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Meteorological analysis identifies three distinct low-pressure wind patterns driving ferry cancellations in northern Japan, highlighting critical indicators for maritime risk management.
In the Soya region of Hokkaido, nearly 10% of ferry services are cancelled annually, primarily due to strong winds. These cancellations significantly affect regional logistics, underscoring the need to characterize prevailing wind. Synoptic-scale wind features associated with ferry cancellations were examined using AMeDAS and ERA5 reanalysis data. Three major wind patterns associated with low-pressure systems were identified. In Group A, mature Okhotsk lows generated northerly winds in Wakkanai under moist environmental conditions. In Group B, low-pressure development north of the Soya region produced southwesterly winds in Motodomari under dry environmental conditions. In Group C, a synoptic-scale low-pressure system spanning the Pacific and the Sea of Japan induced strong northwesterly winds in Motodomari. Clarification of wind and sea-level pressure characteristics offers essential input for operational planning and strengthens risk management of ferry services in the Soya region.
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Kumeta et al. (2026) studied this question.
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