When your vessel is on or near the path of an approaching tropical storm, what occurs?

When a vessel is on or near the path of an approaching tropical storm, the phenomenon primarily observed is that wind speed increases. This is due to the intense low-pressure system associated with tropical storms and hurricanes, which can lead to rapidly increasing wind speeds as the storm approaches.

As the tropical storm gets closer, it pulls in air at higher speeds to replace the rising air in the center, resulting in gusty winds and increasingly severe conditions. This dynamic of rapidly changing atmospheric pressure is a hallmark of tropical systems, making wind speed one of the most significant indicators of their proximity and intensity.

The other options are less representative of the conditions typically observed with an approaching tropical storm. Wind direction often varies significantly as a storm approaches, barometric pressure generally drops in the lead-up to the storm (indicating more destabilizing weather), and temperature may not drop dramatically; instead, it may vary depending on other meteorological conditions. Thus, the correct observation when near a tropical storm is indeed the increase in wind speed.