena, from…
Duration800 h
FormatOnline
Starts9 November
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Diploma in Extreme Climatic Phenomena at Sea?
The Diploma in Extreme Weather Phenomena at Sea
This program offers comprehensive training to understand, predict, and mitigate the risks associated with severe weather events. You will learn about the atmospheric and oceanic dynamics that generate these phenomena, from hurricanes and extreme storms to giant waves and abrupt temperature changes. This program will provide you with the tools for informed decision-making, route optimization, and the implementation of effective safety protocols.
Differential Advantages
- Real-Case Analysis: study of historical weather events and their impact on navigation.
- Modeling and Prediction: use of software and tools to forecast extreme weather events.
- Mitigation Strategies: development of contingency plans and response protocols.
- Maritime Regulations and Safety: knowledge of international regulations and standards.
- Practical Application: simulations and exercises to apply the acquired knowledge.
Programme type
Diploma
Study mode
Online
Duration
800 hours
Modules
8
Start date
29-11-2026
Programme highlights
- In-Depth Analysis: Understand the mechanisms that drive extreme weather phenomena in maritime environments.
- Prediction Tools: Master the techniques and models for early detection and forecasting of hazardous events.
- Mitigation Strategies: Develop effective action plans to reduce the impact of severe weather on maritime operations.
- Regulatory Framework: Understand international legislation and regulations on maritime safety and climate change.
- Case Studies: Apply your knowledge to the analysis of real-life situations and make decisions of strategic decisions.
- Prepare to lead adaptation and resilience in the shipbuilding industry in the face of climate challenges.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 8 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Physics of the severe atmosphere and dynamics of the marine boundary layer
- Ocean-Atmosphere Energy Transfer: Sensitive and Latent Heat Flows in Episodes of High Thermal Instability
- Extreme baric gradients: surface-level wind dynamics in ultra-low pressure systems
- Stability and deep convection on the high seas: development of supercellular CB (cumulonimbus) supercellular, turboned and mesovortices
- Explosive cyclogenesis ("weather bombs"): rapid intensification mechanisms, extreme pressure drop per hour and detection guidelines
- Catabatic winds and severe pipelines: coastal orographic effects on open water (papagayo wind, tehuantepecer, bora, mistral)
- The marine boundary layer under storm force winds: Marine spray production, reduction of visibility and distortion of surface friction
- Instrumental monitoring in extreme conditions: calibration and response of sensors on board under violent balances and sea rotions
- Atmospheric instability and marine convection
02
Tropical cyclones and ocean hurricanes
- Mechanisms of rapid genesis and intensification: vertical thermal gradient, wind shear and ocean heat content ($OHC$)
- Anatomical structure of severe cyclones: the eye wall, mesovortices in the eye, convection bands, and destructive wind profiles
- Category 4 and 5 cyclones (Saffir-Simpson): Analysis of historical cases, sustained winds versus extreme gusts
- Dangerous and navigable semicircles dynamics: vector forces combined by the speed of the system's translation
- Satellite Monitoring and Tracking / Hurricane Hunters: SAR Image Interpretation, Microwave, Radiometry and Recon Reports
- Paths Uncertainty and Dispersion Cones: Numerical Model Analysis ($GFS$, $ECMWF$) and Spaghetti Diagram Interpretation
- Extratropical cyclone transition: Windfield expansion, change of warm core to cold core and re-intensification at mid-latitudes
- Navigation in the vicinity of Hurricanes
03
Severe and temporary extratropical high latitude storms
- Complex frontal systems in mid-latitudes: intense occlusions, cold fronts of rapid displacement and streams in jet ($jet\ streams$)
- Atmospheric rivers (Atmospheric Rivers): massive transport of water vapor, torrential rainfall and associated winds in oceanic areas
- The phenomenon of "St. Jude Storm" and complex storms: analysis of destructive extratropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and North Pacific
- Polar Lows (Polar Lows): Mesoscale Characteristics, Sudden Development in Arctic/Antarctic Seas and Prediction Difficulty
- Interaction with Ice Fields: Storm Dynamics on the Margins of Continental Ice, Freezing by Rotions (ICING) and Ice Formation in Superstructures
