W 0 R L D M E T E 0 R 0 L 0 G I C A L 0 R G A N I• Z A T I 0 N

OCTOBER 1959 VOL. VIII NO. 4 @ ·0 For all modern meteorological stations :

Modern design with panoramic mirror so that the whole recorded curve can be seen without removing the cover. Special protection for use at sea. More accurate measuring elements. and measuring instruments of traditional quality : Portable and distant­ reading anemometers - available with dials or as recording instruments. Distant-reading, dial and recording wind-vanes. Sunshine recorders. Psychrometers. Raingauges and recording raingauges. Distant-reading thermo-hygrometers. Th ermo-ba ro-hyg rog raphs.

0 D * 3g OFFICERS OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION President : Mr. A. VIAUT First Vice-President : Mr. L. DE AzcARRAGA Second Vice-President: Mr. M. F. TAHA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr. A. VIAUT Dr. F. W. REICHELDERFER Dr. J. LAMB OR Mr. L. DE AzcARRAGA Mr. L. J. DWYER Sir GRAHAM SUTTON Mr. M. F. TAHA Dr. A. NYBERG Dr. A. THOMSON Mr. J. RAVET Dr. M. A. F. BARNETT Dr. KIYOO W ADATI Mr. S. BASU Mr. F. L. FERNANDEZ Mr. A. A. WAHAB Mr. J. L. V. MALDONADO Col. F. GIANSANTI Mr. A. A. ZOLOTUHIN

TECHNICAL COMMISSION PRESIDENTS REGIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS Aerology: Dr. R. C. SUTCLIFFE Africa (I): Mr. J. RA VET Aeronautical Meteorology : Asia (II) : Mr. S. BAsu Mr. A. SILVA DE SousA South America (Ill) : Agricultural Meteorology: Mr. P.M.A. BouRKE Mr. J. L. V. MALDONADO Climatology: Mr. R. G. VERYARD North and Central America (IV): Hydrological Meteorology: Dr. F. W. REICHELDERFER Instruments and Methods of Observation : South-West Pacific (V) : Mr. A. PERLAT Mr. L. J. DwYER Maritime Meteorology : Mr. H. THOMSEN Europe (VI) : Dr. A. NYBERG Synoptic Meteorology : Mr. P. H. KuTSCHENREUTER SECRETARIAT Secretary-General: Mr. D. A. DAVIES Deputy Secretary-General: Mr. J. R. RIVET Technical Division-Chief: Dr.K. LANGLO Admin. Division- Chief : Mr. J. M. RUBIATO InvestigationsSection:Mr.O.M.AsHFORD Tech. Ass. Unit-Chief: Dr. H. SEBASTIAN Operations Section: Mr. N.L.VERANNEMAN -Deputy Chief: Mr. P. R. DROUILHET

THE PURPOSES OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION "(a) To facilitate world-wide co-operation (c) To promote standardization of meteoro­ in the establishment of networks of logical observations and to ensure stations for the making of meteorologi­ the uniform publication of observ­ cal observations or ·other geophysical ations and statistics ; observations related to meteorology (d) To further the application of meteoro­ and to promote the establishment and logy' to aviation, shipping, agricul­ maintenance of meteorological centres ture, and other human activities; and charged with the provision of meteoro­ (e) To encourage research and training in logical services ; meteorology and to assist in co­ (b) To promote the establishment and ordinating the international aspects. maintenance of systems for the rapid of such research and training." exchange of weather information; From the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization, Article 2.

THE CONSTITUENT BODIES OF THE ORGANIZATION (a) The .World Meteorological Congress one of the six meteorological Regions which meets at least once every four of the world. They meet as often as years; necessary to ensure compliance with (b) The Executive Committee, which the policies of the Organization. meets at least once annually ; (d) Technical Commissions composed of (c) Regional Associations made up of experts in the various meteorological Members of the Organization the fields which meet at least once every networks of which lie in or extend into four years.

THE SECRETARIAT The Secretariat of the Organization is located at Campagne Rigot, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland. WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

OCTOBER 1959 VOL. VIII NO. 4

THE PICTURE ON THE COVER TABLE OF CONTENTS Pago

With the increasing demand for trained WMO and the United Nations...... 174 meteorologists in many spheres of activity, International collaboration on the lower there is a growing need for early encourage­ Mekong ...... 179 . ment of interest in accurate observation of weather phenomena and for the develop­ Meteorology helps to fight the desert locust 184 ment of educational aids in schools and ...... 186 universities and in the training departments Comparison of raingauges collabora­ of meteorological services. Recent Collaboration with other international organ- United Nations tion between WMO and the izations ...... 190 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organ­ 195 ization (UNESCO) has resulted in the pro­ Hydrological networks and methods ...... duction of two very useful aids, the colour Evaporation pan measurements in Hungary 198 slides and filmstrips of selected photographs from the International Cloud Atlas (see Activities of Regional Associations ...... 199 p. 217)· Atmospheric ozone and radiation ...... 201 The picture on the cover is one of the Cloud Atlas photographs which was selected Comparisons of radiation instruments ...... 203 for this purpose. It was taken by Mr. R. L. Activities of the Technical Commissions , . , 204 Day at Kimberley (British Columbia, Canada) and shows a double rainbow; the appearance Technical Assistance Programme ...... 208 of the secondary (fainter) bow, with spec­ , 211 trum colours reversed, is a frequent phenom­ News and Notes ...... often as clearly seen enon, though it is not Obituary ...... 216. . as in this picture. Many of us would surely 216 have appreciated visual aids such as this in News from the WMO Secretariat ...... our own school-days. Reviews ...... , ...... 222 Another project of interest for meteorolog­ ...... ·..... 224 ical training programmes is the meteorolog­ Calendar of coming events approved by Congress ical film loan service Publications of the WMO ...... 225 for establishment within the WMO Secretariat 230 (see p. 220). Members of WMO ......

work of the World The purpose of the WMO Bulletin is to provide a summary of the meteorology of interest Meteorological Organization and of developments in international of meteorology to Members of the Organization and others concerned with the application to human activity. English and French. The WMO Bulletin is published quarterly in two separate editions: (4 Swiss francs) The price is r Swiss franc per copy, including postage. Annual subscriptions to the Secretary-General, and all other correspondence about the Bulletin should be addressed Paix, Geneva. World Meteorological Organization, Campagne Rigot, Avenue de la Signed contributions do not necessarily represent the views of the Organization.

173 WMO Bulletin October 1959

WMO AND THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL'S ADDRESS TO THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, GENEVA, JULY 1959

N introducing the Annual Report of committee as a co-ordinating machine, I WMO to the Council, it has been and in the report of the recent WMO the practice in previous years to. select Congress the steps being taken through and to stress those activities of the past the ACC to ensure as far as possible year which are thought to be of par­ co-ordination and consultation be­ ticular interest to the Council, espe­ tween the United Nations and the cially those which stem from - or are specialized agencies on programmes related to -resolutions of the Council, are warmly supported. and in my remarks today I will follow the same course. I will not dwell further on this subject as more detailed information It should be noted, however, that in is given in the WMO Annual Report April of this year the Third Congress and in the report of the ACC to the of the World Meteorological Organiza­ Council. tion was held in Geneva at which par­ ticular attention was given to WMO's Concerted action activities as a member of the United Nations family and to the various Turning now to another aspect of resolutions of the Council which relate co-ordination, I would like to refer to directly or indirectly to the work of the the resolution adopted by the Council Organization. The Congress of WMO on the question of concerted action. meets only once every four years when Considerable attention is given to this the policy and budget of the Organiza­ question in the ACC report; it is also tion for the ensuing four-year period referred to in the WMO Annual Report are established. In the thought, there­ and I will"not repeat the information fore, that the Council would be as much in these documents except to mention interested in the decisions of Con·gress WMO's particular interest and par­ as in an account of the activities of the ticipation in concerted action in the Organization for the past year, I will field of water resource development in my remarks today refer not only to which has already been given much the past activities but also to the attention by the United Nations and relevant Congress decisions for the several specialized agencies. future. The following statement from a resolution adopted by the WMO Con­ Co-ordination of activities gress will indicate the general policy On the general question of co-ordina­ of WMO in this connexion : the tion of activities and effort with The Congress recognizes that Resolutions United Nations and other specialized 665(A) and 694(C) of the Economic and agencies, WMO has continued to play Social Council may give rise to proposals . as full a part as possible in the work for concerted action in activities of on interest to WMO. It considers that WMO of the Administrative Committee should play its full role in all such activities Co-ordination (A CC). The Organiza­ having aspects within the competence of tion attaches great importance to this WMO.

174 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Concentration of activities makes it a relativ_ely simple matter to make the appraisal required. Another subject which has been given much consideration at previous On the basis of this directive, a first sessions of the Council is that of con­ draft of an appraisal of the WMO centration of activities. Here again the future programme is being prepared relevant resolutions of the General As­ and will be submitted to the meeting sembly and the Council were brought of the Appraisals Committee of the to the attention of the WMO Congress Council which will take place im­ and the following extract from the mediately after this present session of resolution of Congress on this subjeet the Council. will, I think, demonstrate clearly WMO's policy on this matter : Another matter affecting WMO on the Council and indeed the The Congress notes the invitation of the which Economic and Social Com:icil to the General Assembly have adopted resolu­ specialized agencies to continue to include tions relates to two surveys, one on passages on the concentration of activities international relations and exchanges in their annual reports. It supports the fields of science, education and efforts being made to achieve further con­ in the centration of the programme and has culture, and the other on the main taken this need into account in approving trends of inquiry in the field of natural the technical programme of the Organiza­ science. These of course are matters ( rg6o­ tion for the third financial period in which the United Nations and the rg63). UN Educational, Scientific and Cul­ tural Organization (UNESCO) have the of programmes Appraisal prime responsibility but WMO has in­ I would now like to say a few words dicated its interest in the subject, on the subject of the appraisal of pro­ esJ!lecially in the scientific aspects, and grammes of the United Nations and has taken necessary action to assist certain specialized agencies, one of in every way possible. To quote again which is WMO. Distinguished dele­ from the report of the WMO Congress : gates will be aware of the resolutions to sessions WMO should take all necessary steps adopted at the 24th and z6th co-operate with UNESCO in the prepara­ of the Council on which the studies tion of the survey required by the Council now in progress are based. This ques­ resolution. WMO already does much to tion was fully reported to the Congress further the development of co-operation in approved the these fields and the Secretary-General of WMO and Congress should encourage any activities which may preparation of an appraisal of the scope, foster further international co-operation trend and cost of the WMO programme in these fields. for the years 1959-1964 as required by resolutions of the Council. Congress With regard to the study being un­ noted that the adoption of the budget dertaken by the United Nations, WMO and programme for the third financial has appointed a distinguished me­ period (rg6o-rg63) largely fulfilled that teorologist to assist in this work. requirement and the Secretary-General was requested to complete the ap­ So far the questions I ha,;.e dealt with praisals by assuming that the Organ­ have been of a rather general character ization's activities will continue on a and now I would like to refer to ques­ similar scale for the year 1964. The tions also arising from resolutions of Council will therefore see that the the Council but relating more specifi­ system of four-yearly programming cally to the technical activities of and budgeting which WMO follows WMO.

