Computers May Aid N.Z. Weather Forcasting

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 14

Computers May Aid N.Z. Weather Forcasting

(New Zealand. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 8

High-speed electronic digital computers are being used in the most recently-devel-oped method of weather forecasting The national weather forecasting centre at Kelburn is investigating this type of forecasting, which one day may be better than the technique now used Mr E G Edie, superintendent of the operations section of the Meteorological Office, described the new method in a lecture on modem weather forecasting procedures to the technological section of the Royal Society tonight The main foundation of techniques used hitherto was representation of the condition of the air on maps covering the area from the tropics to the Antarctic and from the Indian Ocean to the midSouth Pacific Ocean, he said. By charting the patterns of atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface, and by charting wind and temperature at levels up to 40.000 ft, a threedimensional picture was obtained

This was done every six hours for the surface and

every 12 hours for upper levels. By calculation and by using experience of types of weather in particular localities and seasons, the forecaster prepared charts for 12, 24 or 36 hours ahead, and from the charts made his forecasts.

If simple assumptions could be made as to the properties and structure of the atmosphere, mathematical equations could be determined which a computer could solve, giving the expected state of the atmosphere later, Mr Edie said.