OBSERVATORIES’ FUNCTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25834, 20 June 1949, Page 3

OBSERVATORIES’ FUNCTIONS

CHRISTCHURCH UNITS GEOPHYSICAL AND MAGNETIC , explanation of the functions of Observatory and the Magnetic Survey are given in a sum--3 tL C °n P1!e ? by the district officer . O e P„ artment of Scientific and indvstnal Research (Mr C. O. Clin- “ are in the observa°t? organisation of the department. . H ntll recentl y a number of observainSv S irl?in? r?t^ d Wi l h some de gree of “‘dependence, hut because plthar ll ?f ow th in recent years, together with a vastly increased need IJS§ hys J cal - da - ta ’ Particularly in the field of aviation, defence, and the department found It necessary to reorganise the observatory work, said Mr Clinton. The reorganisation which came into the fo™=? eCem ? er ' 1944 * resu lted .n formatlon of a general observa,2 Ples organisation, which combined s^,> a ( C ' V ' l le L cf the independent observatories. The new organisation was divided into several units, each responsible for specific aspects of observatory work. In Christchurch new observatory units were formed, combining the functions of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, the Apia Observatory. Western Samoa, and the unit which was developed during the war—the ionosphere section. These two' units were the Geophysical Observatory and Survey. Each was controlled by a director. Mr H. F. Baird was director of the Magnetic Survey, and Mr J. W. Beagley director of the Geophysical Observatory. The Magnetic Survey was responslb j Pl ott * n g modern navigation and other magnetic charts in the area from the equator to latitude 69 deg. south between longitudes 150 degrees east and 150 degrees west. It would also do cognate work in seismology, gravitation, and geomagnetic reconnaissance. The Geophysical Observatory was responsible for observatory research work on magnetic records, climatology (involving maintenance of the existing meteorological instruments in the Botanic Gardens), ionosphere research, auroral work, cosmic ray research and responsibility for the Apia sub--o<TEva ^ory ’ as we H as the operation pf the ionosphere stations at Campbell Island, Rarotonga, Fiji, and Lincoln. Pure research was also done.