175 WMO Bull.etin October 1959

Expanded Programme of Technical and enabling the programme to be Assistance operated with only a small technical unit attached to the WMO Secretariat. Perhaps the most significant of these I would like to record on this occasion questions as far as the fulfilment by the appreciation of WMO for the WMO of its purpose and aims is the unfailing assistance and co-operation Expanded Programme of Technical which we receive from T AO in this Assistance. WMO's participation in connexion. the Expanded Programme has enabled a good deal of much-needed assistance to be given to many countries. I will Special Fund not give details since these are more The introduction of the new Special appropriate to the Technical Assistance Fund is of course a development Committee (TAC). Indeed I have which WMO warmly welcomes and already made a statement to the TAC hopes that it will provide the means on a formal request which the WMO of conducting useful surveys and other Congress has addressed to the Econom­ projects in the fields of interest of ic and Social Council. This request is WMO. I might mention in passing in effect an appeal for a somewhat that it seems to us that a new aspect increased WMO · planning share to of the need for co-ordination between enable small sub-totals to be made to the United Nations and the specialized each country known to be in need of agencies is developing in this con­ assistance in the fields appropriate nexion, following the decision of the to WMO. Special Fund to allocate each project to a single executive agency. It seems At present, many countries who have clear that in many cases a project made known to WMO that they would will require the joint efforts of more require assistance receive no WMO than one specialized agency and the sub-total at all- a situation which selected agency and those others whose we believe should be rectified. How­ assistance is needed will be required ever, as I have already said, I will to agree upon some modus operandi. not dwell on these questions further No doubt, this matter will be studied as this matter is being discussed in at the proper time and place - pos­ the Technical Assistance Committee. sibly in the ACC. I have noted that my colleague Dr. Sen of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Before leaving the question of tech­ United Nations (FAO) referred to this nical assistance, I would like to men­ matter in his remarks to the Council tion one interesting example of co­ and I was very pleased that he also ordination between the United Na­ has given some thought to this im­ tions and WMO. Since WMO's par­ portant question. ticipation in the Expanded Programme in 1952 it has been agreed that the administrative and accounting ar­ Other technical fields rangements for the WMO programme shall be handled by the Technical Turning now to another important Assistance Administration and later question, that of water resource devel­ the Bureau of Technical Assistance opment, distinguished delegates will be Operations (TAO), thus obviating the well aware of the several lines of activ­ necessity of establishing a large admin­ ity which have stemmed from the istrative staff in WMO for this purpose various resolutions of the Council on

176 October 1959 WMO Bulletin

fields in which this subject. This is a question of great One of the newest necessary concern to WMO and the WMO co-ordinated action seems WMO is Annual Report describes the activities is that of outer space. artificial of the Organization in this field as interested in this field because for well as the manner in which these satellites offer great possibilities Indeed much activities have been co-ordinated with meteorological purposes. radiation those of other organizations concerned. useful information on the from the The report of the ACC to the Council incident upon and reflected already been also deals with this subject. It seems earth and clouds has relevant as well to mention in this obtained.· connexion that the WMO Congress has formally decided that the Organization Another possible, I might even say field should extend its activities in the probable development, will be the of water resource development and has detection of cloud formations over taken steps to establish a new perma­ large areas of the earth's surface and nent technical commission to deal with the tracking of their movement by this subject. The distinguished delegate various means such as photo-electric this for the United States referred to cells, television cameras and, at night, state­ important development in his by infra-red measurements from spe­ ment to the Council. cially equipped satellites. The enor­ mous value of such information for co­ Another field in which WMO is forecasting purposes will be at once other ordinating its activities with evident' and the vast benefits to life members of the United Nations family and property which, for example, will is the peaceful uses of atomic energy. derive from the possibility of detecting the Close contact is maintained with hurricanes and tropical storms at an International Atomic Energy Agency early stage in their development and and a formal agreement with the subsequently tracking their movement ensure agency has been negotiated to is but one indication of the importance of full collaboration in all matters to meteorology of this new scientific common interest. development. In addition to radiation and cloud data, there are possibilities the WMO has also participated in of obtaining other important meteoro­ Scien­ meetings of the United Nations logical information. tific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and, at the request paper of the committee, special attention is WMO submitted a technical questions to the being given to the question of radio­ dealing with all these United active fallout from the stratosphere to recent meeting of the ad hoc Outer Space. the troposphere - that is the lower Nations Committee on add that this part of the atmosphere. As distin­ I should also perhaps the recent guished delegates are no doubt aware, matter was considered by a resolution was it is now recognized that this problem WMO Congress when WMO's interest of the stratospheric/tropospheric inter­ adopted establishing the collab­ change, which is of course essentially a in this field and extending Nations meteorological problem, is of particular oration of WMO to United and importance in the study of fallout and other specialized agencies as may be problems, since there is an accumula­ scientific organizations, of this policy, tion in the stratosphere of certain necessary. In pursuance has estab­ harmful and long-lasting radioactive the Executive Committee experts in this elements. lished a panel of. four

177 WMO Bulletin October 1959

field, to keep the matter under review There is of course close and constant and to advise on action which might collaboration between WMO and the be taken. International Civil Aviation Organiza­ tion on problems of aeronautical meteo­ Many other examples could be given rology, particularly those problems of co-operation between WMO and the arising from the introduction of turbine­ United Nations and specialized agen­ powered commercial aircraft. cies, but time does not permit of my mentioning all of these. I would like, With the World Health Organiza­ however, to say a few brief words tion, WMO has collaborated on ques­ about some other items of collaboration tions relating to atmospheric pollution. between WMO and some of the indi­ vidual specialized agencies on specific With the International Telecom­ items of common interest. munication Union, there is close col­ laboration on problems relating to the Collaboration with other specialized world-wide network of telecommunica­ agencies tions which has been established for the vast interchange of weather information WMO has collaborated for several which takes place continuously in all years in the Arid Zone Research Pro­ countries of the world. gramme of UNESCO and I believe it may be said that WMO has made a That is all I wish to say on co­ useful contribution to this important ordination and collaboration between project- particularly in the field of WMO and the other members of the solar radiation. I should like to UN family. I should perhaps mention, record our sincere appreciation of the however, that there are many other willingness of UNESCO - I might examples of co-ordination of effort even say the encouragement of outside the context of the UN family UNESCO- in regard to WMO's part­ itself. Co-ordination of activities with icipation in this important project. many scientific non-governmental I have already mentioned WMO's organizations is, for example, a normal interest in the survey of international feature of the WMO work programme. relations and exchanges in the fields of science, education and culture. WMO is also collaborating with Collaboration with non-governmental UNESCO on the production of film­ organizations strips and slides of cloud photographs for instructional purposes, and finally Perhaps the most spectacular exam­ WMO and UNESCO recently held a ple of this is the International Geo­ successful joint training seminar on physical Year (IGY) to which the weather problems in the Mediterranean. distinguished delegate for the United States made reference in his statement. With FAO, WMO is collaborating in The IGY ended on 31 December rg58 respect of activities designed to combat and now the task of collecting, collating the age-old menace of the desert locust and reproducing the vast amount of over vast areas of Asia and Africa, and data for the benefit of scientific in various other questions relating to workers remains. WMO has under­ agriculture and fisheries. WMO has taken wide responsibilities in this also intimated that it will be happy respect and a very large proportion of to assist in appropriate ways in the all the IGY data is being collected in Free the World from Hunger Campaign the WMO Secretariat and is being of which FAO is the. prime mover. reproduced by a micro-photographic

178 WMO Bulletin October 1959 system known as Microcards. The first the Secretariat and the cost of repro­ distribution of Microcards took place ducing the data have to be met from even before the IGY itself had ended the sale of the Microcards. Thus there and at the moment, some six months is no reference whatsoever to this later, a substantial proportion of the important WMO activity in the WMO data (which incidentally comprises budget. some I3 million observations) has already been distributed. We are I trust my remarks will have shown making a determined effort to distribute that WMO is making a very serious the information as quickly as possible effort to ensure that there is the fullest because we feel that, unless it can be possible co-ordination and collabora­ made available to research workers tion between WMO and the other fully and speedily, the maximum members of the United Nations family benefit of the tremendous effort which and that the suggestions and the the countries of the world have made advice and the ideas, which the for the IGY may not be reaped. Economic and Social Council pro­ mulgates in the form of resolutions, I might add that WMO is doing all -have been given due weight by WMO this work on a self-financing basis­ in establishing and implementing its that is, the cost of operating the special programme. centre which has had to be set up in D. A. D.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON THE LOWER MEKONG

