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Grey River Argus, 1 December 1938, Page 5

The term “millibar” has become familiar to New Zealanders through its daily reiteration in the broadcast weather reports. Although there is & general suspicion that it relates to barometric pressure, its exact meaning has been somewhat obscure. Dr. W. A. Macky, officer in charge of the Government, meteorological office at Auckland, informed the “Star” that a millibar was the international unit of pressure, being based on the metric system. It had been introduced into New Zealand several years agb, and was now practically universal, although the United States adhered to the old system based upon ihches of mercury. The relation of the new system to the old was that 1000 millibars was the, equivalent of a heading of 29.53 in on an ordinary barometer., Normal atmospheric pressure was 1015 millibars, and though readings below this indicated an area of low pressure, it did not necessarily follow that there would be bad weather, Often the reverse was the case.