UNIVERSAL WEATHER CODE

Otago Witness, Issue 3444, 16 March 1920, Page 27

UNIVERSAL WEATHER CODE

LINKING UP THE WORLD.

Remarkable developments of the world's meteorological service have recently been taking place, and the establishment in the near future •of an international chain of meteorological stations using a universalweather code is contemplated. Australia, in common with other nations of the civilised globe, will undoubtedly be linked up with the scheme. Definite plans for a worldwide exchange of meteorological information - were drawn up by the meteorological experts of the Empire, who met in London recentlyMr Hunt (commonwealth meteorologist) attended the conference on behalf of Australia, and he has already presented to the Government a most interesting report on the proposals that have been put forward. The conference agreed to certain international standards with regard to barometric measurements, so that every observation and every record of a meteorological station, wherever situated, may be availed of by the stations of all other countries. What the scheme aims at is the introduction of a universal weather language and vocabulary. The British authorities have already completely reorganised their meteorological service, and have arranged for the utilisation, of aircraft for observation purposes. The j Air Ministry, is now going ahead with a . scheme for the establishment of a network of wireless stations all over the country t» permit the airmen receiving weather report while flying from one place to another. Negotiations are also in hand to extend anf unify the system of collecting weather data by wireless from ships at sea all over tha world, and at the same time to organise tha free transmission of weather bulletins from a sufficient number of wireless stations tot admit of ships being constantly supplied ' with reliable weather reports and forecasts wherever they may be. The messages, it is proposed, should all be in the same code, 1 so that a ship with only one wireless \ tor can read them. j

As aviation develops in Australia opportu- '. nity is tote taken to extend the I scope of. the commonwealth meteorological department. Additional stations will eventually have to be established so that aircraft travelling from one State to another may be kept informed by wireless of weather conditions en route in much the same way a 3 ships at sea are able to communicate weathei bulletins to vessels hundreds of miles away.