"THE Mekong is a majestic river. .. Preliminary reconnaissance Wise conservation and utilization of its waters will contribute more to­ Hitherto the resources of the Mekong wards improving human welfare in this have been little utilized. It is true area than any other single undertaking." that some stretches are open to navig­ ation and that the flood waters in the The above quotation from the open­ lower basin are used for rice cultivation, but there is not a single hydroelectric ing paragraph of the Wheeler report r * expresses the belief which has led to power station along the river and only one of the most fascinating inter­ small areas have been provided with national projects ever undertaken­ drainage and irrigation. In I95I, the the development of the lower Mekong Bureau of Flood Control of the United basin. Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) The Mekong, eighth longest river in proposed that the flood problems of the the world, flows from its source in the lower Mekong should be studied as a snow-clad mountains of the Tibetan first step towards the development of plateau to its delta in the Republic of the river's resources. The governments Viet-Nam, by way of China, Burma, of the riparian countries approved this Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. It is proposal but, owing to the unfavourable indeed an international waterway. conditions which subsequently pre­ vailed in parts of the lower basin, little progress was made until I956 * See references on p. 184. when a field reconnaissance was carried

179 WMO Bulletin October 1959 out. This led to the publication of an Lt-General R. A. Wheeler as chairman, ECAFE report 2 which showed that it and after spending two months in the was technically feasible to carry out countries concerned they produced a many important water projects in the series of recommendations in the so­ lower Mekong basin. Five projects called Wheeler report, which has were selected as being especially worthy already been mentioned. In brief, the of detailed investigation in view of the survey mission proposed a programme vast quantities of electric power which of further studies and investigations at

Drainage basin of the lower Mekong ---- country boundaries %% drainage basin

(Adapted from figure r of UN Flood Control Series No. 12. The boundaries shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations) · they could provide and of the contribu­ an estimated cost of g,zoo,ooo US tions they could make to flood control dollars over a period of five years. and to the improvement of river Of this sum, r,6zo,ooo dollars was navigation. required for the establishment and initial operation for three years of a Wheeler mission network of hydrological and meteo­ rological stations. A similar amount The Governments of Cambodia, Laos, was needed for aerial mapping and Thailand and Viet-Nam subsequently more than 3,ooo,ooo dollars for other set up a Committee for the Co­ mapping and survey work. The mission ordination of Investigations of the pointed out that assistance to the four Lower Mekong Basin and requested countries from external sources would the United Nations Technical Assist­ be necessary. ance Administration (now the Bureau of Technical Assistance Operations The project was supported by ECAFE, (TAO)) to provide an expert survey and by 1959 substantial aid had been mission to prepare detailed recom­ provided or promised by Australia, mendations for the committee regard­ Canada, France, India, Japan, New ing the further steps to be taken for Zealand, United Kingdom and U.S.A., the best development of the basin. and also by TAO. The work is being The experts were duly appointed with controlled by the four-country eo-

180 WMO Bulletin October 1959 ordinating committee which meets should be established, of which 79 about three times a year. should be equipped with rainfall re­ corders and evaporation pans. Need for more hydrometeorological data Work is now in progress to imple­ ment the Wheeler recommendations. All the reports on the lower Mekong A large part of the 2,2oo,ooo dollars have stressed the serious lack of hydro­ aid provided by the United States is logical and meteorological data. In the being used for setting up the networks ECAFE report, for example, it was of hydrological and meteorological pointed out that the observations of stations -this task has been given to water level which had been made along the Harza Engineering Company Inter­ the Mekong were solely for navigation national. Much of the necessary hydro­ purposes and that for this reason not logical equipment is being supplied as J;llUch importance had been attached part of the gift of I6o million francs to discharge measurements. The from France, while the New Zealand Wheeler report stated that "at major donation of Ioo,ooo dollars is being points along the river some gauges have spent on a launch needed for hydro­ been read for periods of from 40 to logical observations. Part of the sum 6o years but the reliability of such of 20,000 pounds offered by the United records is unknown . . . Some gauges Kingdom is also being used to purchase have suffered from lack of maintenance. a launch, while the balance will be There are no discharge or velocity spent on meteorological equipment. measurements to relate to these gau­ The Indian gift consists of the 366 ordi­ ges . . . Under such circumstances, it nary raingauges recommended in the is unquestionably impracticable to Wheeler report. design structures of any type with reasonably sound engineering." Role of WMO The situation with regard to precip­ itation stations was somewhat better. In 1958 the co-ordinating committee In 1937, for instance, there were about requested WMO to provide a hydro­ 290 stations in the lower Mekong basin, meteorologist for a period of four some of which had continuous records months to make recommendations on since 1907. During and after the the procedures to be followed in estab­ second world war, however, most of the lishing the hydrological and meteoro- stations located in Cambodia, Laos .logical networks, in making the observ­ and Viet-Nam were discontinued, and ations, in collecting current and past at the time of the Wheeler mission observations and in analysing the there were only 13 stations in operation existing and future data. Mr. Frank in the basin in these three countries Grundy, who at the time was serving as compared with about I8o before in the East African Meteorological the war. In the whole of the basin Department, was appointed for this there were only seven stations equipped purpose. He visited the four riparian with rainfall recorders. countries between October 1958 and January 1959 and his report was sub­ To remedy these serious deficiencies, mitted to the fourth session of the co­ the Wheeler mission recommended that ordinating committee at Vientiane in 35 hydrological stations should be set March I959· Mr. Grundy's main recom­ up as a matter of high priority along mendation was that the committee the Mekong and its main tributaries, should have its own hydrometeoro­ and that 445 new precipitation stations logical organization with the primary

181 WMO Bulletin October 1959 task of collecting and analysing all in fact being done by the Harza Com­ current and past records. . It was pany and that the essential needs of the pointed out that this was a continuing committee would be met by the WMO function which could best be under­ hydrometeorologist attached to the taken centrally. Much of the work executive agent. At the same time was being done for the time being by members of the committee realized the the Harza engineers but it was essential necessity for having a permanent to ensure that there would be no break system for collecting and analysing in continuity when their contract came the meteorological and hydrological to an end. data and the executive agent was requested to bring forward some pro­ Mr. Grundy also made several other posals to this effect within the next recommendations, including one to the year or two. effect that some preliminary studies should be made of floods in the lower At this same session the committee Mekong basin with a view to planning also considered a report made by a the most suitable, economical and Japanese reconnaissance team which effective flood warning system along had carried out some preliminary the river. surveys of the main tributaries of the Mekong. On the basis of this report, Several TAO experts and a team four tributaries - one in each of the from the Food and Agriculture Organ­ riparian countries- were selected for ization were in the field at about the more detailed study. It now seems same time as Mr. Grundy and it was probable that the first engineering decided at Vientiane to postpone a final projects to be undertaken will be on decision about the WMO recommenda­ the tributaries rather than on the main tions until the next session of the co­ stream. ordinating committee, when all the expert reports would be available. By this time it was also anticipated that Recent developments a s~nior administrator- the so-called executive agent- would be appointed The executive agent, Dr. C. Hart to handle the day-to-day business on Schaaf, took up his appointment at behalf of the committee. In the mean­ ECAFE headquarters in Bangkok in time WMO was asked to supply two July 1959 and the first of the WMO hydrologists to assist in the installation . hydrologists, Mr. H. Mounis, also of the French hydrological equipment started work in July after having and in training local personnel in its represented his country (France) at the use, and a hydrometeorologist to serve ECAFEJWMO hydrological seminar as adviser to the executive agent. (see p. 195). The second WMO hydro­ logist, Mr. R. Mandin, arrived in Bang­ kok in September and the hydro­ Fifth session of the committee meteorologist, Mr. R. M. Berthelot, was due to arrive early in October. The decisions with regard to the WMO proposals were confirmed during The Harza engineers report good the fifth session. of the committee at progress in their assignment. They Saigon in June 1959. It was felt that were able to make discharge measure­ most of the work of the proposed ments at 17 locations along the main central hydrological organization was stream and some of the tributaries

182 October 1959 WMO Bulletin

with­ before the end of the rgsS/59 dry of dramatic developments leading to season. These may prove to be of great in a matter of only a year or two of value as it seems that the river was a rapid increase in the standard lower then than it had been for many living of the estimated 17 million years. Field work becomes very diffi­ inhabitants of the basin. It may that cult during the wet season (May to therefore be timely to point out October) but it is planned to install. the integrated development of a large some of the river-level recorders as river basin 3 is not something which soon after this as possible. can be achieved overnight. Much careful planning is required and in Looking into the future it seems many cases, including that of· the be probable that by rg6z there will be a Mekong, initial progress is bound to good network of hydrological and slow until the bare minimum of hydro­ col- meteorological stations in operation. logical and other data has been

River gauge and water sup­ ply intake on the Mekong at Phnom Penh. (Photo F. Grundy)

of By that time it should also be possible lected and analysed. The features be to complete the collection and analysis the Mekong project which should of past observations and the results stressed are that the four riparian closely should provide the hydrometeorological countries are collaborating very than data needed for proceeding with the in the initial planning, that no less design of some engineering projects on eight other countries are providing advan­ the main stream. Substantial progress direct assistance and that full which on the tributaries should also be tage is being taken of the help United possible by rg62, especially on those can be obtained from the which have been selected for special Nations and the specialized agencies. point study. Last but not least - from the of view of the hydrometeorologist - is the fact that the importance of the The publicity which has been given contribution of hydrological and meteo­ to the Mekong project may have given rological services has been recognized up to rise in some quarters to expectations at a very early stage. It is now

183 WMO Bulletin October 1959 all concerned to strive to ensure that REFERENCES the hopes which have been raised­ r. Program of studies and investigations for not only in the four countries directly comprehensive development of lower Me­ kong river basin (1958) :Report of United affected, but all over the world - will Nations Survey Mission - TAAjAFE/3 be more than amply justified, and that 2. Development of water resources in the the Mekong project will long continue lower Mekong basin (1957) : UN Flood to be an outstanding example of har­ Control Series, No. 12. 3. WHITE, Gilbert .. Emerging needs in monious international collaboration. development of the world's rivers (1958). O.M.A. WMO Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. 3, p. ro8,

