WEATHER AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 14

WEATHER AT SEA.

WIRELESS REPORTS STOPPED.

REGRET OF SHIPMASTERS.

VALUE OF THE INFORMATION. Tho decision of t.ho Government to cease sending wireless weather reports to vessels at sea is regretted by shipmasters, v/lio found tho information of extreme value in avoiding storms in the Pacific. Until recently every vessel within reasonable range of New Zealand reported bv wireless to Wellington at nino o'clock every morning the position of the vessel, barometer reading, temperature, diicction and forco of wind, and condition of sky. Tho reports were forwarded to tho Wellington meteorological office, where the combined information was plotted on synoptic charts and by this means tho movements of storms in tho Pacific could bo followed.

Tho result of the meteorological calculations was then broadcast every evening to all vessels within wireless range. Tho masters of tho vessels listening Hum plottod the reports in tho meteorological log on board and also plotted the information 011 the ship's charts. With the information received tho masters were then able to avoid any approaching storm of violence and thereby prevent damago to (ho vessel and delay on the voyage. In (he case of passenger liners the commanders wero al io to avoid crossing tho paths of storms, thus preventing discomforture to tho passengers on board. Jn addition to a synopsis of the weather conditions prevailing in (lie Pacific, (lie wireless broadcast to shipping at sea contained tho weather conditions and the barometer and thermometer readings at Norfolk Island, Capo Maria Van Diernen Auckland, East Capo, Cape Kginont, Napier, Farewell Spit, Stephen Island. Wellington, Cape Campbell, Grevrnouth, Akaroa, Nugget Point, Puysegur Point, Chatham Island, Sydney and Ilobart. In (his way masters of vessels approaching New Zealand from any direction were informed of the various weather conditions prevailing near tho coast. Although tho New Zealand Government has ceased to scud out wireless weather reports, other countries in the Pacific continue to do so. Suva (Fiji) daily .broadcasts a wireless weather report based on information received by wireless from Papeete, Apia, Rarotonga, Niuo Island, Vavau (Tonga), Nukualofa (Tonga), Norfolk Island and \ ila (New Hebrides). Reports received from such an extended area enable the Fijian Meteorological Department to warn shipping and all wireless stations of the approach of hurricanes, which aro very severe in llie South .Seas, especially from December to April. Australian shipping is also advised daily by weather reports broadcast from both Melbourne and Sydney and derived from information gathered from the wireless stations all round tho Australian coast.