METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 7

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

INCREASING DEMANDS OF AVIATION MODERN REQUIREMENTS “During recent years meteorological organisations in all parts of the world have experienced difficulty in keeping pace with the increasing demand of very rapidly expanding aviation services,”' states the report by the director of the meteorological branch of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Dr. E. Kidson) for 1937-38. The report deals with the extension of meteorological work that will be necessary in New Zealand through the expected introduction of services across the Pacific and the Tasman, referring to the recommendations made at the conference held to discuss meteorological services in the south-west Pacific region- at the end'of last year. “So far as Australia and New. Zealand are . concerned,” the report states; “if advantage is to be taken of the modern methods of charting and analysing: the weather, there must be a more frequent interchange of data; the reports must be more complete and constitute s much closer network over the areas concerned, and they must be made available more promptly after the making of the observations. In Europe, where conditions are more highly organised, real progress is now being • made towards developing weather forecasting as a process of calculation instead of, as in the past, having to depend as much on experience and practice as the application of physical principles. “The sparse distribution of islands in the south-west Pacific makes it imperative that complete, regular, and reliable- weather reports should be supplied from as many of them as possible.” Qualified Staff Required “The securing of a qualified staff continues to present difficulties,” states the report, “but some of the more senior of the recent appointees have made considerable progress in meteorology, valuable experience has been gained, and the special forecasting and reporting routine for aviation is beginning to settle down into its final form.” It is also stated that during the last few years there has been a demand for university graduates with special qualifications in mathematics and physics, which, for New Zealand, has been unprecedented. At present the supply of first-class men fell short of the demand.

“With the help of Unipn, Cook Strait, and East Coast Airways a considerable amount of inspection has been done," it is stated. “It is possible, however, to give very little instruction to observers. It would be a very great advantage to the service if observers at both reporting and climatological stations could be given short periodical courses of instruction at the meteorological office. At present observers have to rely almost entirely on written instructions and the knowledge gradually gained by experience. In view of the conditions, the majority of observers do remarkably well, and their co-operation, which is almost entirely voluntary, is once more gratefully recognised. Extension of Forecast! “There have been extensions of the forecasts for the general public. A number of additional district weather forecasts for publication in the newspapers or for broadcasting have been instituted. The number of requests for forecasts for special occasions by institutions or private individuals has

increased greatly. The broadcasts of weather lor aviators during the day have enabled people to keep in close touch with developments, and have resulted in much more attention being given to the weather and the fores—** ing of it. ' - * ■ “It is hoped that it will be possible before long to introduce an improved weather reporting and forecasting arevice for shipping. This would he particularly valuable to overseas vessels and His Majesty’s ships, and would he some return for the increased demand for co-operation from shipping arising from developments In aviation.

“During the year aviation service stations have been set up at the Royal New Zealand Air Force bases at Auckland and Christchurch. Each of these stations has. at present, a staff of four. The Auckland station is concerned principally with the work involved in giving a meteorological service for trans-ocean flying; and will become of increasing importance as this field of aviation develops. The chief faction of the Christchurch station, on the other hand, is the provision of instruction in meteorology for Air Force trainees. It acts also as a local forecasting centre for aviation purposes, .while, in addition, very useful information is being obtained by means of periodical meteorological flights from which are obtained data regarding the pressure, temperature, and humidity of the atmosphere from various levels up to a maximum of about 20.000 feetA ll the weather reports received at the Wellington office are reissued. In international code, to Hobsonville and Wigram aerodromes by means of shortwave radio.”