WEATER DATA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 229, 28 September 1938, Page 7

WEATER DATA.

AVIATION DEMANDS.

MODERN DEVELOPMENTS.

METEOROLOGICAL, OFFICE

(By Telegraph —Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON", this dav

Some of the wide ramifications of the work done at the Meteorological Office were explained in a statement issued by the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. He stressed the importance of the data, secured by the office from the point of view of aviation. The development of aviation had created a demand for weather forecasts and reports on a scale never previously contemplated, the Minister said, adding: "A pilot does not merely want a general idea of what the weather is going to be. but the precise conditions along his route." He mentioned temperature, pressure and wind-strength. From the first he would be able to judge the danger of icing and how to avoid it. \\ itliout accurate readings of pressure on the ground he could not tell his height when flying blind. On the strength of the wind would depend his speed on the ground.

Aviation Developments. "Indeed with the development of trans-ocean airways ami night flying, the Meteorological Office is almost'certain soon to have to maintain a 24-hour service." he added. "At present the first observations are made at (i a.m. and then at three-hourly intervals until 3 p.m. At 1) a.m. and 3 p.m. the reports are received from approximately 70 stations in Xew Zealand, and from ii smaller numlter at (I a.m. and at 110011. Winds in the upper air are observed two or three times a day bv means of pilot balloons at Auckland. Wellington and Christchurch," continued the Minister.

"In addition to the central Meteorological Office, aviation service stations with small staffs have been established at Auckland and Christcluirch," he said. "These, and another to be developed later, will cater to the tieeds of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. That in Auckland will be specially concerned, also, with trans-Pacific and possibly trans-Tasnian airways. At Christcluirch the officer-in-charge gives instruction in meteorology to Air Force trainees.

Routine at Wigram. "A part of the routine at Wigram aerodrome is the making of flights to heights up to about 20,000 ft. during which the meteorological officer mikes continual observations of pressure, temperature, humidity and other phenomena. This is a very important work which, if developed, will reveal a great deal about weather processes in the atmosphere in Xew Zealand. That will have many practical applications to aviation as well as to weather forecasting.

"This recording of conditions in the upper air is being developed on a very intensive scale in the northern hemisphere. It is not possible to enter here into a discussion of the results to be derived from these researches, but it will be clear that since the atmosphere is becoming more and more the medium of travel, it is necessary to learn everything we can about it. In this connection, it is unfortunately necessary to keep constantly in view the possible developments of aerial warfare."