WEATHER FORECASTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 6

WEATHER FORECASTS

A PROFESSOR’S DEFENCE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February; 12. “That the Government Meteorologist does so well is a tribute to his high skill,” said Professor Burbridge, head of the Physics Department at Auckland University College, when interviewed, to-day. Professor Burbridge protested strongly against ill-informed and extravagant criticisms, and outlined the great difficulties of weather forecasting in New Zealand. He expressed surprise at the Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union discusison yesterday, and said that some of the reported remarks displayed deep ignorance. He would recommend the Kaipara committee to call at the Wellington office and see a. little of the complicated business of forecasting before classing forecasts as “dead reckoning or rule of thumb.” The accusation that the Government Meteorologist is not doing his job, was a nasty accusation to make about a scientist of international reputation, and of known hard-working habits, whom we are fortunate to have in . .ew Zealand.” Professor Burbridge explained that (heweather was governed by extensive weather systems, covering an area as large as continents, and changes! in such systems may move very rapidly—--300 miles a. day is the average rate. New Zealand is a very difficult place ’or forecasting. It is surrounded by means, from which only chance reports com? via wireless from odd hips. “That the Government Mete■rologist does so well is a tribute to lis high skill, and none more than be voiild welcome an extenison of the meteorological service.”