METEOROLOGY HELPS TO FIGHT THE DESERT LOCUST

HE wealth and happiness of the these problems, have the funds to T people in countries of the region launch an adequate research and between West Africa and India are training programme with the objective menaced by occasional invasions of of achieving if possible full prevention hungry swarms of desert locusts. A of locust plagues. It has therefore medium-sized swarm comprising, for been decided to ask for assistance from instance, r,ooo,ooo,ooo locusts may the newly created "Cnited Nations consume 3000 tons of food daily, and Special Fund. the damage to cultivated crops may To consider this project in detail, amount to 13 million dollars in six before its submission to the Fund, was weeks, as was the case when French the main object of the sixth session of Morocco was invaded by swarms from the FAO Desert Locust Control Com­ the monsoon breeding belt south of the mittee which met in Rome from Sahara in the winter of 1954-1955· 29 June to 4 July 1959. The meeting The menace of the desert locust was attended by delegations of r8 coun­ dates from very ancient times and it is tries and several international organi­ not the intention here to review the zations. Dr. K. Langlo, chief of the various measures taken to fight against Technical Division, who represented ;the invaders, from the ancient method WMO, invited the committee's atten­ of beating tins and making other tion to the fact that WMO was already noises to scare off settled swarms to participating in certain aspects of the scientifically developed modern desert locust control, in particular by methods of spraying insecticides from having a special technical assistance aircraft. mission in East Africa studying on a In spite of great efforts by the large scale the relation between weather countries concerned and by interna­ and locust behaviour. He assured the tional organizations, and although committee of the continued interest of large amounts of money have been WMO in this subject, as it was an spent for this purpose, it has not yet established fact that weather phenom­ been possible to control the desert ena had major influences on locust locust and ·to prevent catastrophes behaviour and hence upon the dyna­ such as the one mentioned above. mics of locust plagues and the possi­ Neither the countries concerned nor bilities of more effective control meas­ the Food and Agriculture Organiza­ ures. tion of the United Nations (FAO), The overall purpose of the Special which is the specialized agency of the Fund project is to develop more United Nations mainly concerned with effective control of the desert locust

184 WMO Bulletin October 1959 at reduced expenditure, in order to locusts and their movements to the relieve all affected countries of the International Desert Locust Informa­ economic burden at present exper­ tion Service in London. The Special ienced from the cost of control opera­ Fund project provides for strengthen­ tions and the extent of crop damage. ing this service by recruiting additional The total cost of the project, as agreed staff, in particular persons with appro­ by the meeting, is estimated at US priate meteorological experience. It is $3,55g,ooo to be spent over a period of hoped that the results of the work of six years. The main headings of the the WMO technical assistance mission

Measuring the dimensions of a locust for research purposes estimates are: surveys, research, train­ in East Africa, mentioned above, will ing and operational research. It was be of particular value in connexion brought out during the discussion of with the extension of this information the project that it has a number of service. In addition, the committee important meteorological aspects. As included provision for assisting national an example it can be mentioned that reporting services in extending and the survey teams envisaged in the improving their work. about scheme will have to be briefed Under the heading of training, WMO region they are the meteorology of the locust experts will be called upon to such visiting and meteorological data assist in the planned training courses will as information on precipitation which will include the subject of lo­ the meteoro­ have to be obtained from custs and weather. logical services concerned. The whole project, if approved by Meteorological research is included the Special Fund, is expected to come under the main heading of research and into operation in rg6o. in this connexion it was agreed that existing reporting and forecasting serv­ The assistance which meteorology ices for locust control purposes should can give in the long and hard war be strengthened. For many years the against the locust plagues is yet another locust control organizations in the example of how meteorology can be of various countries have sent informa­ benefit to mankind. tion on the appearance of desert K.L.

185 WMO Bulletin October 1959

COMPARISON .OF RAINGAUGES

HE need for the adoption of a with the possible exception of really T reference precipitation gauge was extreme conditions. It was necessary, first raised during meetings at Zurich for example, for the gauge to be able in July 1955 of the Working Group on to cope with tropical and even torrential Rainfall Measurement (set up at the rain but not necessarily with such first session of the Commission for exceptional amounts as 1000 mm in Instruments and Methods of Observa­ 24 hours. Similarly, it was essential tion) and of the Committee on Precip­ to be able to collect 40 cm of snow itation of the International Union of in 24 hours, but not necessarily one Geodesy and Geophysics (see WMO metre. It was also agreed that measure­ Bulletin, Vol. IV, No. 4, pp. 156 and ments should be made at least once 159). Information obtained from Mem­ every 24 hours. Under these conditions, bers of WMO showed that there was a the Snowdon-type raingauge of the great lack of homogeneity in the British Meteorological Office, with an methods of measuring precipitation ; Alter shield very similar to that used differences in the types of instruments in the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A., used and in the conditions of exposure appeared to constitute the equipment gave rise to doubts of the accuracy of corresponding most closely to the measurement of the order of 5 to 15 requirements. The British Meteoro­ per cent r *. Proposals made at these logical Office undertook responsibility meetings were followed up by CIMO for the development and manufacture at its second session (1957) and the of the complete equipment. Executive Committee subsequently decided at its ninth session to adopt The working group prepared detailed an interim international reference pre­ specifications for the complete equip­ cipitation gauge and to request Mem­ ment (and in particular for the support bers to install at least one of these and the associated snowgauge), the gauges at an observatory with a view general aspect of which is shown in to establishing reduction factors for the the diagram on the page opposite. The various types of instruments used m manufacturing plans were completed their national observing network. by Mr. A. L. Maidens of the British Meteorological Office, who devoted a great deal of attention to the matter. The interim reference precipitation gauge During the second session of CIMO, The choice of the model adopted as certain participants stated that they the interim reference precipitation would like to be able to manufacture gauge (IRPG) was dictated by various the reference instruments themselves. considerations, the most important of Although this was contrary to the which concerned the existence of com­ principle originally adopted, namely ponents already well known from past that there should be the greatest experience as being suitable for large­ possible uniformity in all the factors scale production and likely to give governing the manufacture of the satisfactory results in all latitudes, IRPG, including the physical surface conditions (polish of the copper of the * See references on p. rgo. raingauge, wetting of the polythene

186 WMO Bulletin October 1959 receiving bottle and the measuring Since the cost price of the complete glass), their wishes were respected. equipment is only about £ 40 sterling, it is possible that certain Members may of WMO re­ The Secretary-General wish to reconsider their decision, as representatives of quested permanent the construction of one or two instru­ by circular letter in WMO Members ments in strict conformity with the inform him of the March 1959 to manufacturing drawings is likely to of raingauges, snowgauges, number prove more costly than their purchase andjor the number of sets accessories as part of a bulk order placed in the and specifications which of drawings hands of a specialized and experienced firm.

Purpose of comparisons

An important point to which atten­ tion should be drawn is that the IRPG is not necessarily the most accurate instrument for the measurement of precipitation; it is the complete rainfall comparison equipment on which CIMO reached agreement. There can be no doubt that the IRPG should be care­ fully studied at a number of well­ equipped stations and be compared with more accurate raingauges (so­ called standard raingauges), in order to determine its individual reduction factor in various latitudes. It would be useful to obtain the collaboration of some stations specializing in the investigation of rainfall measurement under contrasting climatic conditions ; for example - in areas where snow is predominant and in those where snow falls only occasionally in winter ; in areas where precipitation is rare, weak or torrential (arid zones) and in the equatorial zone. The results obtained should be compared before considera­ tion is given to fixing a reduction factor Interim international reference precipitation gauge (IRPG) for the IRPG. Nothing ,prevents the raingauges of the national networks they wished to receive. By z6 August being compared at the same stations. 1959, 50 Members had replied ; 7 of these requested the drawings and spec­ The comparisons will certainly last ifications alone, whilst the 43 Members several years ; we consider that three who also placed a provisional order, years would be the minimum and that requested a total of rz8 raingauges with five years would probably be the most support and shield, 56 sets of z snow­ suitable period to enable reduction gauges and 40 intermediate supports factors to be obtained with an accuracy for heavy snowfalls. of r per cent.

187 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Results of earlier comparisons only systematic observations carried out over several years can provide a Some results taken from a recent sufficiently large amount of data to paper Sur le comportement des pluvio­ permit correlation of the behaviour of metres, just published by the Belgian raingauges with certain general climatic Royal Meteorological Institute at characteristics of the year under observ­ Uccle, are given below for information. ation. For example, using as reference The measurements used cover five parameters the number of days with years of daily observations. and were measurable precipitation, the number obtained with II raingauges; five of of days with overcast sky and the ratio these are of the types used in Belgium, of amount of precipitation measured

Year Pioo P5o 37C 37 Al A2 Dl D2 Fl F2

I.020 I .OI5 I.030 0.987 0.979 0.979 0.937 0.949 0.949 0.953 2 I.OII 1.022 I.038 0.996 I.005 I.004 0.940 0.946 0.956 0.962 3 . 0.999 I.002 I.023 0.992 0.979 0.978 o.9I2 o.92I o.92I 0.932 4 I.004 I.OIO 1.03I I .OOI 0.992 0.998 0.948 0.953 0.97I 0.975 5 I.005 I .oo6 I.OI2 0.988 0.996 0.995 0.94I 0.940 0.973 0.975

ANNUAL COEFFICIENTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF RAINGAUGE two identical ones used in England (A), on days with snow (or rain mixed two in Germany (D) and two in France with snow) to the total amount of (F). The accompanying table shows precipitation measured during the year, the reduction factors of these various it was possible to re-calculate the indi­ raingauges against one of them adopted vidual reduction factors for each year as a standard 2 • in relation to the five-year mean, with standard deviations of 4.5, 8.5 and 8.r The largest departure, during year 3 per mille for types A, D and F re­ (rg55) for raingauges of types A, D and spectively. F, was linked with the occurrence of a long, snowy winter, which upset the It is thus possible, on the basis of measurements made with these instru­ five years of observation, to determine ments. Even if this year is left out of the reduction factor for any reference consideration, however, it will be seen period (30 or so years) by introducing that the departures from one year to into the relations the mean values of another are fairly large and that if the the reference parameters for the period period of comparison is too short, under consideration. satisfactory results cannot be obtained. During a period of three years, simul­ In practice, the behaviour of the taneous observations using three other various types of raingauge varies with raingauge types were also carried out the climatic conditions during the at Yangambi, south of the Equator year: continuous rains or intermittent, (BtJgian Congo). By means of other heavy or scattered rainfall result in observations, published earlier 3, it has reduction factors which differ appre­ been possible to compare the results ciably and it is easy to conclude that obtained at Yangambi and Uccle and