- Cross-Background Sea and Chained Temporary: Overlay of wave systems generated by sequential storms
- Climatic variability and frequency of storms: impact of ENSO, NAO and AO on recurrence and intensity of deep loss
- Explosive cyclogenesis
04
Extreme marine states, giant waves and dynamics of breakers
- Temporary sea generation: significant height calculation ($h_s$), maximum height ($H max}) and spectral energy from storm waves
- Singular waves and giant waves (Rogue Waves / Freak Waves): Formation mechanisms, non-linear approaches (solitons) and interaction with intense currents
- Wave-current interaction in large storms: Modification of the wave profile by currents against (Agulhas, Gulf, Kuroshio) and abyssmation of the breast
- Cross Sea (cross sea): intersection of wave trains with divergent angles, loss of dynamic stability of the ship and emergency manoeuvres
- Marine surface and mass of embarked water (Green Water): hydrodynamic impact on the bow, hatches, containers and superstructures
- Hydrodynamic resonance phenomena: Parametric rolling (parametric rolling), synchronous balance and loss of stability in wave crests
- Radar Wave Detection Systems: Real-time Monitoring of Wave Spectrum from the Bridge via Navigation Radar
- Forecast of giant waves and crossed sea
05
Analysis of numerical models, GRIB2 files and extreme event predictability
- High-resolution global and regional atmospheric models: Comparison of bias between GFS, ECMWF (IFS), UKMO, ICON and Arome in severe events
- Spectral Wave Models: WaveWatch III, WAM and Swan Output Analysis in Intense Storm Scenarios
- Interpretation of Predictions by Assemblies (Ensemble Forecasts): Assembly Member Analysis, Standard Deviation and Extreme Burst Probability
- Kinematics and thickness maps: Identification of advection of cold air, tropopause anomalies and cyclogenesis at 500 hPa and 300 hPa
- Advanced GRIB2 file processing: 10m wind layer integration, gusts, sea level pressure, wave height and tide currents
- Limitations and failures of models in mesoscale: evaluation of underestimation of winds in active cold fronts and severe convection squalls
- Cross-validation with on-board sensor data: Prediction bias adjustment by barometric, anemometric, and thermal readings in real time
- Ensembles and probability of extreme events
06
Tactical evasion routing and nautical manoeuvres in severe weather
- Principles of Evasion Navigation (Weather Routing for Avoidance): Strategy for the removal of dangerous quadrants and calculation of the point of least approximation ($cpa$) to the centre of the low
- Operational rules for manoeuvreing against tropical cyclones: buys-ballot laws, determination of the exhaust course according to the semicircle and speed of the ship
- Weather weather (heaving-to) versus running the storm: hydrodynamic risk assessment, wind direction/surge and machine/government configuration
- Polar performance curves in extreme conditions: calculation of loss of speed by wave resistance and severe wind descent
- Use of dynamic storm routing software: optimisation and dynamic routes by means of isochronous algorithms under strict security constraints
- Load management and Stowage in severe weather navigation: Calculation of dynamic accelerations (longitudinal, transverse and vertical) to prevent the collapse of lashing
- Decision-making (GO / No-Go) and Shelter Ports: Assessment of operational windows at the entrance to channels, straits and radas in temporary conditions
- Coat manoeuvres and run the storm on ships
07
Emergency communications, SOLAS/IMO protocols and risk management
- The Global Maritime Relief and Safety System (SMSSM / GMDSS) in extreme time: Priority Reception of Temporary Notices (Gale Warnings) and MSI messages
- Meteorological Alerts and Zoning Metarea: Structure of Official Gazettes issued by the Worldwide Specialised Meteorological Centres ($CMMER$)
- Legal responsibility and the role of the captain (PGS/ISM code): Authority of the captain in the route deviation for adverse time and documentation in the navigation diary
- Emergency Satellite Communication Systems: Connectivity Backup (Inmarsat C, SafetyNet, Iridium Certus, Starlink) in degraded marine environments
- Voluntary reporting of meteorological observations from ships (VOS): Issuance of parts Synop Ship during extreme events to power global models
- Management of operational stress and fatigue in the crew: human factors, decision making under high uncertainty and safety protocols in Deck
- Expertise and investigation of accidents due to meteorological causes: analysis of subsidences, load shifts or loss of containers due to extreme weather events
