IMPORTANT PART

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1930, Page 6

IMPORTANT PART

WIRELESS AND WEATHER,

VALUE OF FORECASTS

WELLINGTON, May 20

Wireless telegraphy is playing an enormous and increasing part in the collection and dissemination of meteorological information, according to Dr. E. .Kidson, director of meteorological services, who read a paper on “Weather and Wireless,” before the Technological Section of the Philosophical Society last evening. Although reports from recording stations in different parts of a country were easily transmissible by land, telegraph to the central 'bureau which coordinated them, and prepared its weather forecasts, he said, as soon a,s it became a matter of getting reports from overseas, wireless telegraphy began its service. As far as the transmission of forecasts was concerned, this could be done much more economically by radio telegraphy than by wire, much less traffic being required. it was the only means, too, of communicating with ships, reports from the sea being especially important cm account of the large areas of thoceans. Such reports were desirable in the preparation of weather charts. Wireless was the only means of communicating with aircraft. The working of regular air services in temperate countries was entirely dependent on an adequate wireless weather service. Airships were continually adapting themselves to weather changes, and the fullest weather port Thad always been regarded as essential. They were (supplied with a most comprehensive service, and even prepared charts of their own in the air.

VALUE TO SHIPPING

Dr Kidson explained the .value of weather reports and forecasts to 1 shipping. He spoke of' a hypothetical cii.se in which a captain was 'approaching Wellington in fine lyeatnei and making good speed. The captain intended L> arrive at dawn 1 in order to save a day for the passengers and mail as well as to enable the ship to be worked in port. When fairly close, however, on the evening before arrival, the weather became bad. Although he had wireless bearings of the Tinakori station, he was afraid that they might have been deflected and was not (disposed to rely on them entirely. It was , unsafe for him to continue at the same speed and there was an uncertainty of his position, which made him chary of keeping a. course set for 'Cape Miser. He alaltered course accordingly for somewhere in the straits and eventually lost time through this action.. B.v means of .wireless he might', have received a report from Cape Palliser saying that the visibility was good to the sea-board. He would have thus been able to keep his original course, knowing that .as he approached the land the thick weather would lift'and he would be able to navigate safely

As far as the relationship between wireless and weather was concerned, further developments would probably he in the location of disturbances by means of radio observations and the following of their'movements, as well as the transmission of weather reports and .charts in facsimile. ‘T am hoping that it will not be long before the charts themselves will be transmitted from Wellington to other parts of New Zealand,” he said.