THE UNSETTLED WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 34

THE UNSETTLED WEATHER.

NOT FROM THE ANTARCTIC

STATEMENT BY DR KTDSTON. WELLINGTON, January 14. The adverse summer weather* is believed by many to emanate from Antarctic conditions, a belief which, no doubt, is reinforced by the experience of the Byrd expedition. Dr Kidston, Government Meteorologist however, does not agree. He considers that no definite connection has been found, and that observations are insufficient for a basis of such theory. The Antarctic is largely unexplored, and the weather in New Zealand can hardly be dependent on a blizzard in one small patch of the Polar regions. All that can be said is that, on the average, we have a southerly once a week. It is true that Commander Byrd has been reporting a blizzard once a week, but none ©f the other expeditions now’ in the south finds unusual quantities of ice, and actually large masses of ice tend towards stable weather.

New’ Zealand depends on an area 1000 miles to the westward. It is generally safe to say’ that a rise in pressure over Perth will be followed by a similar rise here some five to seven days later. It would undoubtedly help if reports could be obtained from some of the southerly islands, but to obtain definite settled information from the Antarctic would take years, and cost an immense sum. There is more reason to believe that the tropics play a far more important part in the matter.