- Coordination with Rescue Centres
08
Capstone Project: Comprehensive Plan for Evaluation, Routing and Crisis Management in the face of an extreme climate event on the high seas
- Selection of the crisis scenario: reconstruction or simulation of a real scenario (e.g. crossing a category 5 tropical cyclone or an explosive cyclogenesis in the North Atlantic)
- Synoptic analysis and meteorological diagnosis: Compilation of baric charts, satellite images and Grib2 files of the event to identify the structure of the phenomenon
- Evaluation of the operational limitations of the ship: specification of the type of ship, load status, usable maximum speed, polar curves and acceleration limits
- Design of the tactical evasion or capeo strategy: simulation of escape routes, determination of temporary manoeuvreing windows and calculation of safety distance to the eye/centre of the low
- On-board contingency and safety plan: Preparation of checklists for deck assurance, cargo lashing, machine preparation and emergency protocols SMSSM
- Preparation of the operational report for the decision-making: Drafting of the technical dossier for the command bridge and the assembly company (weather emergency briefing)
- Presentation of the management plan
- Final Presentation: Defence of the Navigation Plan and Crisis Response to a Court of Merchant Navy Captains, Marine Risk Assessors and Synoptic Meteorologists
Workload
Study Time and Workload
800 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Marine meteorologists and oceanographers seeking to deepen their knowledge of modeling, analysis, and forecasting of severe weather events at sea.Captains, bridge officers, and maritime operations personnel needing to improve decision-making and route planning in the face of extreme weather conditions.Naval engineers and ship designers interested in understanding the impact of extreme weather
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
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Student Reviews
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Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Assessing the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure
- 02Interpreting and effectively communicating climate data
- 03Develop mitigation and adaptation strategies for severe weather events
- 04Apply predictive models to optimize maritime operations
- 05Implement safety and emergency response protocols for climate events
- 06Design contingency plans to minimize risks at sea
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Climate Consultant/Analyst: Climate risk assessment in maritime projects, data analysis, and scenario modeling.
02Risk Manager in Shipping/Energy Companies: Development and implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies for extreme weather events.
03Researcher in Oceanographic and Meteorological Centers: Study of the influence of climatic phenomena on navigation and marine infrastructure.
04Marine Insurance Technician: Assessment of damages and risks associated with extreme weather events on the high seas.
05Advisor to Government Agencies: Development of policies and regulations for climate risk management in the maritime sector.
06Marine Meteorological Officer: Provision of information and early warnings on extreme weather conditions for safe navigation.
07Specialist in marine renewable energy: Design and optimization of wind farms and other energy infrastructure resilient to extreme weather events.
08Trainer in maritime safety and climate risk management: Training of maritime personnel in the prevention of and response to adverse weather events.
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Questions
Entry Requirements
Extreme weather phenomena that occur at sea, such as severe storms, giant waves, tropical cyclones, rapid changes in temperature and salinity, among others.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
In the open sea.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, Oceanography, Meteorology, Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Naval) or related field; or accredited professional experience in maritime operations, risk management, or climate research.Language proficiency:Recommended: technical English for understanding scientific reports and climate models.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of degree or experience certificate, ID/Passport, cover letter explaining interest in extreme weather events at sea.Technical requirements (for online):Equipment with
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