188 WMO Bulletin October 1959 to determine, for example, for liquid factor of the order of 0.950 to o.g6o. precipitation alone (excluding snow in This limited study shows that : Uccle) a coefficient of 0.942 at Yan­ gambi and o.94I at Uccle for the type it is possible to determine the reduction factor of a raingauge to within r per cent ; D raingauge (Hellman, I m above ground, aperture of 200 cm•). observations lasting several years are necessary for this purpose ; On the other hand, a raingauge stability of the site is an important con­ considered as a standard, located in dition for the validity of comparisons ;

Raingauges being compared at the Institut RoyaLMeteo­ rologique, Uccle

Yangambi, provided, by the same the IRPG also should be studied very carefully; method, a coefficient of 0.970 by com­ the parison with the national standard standard raingauges also should be subject of very careful observations. raingauge in Uccle, which we used as a reference instrument. Examination of the day-time and night-time coeffi­ Conclusion cients of the standard raingauge showed that there were considerable losses by The procedures to be followed during wetting and re-evaporation during the the future comparisons by Members day, when there was slight rainfall, will be worked out shortly by WMO. with the standard Y angambi rain­ It is hoped that the results of these gauge. comparisons of the various types of raingauges in use throughout the world A short trial (two months) in Uccle will make it possible to obtain greater with a scale model of the Alter shield uniformity in the measurements so that (6o cm diameter) provided a reduction the amount of precipitation can be factor of o.g76. It is probable that determined almost everywhere to an the IRPG, which has not yet been accuracy of the order of I to 2 per cent. installed at Uccle, will give a lower This in turn will mean that it will be

189 WMO Bulletin October 1959 possible to compute the water balance REFERENCES from data whose accuracy is only r . Commission for Instruments and Methods limited by the very nature of the of Observation. CIMO-II/Doc. 4 - Report of the Working Group on Measure­ problem. ment of Rainfall. 31 May 1957. 2. A preliminary study based on 2 years is This result can only be obtained by given in : effective collaboration from a large L. PoNCELET. Comparaison de pluvio­ mi!tres. Pub. N° 36 of the International .number of observers spread throughout Association of Scientific Hydrology of the · the world to whom gratitude is express­ IUGG (Genenil Assembly in Rome, ed in advance. Vol. I). 3. E. A. BERNARD. Sur les erreurs des divers L. PoNCELET types de pluviometres dans les conditions (Chairman of the Working Group climatologiques du Congo beige. Belgian on the International Comparison of Royal Colonial Institute, Bulletin des Precipitation Gauges) seances XXV, 1954, pp. 8g6-grz.

CIRM HE 26th meeting of the Technical the efficiency of the ship-shore tele­ T Committee of the Comite inter­ communication link. national radio-maritime, held in Ham­ burg on 25 and 26 June I959, was It was suggested that awards to attended by 23 delegates, representing ships' captains might help to improve I3 member radio companies, and efficiency. The WMO observer pointed 8 observers. WMO was represented by out that the granting of awards on an Mr. Helge Thomsen, president of the international level had not been found Commission for Maritime Meteorology feasible, but that many national meteo­ (CMM). rological services already granted awards to ships for outstanding meteo­ Discussions of interest to WMO rological work. included a study of the report made by the president of CMM to Third After some time spent in considering Congress and the consideration of the its preparations for the Ordinary CIRM study programmes. The meeting Administrative Radio Conference of was particularly interested in the part the International Telecommunication of the president's report which con­ Union (ITU), the meeting agreed on cerned the transmission of ships' nine documents containing proposals reports to shore stations. The WMO related to the maritime service which observer informed the meeting of the would constitute the brief for the background of the document and CIRM representative and members stressed that CMM was anxious to attending the ITU Conference. facilitate the transmission of weather reports from ships to shore stations in order to ensure that no reports are ITU (CCITT) lost through transmission difficulties. MMEDIATELY following the ECAFE He also stated that CMM would I Working Party meeting reported examine means of further improving on p. I94, the Plan Committee of the

190 1959 WMO Bulletin October

International Consultative Committee mentation of a decision of the eleventh for Telegraphy and Telephony (CCITT) session of the WMO Executive Com­ of the International Telecommunication mittee which authorized the Secretary­ Union, held a meeting in Tokyo from General of WMO to negotiate with the International II to 15 May 1959, to work out a plan representatives of for interconnecting the telecommunica­ Ozone Commission (IOC) of the Inter­ tion networks of the Far East with national Union of Geodesy and Geo­ those of the Middle East, the Mediter­ physics further details of the working ranean Basin and Europe. The same arrangement on the division of re­ participants were present and WMO sponsibility for international ozone was again represented by Mr. V. work, based on the decisions of Third Sundaram. Congress. Professor G: M. B. Dobson and Sir Charles Normand represented For preparing the interconnexion the roe at the meetings; other partici­ plan for the region, the meeting took pants were Dr. R. C. Sutcliffe (presi­ into account the anticipated require­ dent of the Commission for Aerology), ments up to 1962 of the different Dr. W. L. Godson (chairman of the countries and services in the region. CAe Working Group on Atmospheric Ozone) and Dr. K. L~mglo (representing As soon as intimation of these meet­ the Secretary-General of WMO). ings had been received, the WMO Secretariat had conducted a survey It was agreed that the division of among the countries of Regions II and responsibility for international ozone V of the deficiencies and requirements activities as laid down in the report of meteorological telecommunications. of the previous meeting in 1958 (see In the light of the answers received Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. I, p. 19), which and of discussions between the WMO had been examined by Third Congress, observer and the representatives of the should form the basis of any further various countries present at the meet­ detailed arrangements. ing, twenty international point-to­ point links for the exclusive use of With regard to the publication of meteorological services were included ozone data, which had been debated in the plans prepared by the meeting. at some length at Third Congress, the These include three point-to-point meetings considered that the arrange­ links- Moscow-New Delhi ; New ments made for publication of such Delhi-Tokyo; and Tokyo-New York data prior to the International Geo­ (via Honolulu) -which are urgently physical Year were not satisfactory. required for the complete implementa­ Although each Member country should tion of the organization for the exchange be encouraged to publish its own data of northern hemisphere data. it was considered highly desirable, in order to facilitate the use of the data for research purposes, to have at least IUGG/IOC some of the data published by one N connexion with the symposium on single centre. I atmospheric ozone held simulta­ neously with the symposium on The meetings considered that it atmospheric radiation in Oxford, July would not be necessary to publish day 1959 (see p. 201), several meetings more than one ozone value per a were held for the purpose of co­ for each station, which would mean ordinating international ozone work. publication amounting to about 120 The meetings were arranged in imple- pages per year. It was recommended

191 WMO Bulletin October 1959 that WMO should endeavour to find be taken by the Governing Council of an agency which would be willing to the Special Fund in December ; it is undertake this work. · hoped that some projects in the field of competence of WMO will be ap­ At the end of the symposium, a proved and that WMO will be nomin­ meeting was held of the International ated as executing agency for them. Ozone Commission with Professor G. M. B. Dobson in the chair. The com­ mission welcomed the decision of WMO Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer to take over certain responsibilities for Space international ozone activities and ex­ pressed satisfaction with the close HE United Nations ad hoc Com­ working arrangement already estab­ T mittee on the Peaceful Uses of lished between WMO and the commis­ Outer Space met in New York from sion. Dr. K. R. Ramanathan (India) 6 May to 25 June I959· Eighteen and Dr. H. V. Diitsch (Switzerland) States are represented on this com­ were elected president and secretary mittee, thirteen of which took part in respectively of the IOC. All the the session. There were in all 25 meet­ participants at the symposium were ings of the ad hoc committee and of its unanimous in expressing their warm two committees of the whole (technical appreciation of the work of the' two and legal). The WMO observer, Dr. Je­ pioneers in international ozone work, rome Spar (U.S.A.), presented a paper Professor G. M. B. Dobson and Sir to the technical committee in which he Charles Normand, now retiring from outlined the objectives of WMO and their respective offices as president and its activities in connexion with the use secretary of the Ozone Commission. of artificial satellites as a means of We take this opportunity to join providing meteorological data. wholeheartedly in this tribute and to In its report to the General Assembly add the wish that they may still for of the United Nations the ad hoc com­ many years to come continue their mittee summarized the resources of the scientific work and inspire their col­ United Nations, of its specialized leagues in this fascinating field of agencies and other international bodies meteorology and physics of the atmo­ relating to the peaceful uses of outer sphere. space, reviewed the present position and trends in peaceful space activities from a scientific and technical point of UNITED NATIONS view and then analysed the present Special Fund methods and organs for co-operation in the use of outer space, and considered URING the last few months the areas of present and future need for D managing director of the Special co-operation. The committee reached Fund has referred to WMO for evalua­ specific conclusions concerning some tion several requests from governments of the aims of space investigation in for assistance under the Special Fund the field of pure scientific research, such in the fields of meteorology and hydro­ as the direct and indirect observation meteorology. The chief of the WMO of the atmosphere of the earth, sun and Technical Assistance Unit visited New planets. Some possible applications of York in September for important such investigations to the furtherance discussions relating to these requests. of human welfare (such as the collection The final decision in respect of projects of data for immediate meteorological to commence on I January Ig6o will purposes, and the improvement of

