Continuous marine broadcast
Encyclopedia
A continuous marine broadcast, or CMB, is a marine weather
broadcasting service operated by the Canadian Coast Guard
in both english and/or french. CMBs are programmed from the various Marine Communications and Traffic Services centres on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts of Canada
, as well as on the coasts of the Great Lakes
.
The content of a CMB is a continuously-played back loop of marine weather information, provided by Environment Canada
and updated several times a day, as well as live broadcasts of selected notices to mariners, shipping, and fishermen. Most of the recordings are made using real human voices, with a computerized text-to-speech system providing information from automated weather observation points. When necessary, an officer at an MCTS station can break into a CMB transmission and broadcast an urgent live message, such as a navigational warning or a distress relay message
.
CMBs are transmitted on several frequencies:
As well, on the Pacific coast, CMBs are transmitted on weather radio frequencies.
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
broadcasting service operated by the Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
in both english and/or french. CMBs are programmed from the various Marine Communications and Traffic Services centres on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as well as on the coasts of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
.
The content of a CMB is a continuously-played back loop of marine weather information, provided by Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
and updated several times a day, as well as live broadcasts of selected notices to mariners, shipping, and fishermen. Most of the recordings are made using real human voices, with a computerized text-to-speech system providing information from automated weather observation points. When necessary, an officer at an MCTS station can break into a CMB transmission and broadcast an urgent live message, such as a navigational warning or a distress relay message
Distress signal
A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals take the form of or are commonly made by using radio signals, displaying a visually detected item or illumination, or making an audible sound, from a distance....
.
CMBs are transmitted on several frequencies:
- 161.65 MHz (Channel 21BMarine VHF radioMarine VHF radio is installed on all large ships and most seagoing small craft. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, including summoning rescue services and communicating with harbours, locks, bridges and marinas, and operates in the VHF frequency range, between 156 to 174 MHz...
) - 161.75 MHz (Channel 23B)
- 161.775 MHz (Channel 83B)
- 161.85 MHz (Channel 25B)
- 162 MHz (Channel 28B)
As well, on the Pacific coast, CMBs are transmitted on weather radio frequencies.