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Characteristic light

 

 
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A light characteristic is a graphic and text description of a navigational light sequence or colour displayed on a nautical chart
Nautical chart

A nautical chart is a graphic representation of a Sea area and adjacent coastal regions. Depending on the scale of the chart, it may show depths of water and heights of land , natural features of the seabed, details of the coastline, navigational hazards, locations of natural and man-made aids to navigation, information on tides and Current...
 under the chart symbol for a lighthouse
Lighthouse

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation and to Maritime pilot at sea....
, lightvessel
Lightvessel

A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction....
 or sea mark
Sea mark

A sea mark, also seamark and navigation mark, is a pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a Sea channel, hazard and administrative area to allow boats, ships and seaplanes to navigate safely....
 with a light
Light

Light, or visible light, is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is Visible spectrum to the human eye , or up to 380?750 nm. In the broader field of physics, light is sometimes used to refer to electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths, whether visible or not....
 on it. The graphic indicates how the real light beacon may be identified when looking at its actual light output type or sequence.

An example of a light characteristic is Gp Oc(3).10s 15m 10M.






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Symbols and abbreviations for light characteristics
A light characteristic is a graphic and text description of a navigational light sequence or colour displayed on a nautical chart
Nautical chart

A nautical chart is a graphic representation of a Sea area and adjacent coastal regions. Depending on the scale of the chart, it may show depths of water and heights of land , natural features of the seabed, details of the coastline, navigational hazards, locations of natural and man-made aids to navigation, information on tides and Current...
 under the chart symbol for a lighthouse
Lighthouse

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation and to Maritime pilot at sea....
, lightvessel
Lightvessel

A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction....
 or sea mark
Sea mark

A sea mark, also seamark and navigation mark, is a pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a Sea channel, hazard and administrative area to allow boats, ships and seaplanes to navigate safely....
 with a light
Light

Light, or visible light, is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is Visible spectrum to the human eye , or up to 380?750 nm. In the broader field of physics, light is sometimes used to refer to electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths, whether visible or not....
 on it. The graphic indicates how the real light beacon may be identified when looking at its actual light output type or sequence.

An example of a light characteristic is Gp Oc(3).10s 15m 10M. This indicates that the light is a Group occulting light in which a group of 3 eclipses repeat every 10 seconds; the light is 15 metres tall and is visible for 10 nautical mile
Nautical mile

A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian .It is a non-International System of Units unit used especially by navigators in the shipping and aviation industries....
s (19 km).

The chart to the right describes some of the different types of light characteristics.

An Eclipsed light is the light which is interrupted briefly by darkness at a defined interval.

An Interrupted quick light is a quick flashing light in which the rapid alternations are interrupted at regular intervals by eclipses of long duration.

See also

  • Lighthouse
    Lighthouse

    A lighthouse is a tower, building, or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation and to Maritime pilot at sea....
  • Pilotage
    Pilotage

    Pilotage is the use of fixed visual references on the ground or sea by means of sight or radar to guide oneself to a destination, sometimes with the help of a map or nautical chart....
  • Isophase light
    Isophase Light

    An isophase light is a rhythmic characteristic light in which all durations of light and darkness are equal. It is normally used in light signals in lighthouses....
  • Flashing light
    Flashing Light

    A flashing light is a rhythmic characteristic light in which the total duration of the light in each period is clearly shorter than the total duration of the darkness and in which the flashes of light are all of equal duration....
  • Occulting light
    Occulting Light

    An occulting light is a rhythmic characteristic light in which the total duration of light in each period is clearly longer than the total duration of darkness and in which the intervals of darkness are all of equal duration....


External links


  • in any of the USCG Light Lists