WEATHER FORECASTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 15

WEATHER FORECASTS

INFLUENCE OF SOLAR RADIATION

PROPOSED OBSERVATORY.

(FRO* OCR OTTK CORRESPONDING)

SYDNEY, 25th April. The decision of the Federal Government, after years of desultory consideration of the matter, to establish an observatory on Mount Stromolo, near the proposed Federal capital at Canberra, for solar observations, has excited the keenest interest in scientific circles. It is believed that solar radiations have an enormous influence upon weather conditions, and that their careful observation would render poEsible much more distant and accurate forecasting. This, of course, is of world-interest, and inasmuch as there will be constant wireless communication between this establishment arid a chain of similar observatories in European countries, England, India, and America, the data obtained will be well disseminated, and the influences and effects in set parts of the globe will:be recorded, but it has long been felt that this branch of science had special interest for Australia on account of its peculiar liability to recurring droughts, and for this reason a movement had been started for the establishment of an observatory by private subscription. This, however, could not have "been on an adequate scale, as 1 at best it would have had to be located near Sydney, where scientists could have given their services in an honorary capacity owing to the prohibitive expense of a permanent staff. The coastal regions would have been far from ideal for. the purpose, and the Government observatory with a paid staff will be able to carry out the work much rjore effectively. It is proposed as a first step, to appoint a director, and the Astronomer Royal of Greenwich, and Professor Turner, of the Oxford University, are being, asked to act with Professor Duffield, of Reading University College, England, who is at present in Australia, in making a.suitable selection. It has been stipulated that the person selected for this post must possess unquestionable scientific attainments, good laboratory experience, and sound astrophysical knowledge. The assistants are, if possible, to be young, vigorous men, who have had war service. The director is to be given the opportunity of visiting Continental observatories and the Mount Wilson observatory in Southern California; thus bringing himself thoroughly up to date before entering upon his duties in Australia.