192 1959 WMO Bulletin October weather forecasting and radio commu­ not see any need for revising its pre­ nications) were also envisaged by the vious recommendations concerning the committee. division of primary responsibilities in this field between the UN organizations With regard to meteorological satel­ concerned. lites, it was noted that it should be agenda was the foreseen that a meteorological satellite Another item on the co-ordina­ system of world-wide usefulness would problem of obtaining a better technical assist­ be in operation some years hence; that tion in the domain of resources. some international agreement would ance in the field of water that such co-ordi­ be necessary to ensure maximum effec­ The meeting agreed necessaory tiveness of this system in benefiting nated action was particularly river basin commerce, industry, agriculture, etc. ; with regard to integrated pro­ and further that WMO was an appro­ development and multi-purpose pro­ priate organization to undertake such jects, and detailed recommended such projects co-ordination, and had, in fact, already cedures for dealing with begun to consider this question. were prepared. a result of a resolution of the The conclusions reached by the com­ As and Social Council, the mittee will be studied by the General Economic Centre in the UN Secretariat Assembly of the United Nations. Water has compiled a Preliminary report on techniques of water resources survey - June I959· This report deals with Agency Meeting on Water Inter- three subjects: Resources Part I - Techniques for surveying sur­ HE sixth Inter-Agency Meeting on face-water resources (prepared T Water Resources was held at the by WMO) headquarters of the Food and Agri­ Part II - Ground water investigations (FAO) in Rome (prepared by the US Geo­ culture Organization logical Survey in collaboration from 6 to 8 July 1959. As usual, the with FAO) meeting was attended by representa­ Part III - Assessment of water quality tives of the UN Secretariat and some (prepared by WHO) of its regional commissions, the Food This preliminary report has been and Agriculture Organization, the for comment to the various mem­ United Nations Educational, Scientific sent governments. The first part con­ and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ber largely of WMO Technical Note the World Health Organization (WHO) sists (WMO- No. 82. TP. 32). and the World Meteorological Organiza­ No. 26 tion. The latter was represented by At the invitation of UNESCO, the Dr. K. Langlo, chief of the Technical next session of the inter-agency meet­ Division. ing will take place in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in the course of the first inter-agency Since this was the summer of 1960. meeting held after Third Congress, the WMO representative gave a detailed account of the decisions taken by Visual Information Board Congress and by the subsequent session of the Executive Committee on the J\ T the invitation of the Secretary- question of WMO responsibilities in the 1\. General of WMO, the United field of hydrology. In the light of the Nations Visual Information Board met decisions of Congress, the meeting did at the WMO headquarters in Geneva

193 WMO Bulletin October 1959 for its 32nd session from 24 to z6 Au­ the initial steps to be taken for their gust 1959. The board, which is com­ improvement on national and regional posed of representatives of the United levels. Nations and of the other international The meeting agencies of the UN family, deals with adopted four recom­ mendations, of which visual information activities of these three are of direct interest organizations- photographic services, to WMO. The first of these urges the countries contributions to exhibitions, television, of the ECAFE region to make documentary films. In view of the special efforts to accelerate the development increased importance of visual media of of all kinds of telecommunications information and of their relatively high services and more especially those cost, this is a field in which joint plan­ having a direct effect on ning and joint enterprises with com­ the development of com­ merce, industry bined resources are of great value. and transport. It also indicates possible means of financing The meeting was attended by re­ these developments, such as by re­ presentatives of 13 organizations and course to the Expanded Programme was presided over by Mr. R. L. Mun­ of Technical Assistance and the Special teanu of the WMO Secretariat. Pro­ Fund. The second recommendation cedures were agreed upon for carrying suggests regional action for the im­ out joint undertakings and there were provement of regional telecommunica­ discussions about the possibilities for tion systems to ensure balanced devel­ joint film production on the following opment in the region as a whole. The subjects : atomic energy, water use and fourth recommendation provides, community development. The need among other things, for ECAFE to for. increased attention to activities in investigate the fields in which telecom­ Africa was emphasized and visual munications improvements are neces­ information operations were planned sary for wider economic development in this connexion. and to acquaint the governments and international organizations of such requirements ; also. to suggest to gov­ UN/ECAFE ernments of the region to give proper weight, specially as regards priority in HE Working Party of Telecommu­ their development expenditure, to tele­ T nications Experts of the UN Eco­ communications improvements. nomic Commission for Asia and the Far East met in Tokyo from 3 to So far as WMO is concerned, mete­ 10 May 1959. Twenty-four countries orological telecommunications in the (four from outside the ECAFE region) countries of the region, with perhaps a participated, and observers from very few exceptions, are deficient in UNESCO, ICAO, lATA, ITU and several ways, some serious. One of the WMO were also present. WMO was main obstacles to the elimination of represented by Mr. V. Sundaram, tele­ these deficiences and the speeding up communications expert in the Secre­ of exchanges by improvements to tele­ tariat. communications is the difficulty of finding the necessary finance and tech­ The purpose of the meeting was to nical talent. Consequently the recom­ review the present state of telecom­ mendations adopted by this meeting munications in the countries of the are of particular importance to WMO. ECAFE region as regards their defi­ ECAFE has . agreed to keep WMO ciencies and future requirements, and informed of its action both at national to adopt recommendations regarding and regional levels.

194 WMO Bulletin October 1959

HYDROLOGICAL NETWORKS AND METHODS SEMINAR IN BANGKOK

HE action being taken jointly by expressed the hope and belief that T the United Nations Economic the seminar would contribute to solv­ Commission for the Far East (ECAFE) ing many of the outstanding problems and the World Meteorological Organ­ in the development of these resources. ization with a view to improving the The seminar was attended by over hydrometeorological facilities in the 40 persons from r6 different c?untries ECAFE region took another step for­ and by observers from seven mte~n~­ ward in July 1959 when an inter­ tional organizations. Mr. G. P. Kalmm regional seminar on hydrological net­ (U.S.S.R.) and Mr. Waiter B. Langbein works and methods was held at ECAFE (U.S.A.) served as consultants. headquarters. The purpose of the seminar was to provide training in the design of hydrological networks and in Lectures by Mr. Kalinin hydrological methods which can ~e Mr. Kalinin, who had replaced Mr. used in the absence of adequate basic Aleksandr Vaznov at very short notice data. As in the case of the Belgrade on account of illness, based his lectures Seminar (see WMO Bulletin, Vol.. VII, partly on material which had already No. r, p. ro), this purpose was achieved been prepared by Mr. Vaznov ~n~ by providing a series of lectures and distributed in advance to the partiCI­ practical demonstrations by wo:ld pants. He dealt with such questi?ns experts in the subject and by.arrangmg as the organization of hydrological discussions amongst participants of records, methods of computation of papers describing recent work in their average discharge on the basis of long­ own countries. term measurements and methods of calculating annual flow and maximum Organization run-off in the absence of adequate The seminar formed part of the 1959 records. WMO technical assistance programme Considerable attention was given to with the Government of Thailand the possible applications of the laws of acting as host. Delegates were wel­ probability to the analysis of rainfall comed at the opening session on 14 July and discharge measurements and to 1959 by Mr. Swasdi Mahaphol, Minister basic methods of flood warning and for Agriculture. Addresses were also flood forecasting where sufficient re­ delivered by the director of the cords were not available. The possi­ seminar, Mom Luang Xujati Kambhu, bility of forecasting river stage and Director-General, Royal Thai Irrigation discharge was also dealt with and there Department, Dr. Shen Yi, Actin.g was a discussion of the various means Executive Secretary of ECAFE, Sir of correlating flood discharge and Alexander MacFarquhar, resident re­ volume with such factors as soil presentative of the UN Technical moisture and intensity and duration Assistance Board, and Mr. 0. M. Ash­ of rainfall. ford, representing the Secretary-Gen­ eral of WMO. The various speakers Mr. Kalinin's course was illustrated stressed the importance of water by practical exercises when par~ici­ resources in the ECAFE region and pants applied the methods descnbed

195 WMO Bulletin October 1959 to the solution of actual problems. funds and manpower. The lectures During both lectures and exercises, then took up the techniques that stress was laid on the need for taking could be applied to the extension of full account of the relevant physical available data- the construction of and geographical factors. maps of annual rainfall in regions of scanty data, the estimation of the Lectures by Mr. Langbein annual yield of ungauged streams, the use of rainfall data for the extension Two objectives dominated the course of short term records of stream flow given by Mr. Langbein : to explain the and the estimation of flood discharges guiding principles and techniques which in regions of sparse records. Since so

Site of the Bhurniphol Darn, where work is now in pro­ gress. Diversion tunnels can be seen at left centre of the picture (United Nations photograph) can be used for extending scanty data many of the techniques of extending and to illustrate by practical exercises available data depended on an under­ how the basic techniques could be standing of hydrology and the elements applied to the solution of actual of statistics, the lectures included problems. Advance copies of the discussion of these subjects at appro­ lectures had been distributed well priate points. ahead of the seminar. Each lecture was followed by a The course started with a general practical session where each partici­ introduction to the problems involved pant carried out the computations in the collection of basic data and to that were necessary to solve a problem some of the notions of network design. that served to illustrate the technique The basic idea introduced here was and clinch an understanding of it. that a network of hydrological observ­ In the construction of these exercises, ations, intended for efficient water preference was given to the use of data development, must itself be efficiently from countries in South-east Asia, and designed, i.e. designed to gain the the amount of arithmetic involved was most information for the available kept strictly to a minimum.

196 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Lectures by participants knowledge in their own countries. It was unanimously agreed by the parti­ The last two days of the seminar cipants to recommend that, in view of were devoted to the presentation of the very useful purpose served by the papers by participants and to general seminar, similar seminars should be discussion. In all there were I7 papers held every two years to cover specific and the subjects ranged from the subjects of hydrological and hydro­ planning of precipitation networks in meteorological interest. India to studies of flood estimation methods in Japan and of rainfall Other activities characteristics over Thailand. The participants who took the chair during During the course of the seminar, the presentation of these papers helped visits were arranged to a number of to stimulate a thorough discussion of places of interest in Bangkok. These

Aerological station near Bangkok each and this gave rise to many . included the headquarters of the Thai interesting ideas and suggestions which Meteorological Department, where del­ it was hoped would prove to be of egates were welcomed by the director, value in subsequent work on the Vice-Admiral Charoon V. Bunnag, who questions dealt with. also served as one of the eo-directors admired espe­ During the final working session on of the seminar. Visitors station with the afternoon of 24 July, an attempt cially the new aerological for radiosonde ascents was made to evaluate the results of its fine facilities instrument the seminar and participants were and other meteorological invited to offer comments and criticisms work. which might be useful when planning From 25 to 27 July, there was a study any future seminars. tour of major water resource develop­ The consensus was clearly that the ment projects and of meteorological seminar had been a most valuable and hydrological stations in Thailand ; experience for all the participants, this had been admirably organized by many of whom referred to the new the Thai Government. Perhaps the knowledge they had acquired and to most impressive sight was the work in the ways they hoped to' apply this progress on the Bhumiphol dam on the

197 WMO Bulletin . October 1959

Ping river in the mountainous northern far away as Korea and Japan in the part of the country. This dam, which north-east, Australia in the south-east is being partly :financed by a loan of and Afghanistan in the north-west - 66,ooo,ooo US dollars from the Inter­ many may have felt that the seminar national Bank for Reconstruction and itself had also been a multiple-purpose Development, represents the :first stage project. In addition to the ideas which of the Yanhee multiple-purpose pro­ had been exchanged and new know­ ject ; besides the electric power to be ledge acquired, valuable links of friend­ produced, there will be important ship had been forged and- above all­ benefits in irrigation, navigation and further proof had been given that it is flood control. only by international co-operation that the basic problems facing mankind can As participants made their way home be solved. at the end of the study tour - to as O.M.A.

