THE WORLD'S WEATHRE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 36, 14 February 1929, Page 11

THE WORLD'S WEATHRE

DR. KIDSON'S COMMENT

When asked this morning if ho had any comment to make on the abnormal weather conditions now prevailing over most of Europe, Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, said that without precise data it was not possible to explain fully the causes of the cold being experienced. Probably the immediate cause had been the prevalence over Europe of high pressure for a protracted period, resulting in a gradual cooling by radiation. Easterly winds on the north side of the highpressure region would be responsible for the spread of the cold spell to Englancl. "A series of mild winters in Europe preceded this one," continued Dr. Kidson, "and, although we cannot give a scientific reason, as often as not there is in such cases a sudden change in the other direction, the pendulum seeming to go from one extreme to another. Similarly, after a severe drought, there is often a wet season."

Discussing the world's weather during the last year or so, Dr. Kidson remarked that it had been, generally speaking, a year of extremes, the general circulation of the atmosphere having been particularly vigorous. That this condition of affairs might be associated with the period of sunspot maximum which was just over was possible, and some theorists would state this was the cause. If the activity of tlio atmosphere continued it might be that Now Zealand's nexf winter would be more severe thaii usual, but he was not going to prophesy such a contingency. What was remarkable in the world's weather during the last year was the cold in t;be ocean waters in the Tropics, this being counterbalanced by an abnormal warmth in antarctic regions. Messages from Byrd confirmed this, he reporting rain, .1 phenomenon practically unknown in the region where he is. These two facts, the cold in the Tropics and tjhe warmth in the Antarctic, were evidence of very active atmospheric circulation the world over, the former being caused by cold air brought in from high latitudes, the warmer air from the Tropics taking its place in the general scheme of circulation. He himself for many years had beon working on this theory of the circulation of .the atmosphere, and the present conditions seemed to confirm his theory of atmospheric circulation.