Weather offices linked to international satellites

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 38

Weather offices linked to international satellites

A weather office, linked to international satellites and communications systems, will be a working exhibit at the Canterbury show. The weather office will be part of the “Waters of Canterbury” display in Canterbury Court. Forecasters with the Meteorological Service will prepare regular forecasts and weather maps for the public. The chief meteorologist with the service in Christchurch, Mr A. I. Tomlinson, said the forecast room at the show would be fitted with similar equipment to that in the weather office at Christchurch airport. This would include a terminal for an international communications network which sends weather information all over the world. The office also will have a facsimile machine to

receive pictures from a satellite stationary 36,000 km above New Guinea. It is one of five weather satellites located above the Equator. ' Mr Tomlinson said the public would be welcome to talk to forecasters at the show and discuss how forecasts were prepared. The Christchurch weather office prepares forecasts for the whole of the South Island, except Marlborough and Nelson. The rest of New Zealand is served by offices at Wellington and Auckland. The forecasts are based on information received from many small weather stations scattered throughout New Zealand, and from other countries. Because New Zealand is situated in a relatively isolated part of the world, readings taken here are important for forecasting

weather in other countries. Information is regularly supplied to weather stations in Melbourne, Washington, London and Moscow. Balloons are important for helping to monitor the weather. Every day four, gas-filled balloons are released from Christchurch airport to measure wind. An aluminium reflector attached to the balloon allows radar to monitor its flight. On the midday flight, a small transmitter sends back temperature, humidity and pressure details. At a height between 18,000 m and 30,000 m, the balloon usually bursts, terminating the flight. Other displays at the show prepared by the meteorological office will deal with the cause of heavy rain, evapotranspiration, long-term rainfall, satellite pictures and cloud physics.