EVAPORATION PAN MEASUREMENTS IN HUNGARY

HE measurement of evaporation by There are several advantages in having T means of pans was started on a large two pans at each station : data and scale in Hungary during the Inter­ experience obtained in other countries national Geophysical Year. It was with both types of pan can be used ; planned to build up over a period of parallel observations may reveal errors three or four years a network of 25 to and omissions in the readings and 30 stations over the go,ooo sq. km of make it possible to correct and com­ the country. Observations were begun plete them ; simultaneous data from at six stations during rg58 thus bring­ the two pans may bring to light some ing the total number of evaporation features of the evaporation from free stations to nine, three of them having water surfaces which could not be been established from three to six years studied with data from a single pan. ago. Bearing in mind the problems connected with the storage of water in The extra installation and mainte­ artificial reservoirs, it was decided to nance costs required by having two equip the stations in mountainous pans can be reduced substantially by regions :first. At the same time some the use of the precision gauge designed preliminary computations have been by K. Fazekas 3. This instrument, made of the average and extreme which is capable of giving an accuracy values of evaporation over the entire of a few hundredths of a millimetre country r *. even under :field conditions, is placed for each reading by the observer on All the stations in the network are the still-well, so that the instrument is being equipped with two pans, namely protected against all effects of outdoor a class "A" pan as recommended by installation, and may serve both, or WMO and a sunken pan with a sur­ even more pans installed at the station. face area of 3 sq. m sunk to a depth of 50 cm into the ground- this latter is The levels of the water surfaces in the type used when observations were the pans are observed twice daily and 2 :first started in Hungary in rgso • the water temperatures three times. On some stations experimental observa­ * See references on p. Igg. tions are carried out with several pans

198 WMO Bulletin October 1959 of different dimensions and location. REFERENCES At these stations readings are also I. SzESZTAY, K.: Informative data on taken between the standard times. evaporation from free water surfaces. Viziigyi Kozlemenyek, No. z {I958) The report published in an earlier pp. I78-zo5, figs. I6, tabs. 6. (In Hungarian, with summaries in English, issue of the WMO Bulletin 4 confirms German and French.) in many respects the necessity of a z. UBELL, K. : Determination of evapora­ double equipment. Data published by tion losses from large water surfaces by Professor Dr. A. R. Konstantinov ~ the aid of evaporation pans. Idojaras, No. I {I958) pp. z6-38. (In Hungarian, which again reveal that evaporation with summary in English.) from sufficiently large sunken pans may 3· FAZEKAS, K. : Some recent hydrometeoro­ in practice be considered as equal to lo gical instruments, Annual report on that from small lakes ~ are as note­ the activities of the Research Institute for Water Resources, I954· Miiszaki Konyv­ worthy as the remarks of Mr. M. A. kiad6, Budapest {I955) pp. I88-Igr. Kohler and Mr. F. Grundy on the in­ (In Hungarian, with summaries in creased practical difficulties involved English, Russian and German.) in the use of sunken pans. 4· Comparisons of evaporation pans. WMO Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. z {I959) pp. 95- K. SZESZTAY gS.

AFRICA

ITH the admission of Mauritius section 5 of the PILOT code and W and the Republic of Guinea sections ro and II of the TEMP code to Membership of the Organization, are to be used. Regional Association I (Africa) now has two new Members. SOUTH AMERICA HREE of the working groups set up The postal ballot mentioned in the T by the second session of Regional previous issue of the Bulletin ~ by Association III (South America) have which five draft resolutions resulting now elected their chairmen, as follows : from recommendations made by the Working Group on Telecommunica­ Working Group on Radiation of RA I tions : Mr. Fernando Pimenta Alves at its third meeting were submitted to (Brazil) the association for adoption ~ ended Working Group on Agricultural Me­ on 23 June 1959. The five drafts were teorology : Mr. Jose M. Martinolli all approved as resolutions of RA I. (Argentina) Working Group on Maritime Meteo­ The president of the association is rology: Mr. Miguel A. Robolledo now carrying out a ballot in order to (Argentina) determine the manner of using within the Region the new meteorological ASIA codes which are to come into force on HE second session of Regional r January 1960. The main task is to T Association II (Asia), for which decide under what conditions the new it proved to be impossible to fix an

199 WMO Bulletin October 1959 earlier date, will open on 3 November and symbols are fed into the machine I959 in Rangoon, at the invitation of by the operation of a push-button the Government 'of the Union of Burma. array. Sea-level pressure, temperature, The session will last about two weeks dew point, wind speed and direction, and an account of the proceedings will altimeter setting, accumulated amounts be published in the next issue of the of rainfall and runway visual range Bulletin. are measured and transmitted entirely automatically. Supplementary informa­ NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA tion and additional groups can be added to the automatic transmissions at appro­ N compliance with requests made 'priate times by means of manually pre­ I during the second session of Regional pared transmission tape. It is planned Association IV (North and Central to extend the field of application of this America), the United States has an­ equipment and to generalize its use. nounced the intention of recommencing Data transmitted by this means could be publication of the bulletin Climato­ fed directly into the computers used logical Data West Indies and Caribbean for numerical forecasting. from January I96o. This work will be published under the auspices of WMO, In accordance with a decision taken with the assistance of all the meteoro­ during the second session of the asso­ logical services of the area in question. ciation, the Secretariat is at present carrying out an inquiry amongst Mem­ Since I September I959, the Celsius bers of the Region in order to determine temperature scale has been used for the quality of reception of the AMER­ coding data from stations in the SUD continental broadcast from Rio Bahamas. This is the first step towards de Janeiro. the adoption of metric units and the Celsius degree since the decision of Third Congress that these units should EUROPE be used in coded messages for inter­ T was mentioned in the preceding national exchange. It should be pointed issue of the Bulletin that a postal out that during the second session of I ballot was being carried out within the association the representative of Regional Association VI (Europe) in the British Caribbean Territories had order to determine the way in which already stated that it was intended certain meteorological codes, due to to adopt these units. come into force on I January I96o, Since I July I959, the United States would be used in the Region. This has had an automatic weather station ballot ended on 3 July I959· The in experimental operation at Washing­ regulations adopted, which concern the ton national airport. The data from code form SPESH, sections 5 of the this station are transmitted over one PILOT code and IO of the TEMP of the U.S. teleprinter networks at a code (maximum wind data) and section speed of 75 words per minute, using II of the TEMP code (tropopause data), a code very similar to the current U.S. will remain in force until the next airway code. The equipment of the session of the association at which it station permits the semi-automatic will be decided, in the light of expe­ transmission of ceiling and cloud rience gained, whether they need to be height, sky cover, prevailing visibility extended or modified. and obstructions to vision. These elements are observed in the usual As a result of another postal ballot manner and the appropriate values which ended on 7 September I959,

200 WMO Bulletin October 1959 the association followed a suggestion mation between Regions IV and VI, of its president by adopting two draft established as a result of a recommen­ resolutions concerning the extension of dation of the joint ICAOJWMO meeting the surface and upper-air basic net­ for Meteorological Telecommunications, works ; these proposals had been for­ Europe, 1958 (see WMO Bulletin, mulated in recommendations of the Vol. VII, N° 2, p. 62). As usual the meteorological committee of the fourth session was attended by the represent­ Europe-Mediterranean Regional Air atives of a large number of Members Navigation meeting of the International of Region VI ; the WMO Secretariat Civil Aviation Organization. was represented by Mr. V. Sundaram. The meeting considered, among other The Italian Meteorological Service things, the possible revision of the has announced that the Rome sub­ existing arrangements for the exchange continental broadcast will be done by of basic meteorological information in radioteleprinter from 31 December Europe, improvements in the reception 1960. Similarly, from I February 1961 in the Region of data from Regions I, the United Kingdom will replace the II and IV, the problems arising in the present Morse transmission of its sub­ Region from the establishment of the continental broadcast from Dunstable northern hemisphere exchanges, im­ by a radioteleprinter transmission. provements in the reception of data from the ocean weather stations, the The Working Group on Meteoro­ organization of a co-ordinated plan of logical Transmissions of RA VI held facsimile broadcasts in Europe, and its fourth session in Paris from 25 May several other problems connected with to 6 June 1959 at the kind invitation meteorological transmissions in Europe. of the French Government. This As a result of its deliberations the meeting was preceded by a meeting working group adopted one resolution of the special working group on the and 17 recommendations. These are exchange of basic meteorological infor- at present under study by RA VI.

