WEATHER FORECASTING IS IMPORTANT IN NEW ZEALAND

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 24, 25 June 1952, Page 6

WEATHER FORECASTING IS IMPORTANT IN NEW ZEALAND

An interesting address was given to Cambridge Rotarians by Mr W. R. Familton, a former member of the Meteorological Branch of the Air Force, during the war. The speaker stressed the import^nce of the study of meteorology and referred to the increasing interest in it to all branch.es of the community. It was necessary to make and collect statistics for analysis as a basis for study. This had been commenced in 1861 and had been kept accurately in New Zealand for the last forty years. Figures for example revealed that the wettest region of New Zealand was Milford Sound with an average rainfall of 252 inches while Cromwell in Central Otago had the law rainfall of 13 inches. Sunshine figures revealed that Nelson was the sunniest with an annual figure of 2,400 hours as compared with Auckland's 2,000. Climatologiical data were impor-; fcant in locating air-fields in wartime as well as in peace. They needed to know the nature of head winds, liability to gustiness, and icing conditions. Records of relative humidity helped to determine the advisability of establishmg saltworks at Lake Grasmere. Meteorolgy was important in the operation of air-services, and the department cooperated with the Tasman Air Service in assisting them to determine the maximum air load according to weather conditions at the time of flight. Meteorology was an international science there being a mutual exchange between neighbouring countries of all vital information. New Zealand was responsible for providing* information of conditions likely to operate in a large area of the Pacific extending from Antarctica to the Equator and eastward to Pitcairn Island. This was done by observers located in various parts of the island and in the Pacific islands where native observers played a very important part and occupied a high position in the tribe. In the Atlantic there were 13 vessels engaged in observation work, their tour of duty extending over 21 days at a time. Information was regularly radioed in an easily recognizable form Weather* reports came from observers every six hours. These were plotted pictorially on large scale maps. The task of the meteorologist was to analyse and interpret this information by dirawing Mnes through placgs of equal barometric pressure, i.e. isobars. The result showed certain patterns eaoh with associateci weather characteristics. It showed areas of depiessions and anti-cyclones, and it was possible to indentify between ridges of high pressure certain masses of cold or wamr fronts. Such wei*e eommon in New Zealand and Australia and there seemed to be a six day cycle of anti-cyclones erossing* the Tasman from West to East — separated by warm or cold fronts. The reports received at 6 p.m. were analysed and formed the basis of the 9 p.m. radio foreeast. In conclusion Mr Familton referred to the use made of meteorolog*ical services by harbour-masters, forestry and agriculture depai*tments, film and aerial photography, cable-layin^i* and by farmers in connection with hay-making aerial topdressing and care of sheep in back hill stations in the South Island.