SCIENCE AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 16

SCIENCE AT SEA

METEOROLOGIST'S POST OFFICE ON THE AWATEA ASSISTANCE FOR AVIATION THE TRANSTASMAN SERVICE Investigations designed to assist navigation of flying-boats on the projected air service between Australia and New Zealand are being conducted by Mr. A. Martin, a young Australian meteorologist in cliargo of the meteorological office recently installed on the Union Company's transtasman liner Awatea, which arrived at Auckland yesterday. It is believed that the Awatea is the first merchant ship to have a meteorological office. , Born in /Western Australia, Mr. Martin followed a science course at tho University of Western Australia, Perth, specialising in mathematics and physics. He obtained the bachelor of scionco degree and worked with the Commonwealth Meteorological Department at Melbourne and at the aerodrome at Essendon. Ho did further work in connection with aviation at Hobart for over a year, and last month was appointed to the new position on the Awatea.

The work assigned Mr. Martin is regarded as of paramount importance to the proposed transtasman air service. He hopes to get more specific knowledge of the weather over the Tnsman with a view to assisting tho flyingboats. When squalls - are encountered on the surface investigations will be made to ascertain the conditions at various flying levels. Where conditions are squally on the surface they may be quite different at a height of 3000 ft. "The result of tho investigations will mean that flying-boats over the Tasman will be in constant communication With this meteorological office on the Awatea," said Mr. Martin yesterday. "If a flying-boat asks for a report on conditions over a particular area this office will be able to report that at 7000 ft. the wind is westerly and that higher it is southerly, for instance. This office will be able to advise them at what level they will have the benefit of a tail wind and when to expect head winds." Equipment of Office Only some of the equipment has yet been installed. The remainder will be fitted when the ship docks again. The apparatus will cost about £IOOO and will include a specially stabilised theodolite unaffected by the roll of the ship and a thermometer attachable to the mast and whoso readings will be electrically recorded in Mr. Martin's office. There will also be a sea water reading thermometer and an instrument to measure the wind velocity aboard the ship. Other equipment comprises a barograph and a liberal supply of balloons filled with hydrogen for gauging wind force and pressures. Tho present quarters are situated aft on the main deel?. One of the difficulties of Mr. Martin's task will be that his calculations will be subject to the ship's speed and olher considerations. The research is also affected by funnel gases. ''This research throws a new angle on my work altogether and opens tremendous possibilities," said Mr. Martin. "I am hopeful that the findings will be of great value to meteorological science and its practical application. Aviation as well as merchant shipping and the Navy will be interested, and there should be undoubted benefits resulting in the forecasting of weather."

The Use of Balloons In explaining the work he had done up to the present Mr. Martin stated that twice a day a balloon is released into the air. It is inflated with hydrogen to a certain weight. Bv following the balloon with the theodolite he is able to take measurements and from the calculations he will be able to gauge the speed and direction of the wind at various levels. On land the balloons rise to 30,000 ft., but a height of 15,000 ft. would be considered very good at sea. "Some of the balloons released from various stations in Australia have been recovered again," said Sir. Martin. "Balloons released in Adelaide have been recovered in Queensland. Many of them must burst, of course, as they naturally expand as they reach a greater height." Mr. Martin said he expected to be a year on the work, when it would perhaps be made permanent. He said that lie hoped at. some time to make further investigations at the South Pole.