PREDICTING STORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 181, 30 January 1912, Page 6

PREDICTING STORMS.

DEVELOPMENTS IN WEATHER FORECASTING. | WIRELESS AS AN ADJUNCT. While in Australia, Rev. D. C. Bates, Dominion Meteorologist, enquired into certain meteorological matters. 'that there have been great developments during the past three years. It is probable that about £20,000 has been speni in instruments alone during that period, and the staffs have been greatly increased. The results are thoroughly justifying these steps. "Still greater tilings are expected in the future, and the new capital site will be the centre from which these developments will emanate. Mr. H. A. Hunt, Commonwealth Meteorologist, intends to establish an observatory for the special study of solar physics, and preparations are already being made in that direction at Melbourne. Every opportunity was aftorded me of seeing the system of equipment of the Commonwealth bureau. "I also visited the State bureau under the divisional officer, Mr. Stewart Wilson. This observatory is now of secondary importance. The others I saw were at Newcastle and Wagga Wagga. One thing that struck me very forcibly was the use of rainfall maps and telegrams, and also sheets showing the rainfall for every day m the year at each place. lam sure we could do much in this direction, and /! ow our P os tal and telegraphic authorities are only too anxious to do all in their power to assist. I hope my visit wUI prove profitable, for I have reaped in fruitful fields where many good and clever men are devoting their lives as priests of science and the study of the weather." J Mr. Bates' experience has revealed a new use for wireless telegraphy, which he says opens up great possibilities in weather forecasting as the telegraphic system made synoptic charts on which weather forecasts are based, so we may less hei advances from wire"Tlie weather," said the Dominion Meteorologist, depends upon the movements of low and high pressure areas or departures from the normal; for inf SnV f f I J°n- a bar °rnetrical reading or 30.00 at Wellington and *29.00 from a ship at sea coming towards New Zealand won] 1 ) ' 1 Sl ' oUld know that we would have a severe cyclone with northeily gales. A knowledge of what is happening at sea, where storms travel develop and dissipate, would be of the' utmost value to meteorologists, and add materially to the value of the daily Z. dictions. We are 1200 miles from the nmrest observatories, and estimation of the course, development and duration of storms is a most important desideratum in our work. I h avo no doubt that the steamship companies will gladly fall into S-« t0 su PPb' such informa t on dail\ to the various bureaux, and he secretary of thn Post and Telegraphic Department, Mr. Donald Robertson, hag ready given me great encouragement to develop the activities in this direction, while the Marine Department has niflr? T SUpp]y a few reliable barometers of our own standard to steamers equipped with wireless."