ATMOSPHERIC OZONE AND RADIATION SYMPOSIUM AT OXFORD

HE symposium on atmospheric Alaka attended the symposium as T ozone and radiation was held from representatives of the WMO Secre­ 20 to 26 July 1959 at the Clarendon tariat. The Secretary-General also Laboratory in Oxford, England, under attended for a brief period at the end of the joint auspices of WMO and the the sympbsium. International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. Many of the participants During the symposium, papers on also attended other meetings held in ozone and radiation were presented Oxford in conjunction with the work of simultaneously in two separate lecture the symposium; reports of these meet­ rooms both of which provided good ings will be found elsewhere in this seating accommodation, much black­ issue of the Bulletin (see pages 191, 204 board space and adequate facilities for and 207). Dr. K. Langlo, chief of the projecting slides. These arrangements Technical Division, and Dr. M. A. for the business part of the symposium

201 WMO Bulletin October 1959 were more than matched by the methods and on meteorological satel­ excellent domestic arrangements lite programmes. whereby participants were provided with room and board at Lady Mar­ In general, the present trend in both garet Hall at very low cost. There, in fields is for making reliable measure­ an atmosphere of relaxed unostenta­ ments to supplement or test the results tious comfort, the scientists attending of the pure theoreticians. Much effort the symposium were able to make is being devoted to the development of useful personal contacts with their col­ new instruments capable of making leagues from other countries and to these measurements, and some notable discuss further the ideas brought out progress was reported in this respect. in the lectures. Considerable emphasis was also placed on the concomitant problem regarding The undoubted success of the sym­ the necessity of establishing world­ posium is in no small measure attribut­ wide networks of stations from which able to the above excellent facilities such measurements can be made. provided by the host country and to the efficient organization achieved by Among the most spectacular efforts the various committees. The success is reported at the symposium were those of course also a direct consequence of connected with attempts made in the the enthusiastic response to the invita­ United States to carry out measure­ tion for contributions to the sym­ ments of solar radiation by rockets and posium and the high quality of these artificial satellites. As an example, contributions. In all, some hundred it may be mentioned that not less than papers were read, giving a true cross­ seven attempts have already been section of the work which is being done made to measure the solar constant by at present in the fields of atmospheric means of rockets. Whereas the diffi­ ozone and radiation. culties attending these measurements Among the subjects covered in the have not all been solved, the progress atmospheric ozone section were ozone already achieved augurs well for what instruments ; evaluation and accuracy may be obtained in the future. of data of total ozone ; · relations of ozone with upper-air data in Polar From the viewpoint of the classical regions and elsewhere ; tropospheric meteorologist, much of the interest in ozone ; vertical distribution of ozone - atmospheric ozone and radiation lies from radiosondes and aeroplanes, and in the end results which throw new from uml?ehr measurements. From light on the general circulation of the papers presented on the latter subject atmosphere and on weather forming it may be concluded that further pro­ processes. Already, models of atmo­ gress in the problems of relating spheric circulation based on observa­ changes in atmospheric qzone to tions of ozone have been proposed. weather phenomena can best be ob­ With regard to radiation, there are tained by a suitable network of stations some signs that this quantity which measuring the vertical distribution of has hitherto been largely neglected by ozone by sounding methods. the practising meteorologist except on a qualitative basis may become ame­ In the radiation section papers were nable to a more confident quantitative presented on the radiation results of treatment. However, much more work the IGY ; on surface instrumentation ; will have to be done before this is on the observation and computation of finally achieved. terrestrial radiation, on spectroscopic M. A. A.

202 WMO Bulletin October 1959

COMPARISONS OF RADIATION INSTRUMENTS

N accordance with a decision of the together with five foreign eo-workers I WMO Executive Committee in 1957, and six assistants of the Davos Observa­ arrangements were made for inter­ tory took part in the comparisons. national comparisons of the working­ The organization and the scientific standard pyrheliometers of different supervision of the recalibration was in countries to be carried out in August the hands of Dr. W. Morikofer, chair­ and September 1959 at the Physical­ man of the Working Group on Radia­ Meteorological Observatory, Davos, tion Measurement and director of the Switzerland, under the auspices of the Davos Observatory. Working Group on Radiation Measure­ ment of the WMO Commission for The available accommodation was Instruments and Methods of Observa­ not sufficient to provide adequate work­ tion. The meteorological services of the ing space for such a large number of

Radiation experts partici­ pating in the comparison of instruments at Davos following countries were represented: scientists at one time and the com­ Belgian Congo, Belgium, France, Fed­ parisons were therefore held over two eral Republic of Germany, Eastern periods, 3 to 22 August and 31 August Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, to 19 September 1959. All colleagues Japan, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, from overseas who had attended the Union of South Africa and Yugoslavia. radiatidn meeting at Oxford (see Several interested specialized institu­ p. 207) had the opportunity of partici­ tions also participated in the investiga­ pating in the first period. Unfortu­ tions, namely the Astrophysical Ob­ nately, this period was characterized servatory of the Smithsonian Institu­ by abnormally unfavourable condi­ tion (Washington and Table Mountain), tions of cloudiness with only two days Geophysics Research Directorate (Cam­ of excellent radiation conditions. In bridge-Bedford, Mass.), Eppley Labo­ contrast to this the September group ratory (Newport, R.I.), Istituto Geo­ was extraordinarily favoured by the fisico (Genoa) and the Davos Observa­ weather with more than seven days of tory. extremely constant radiation condi­ tions. It was therefore very fortunate The number of participating institu­ that Mr. H. Olsson of the Swedish tions amounted to 19; 30 scientists Meteorological Institute, who attended

203 WMO Bulletin October 1959 the first period of the comparisons with brations. Most of the instruments one of the Stockholm standard Ang­ proved not to have suffered any con­ strom pyrheliometers, was able to siderable change of their calibration extend his stay at Davos by one week, factor while for some of them the thus enabling us to increase the number comparisons have led to the applica­ of comparisons with the working­ tion of new calibration factors. and of the Davos standards of CIMO A secondary aim of the undertaking Observatory. was to obtain a new comparison of the two traditional standard scales, the Aims and results Angstrom and the Smithsonian ; both The main purpose of the comparisons of these were represented during the was the recalibration of the national first period of the comparisons by and the regional working-standard official standard pyrheliometers ; how­ pyrheliometers, in order that in future ever, on account of the unfavourable as many countries as possible should weather conditions of this period only be enabled to express their radiation provisional results were obtained. ThP. results according to a comparable scale main target of the comparisons has, (the International Pyrheliometric Scale however, been reached and many rg56). This target has now been countries will now be in a position to reached for z8 compared Angstrom express their radiation measurements pyrheliometers and two silver disc in a comparable scale and to offer their pyrheliometers. In addition to this, good services to other countries of four Linke-Feussner iron-clad actino­ their region for secondary calibrations meters and three Michelson bimetallic of pyrheliometers. actinometers profited from these cali- w. MoRrKoFER

AEROLOGY HE Oxford symposium on atmo­ in the field of international ozone work, T spheric ozone and radiation (see and of the directives of the eleventh page zor) provided an opportunity to session of the Executive Committee in organize a meeting of the Working this connexion. It adopted six recom­ Group on Atmospheric Ozone of the mendations designed to increase the Commission for Aerology (CAe), since effectiveness of the programme of WMO all the members of this working group in this field. The recommendations were present at the symposium. The deal with the following subjects : meeting took place on 17 and r8 July Improved techniques for intercom­ and was presided over by Dr. W. L. parison of ozone spectrometers ; Cali­ Godson (chairman) ; the Secretariat of bration of new ozone spectrometers ; WMO was represented by Dr. K. Langlo. Publication of ozone data ; Instructions concerning ozone observations; Region­ The working group took note of the al ozone activities ; Planning of net­ decision of Third Congress that WMO works and programme of ozone-sonde should assume certain responsibilities observations.

204 WMO Bulletin October 1959

The president of CAe has already Division, opened in Montreal on r Sep­ endorsed the above recommendations tember 1959 in the headquarters of and steps are being taken to have them ICAO. Mr. A. Silva de Sousa (Por­ officially approved by the commission tugal) has been elected president and prior to submitting them to the twelfth Mr. A. H. Nagle (U. S. A.) vice-presi­ session of the Executive Committee. dent of the commission. An account In addition, the working group made of this session will be published in the some useful suggestions with regard next number of the Bulletin. to the content of the catalogue of ozone stations which Congress and the Exe­ cutive Committee decided should be AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY maintained by the Secretariat and also with regard to the provision of general 1\ LL working groups established by guidance on instrumental and obser­ fi the Commission for Agricultural vational problems. Meteorology have now started their work. As a first step towards the imple­ The Working Group on Mountain mentation of its terms of reference, Waves has completed the task of the Working Group on Protection drafting the monograph on Airflow against Frost Damage has sent out over mountains for which it was estab­ circular letters to certain Member lished at the second session of CAe. countries, asking for information re­ The monograph consists of the following garding the significance of frost damage, three parts : the protective measures which have been tried, and the forecasting aspects Part I - Observational results of the problem concerned. and field investigations Part II - A survey of theoretical As a result of an inquiry carried out studies by the Secretariat, a number of public­ Part III - Aviation applications ations containing guidance material for and forecasting. agricultural meteorological stations and information regarding special inex­ Since, in accordance with the decision pensive meteorological instruments for made at the session of the working use on farms have been collected. This group in Geneva in December 1957 material is now being studied by the (see Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 86) Working Group on the Guide to the above three parts were prepared by Agricultural Meteorological Practices, different members of the working group, under the chairmanship of Dr. L. J. L. a certain amount of co-ordination is Deij (Netherlands). necessary to ensure compatibility bet­ ween the different parts and to avoid Much attention has been given to unnecessary overlap. This co-ordina­ the organizational aspeCts of agricul­ tion is now being done in the Secre­ tural meteorology. As called for by tariat. a resolution of the eleventh session of the Executive Committee, the Secre­ AERONAUTICAL METEOROLOGY tariat is carrying out an inquiry on the present national organizations for agri­ s announced previously, the sec­ cultural meteorology and the collabora­ A ond session of the Commission tion, at a national level, between for Aeronautical Meteorology, which meteorological and agricultural author­ was held simultaneously with the fifth ities. Some of the questions of this meeting of the ICAO Meteorology inquiry refer to the organization of

205 WMO Bulletin October 1959 training in agricultural meteorology, a with the preparation of a chapter or question which has been dealt with in section of the Guide. some detail in a circular letter from the president of CAgM to the members of the commission. HYDROLOGICAL METEOROLOGY

T was decided at Third Congress to I establish a Technical Commission CLIMATOLOGY for Hydrological Meteorology (see Bul­ report entitled Survey of National letin, Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 132) and A Punch-Card Programmes, I958, Members of WMO were invited in which was prepared by the CCl Working June 1959 to designate experts to Group on the Exchange of Past Weath­ serve on this new commission. On er Data (see WMO Bulletin, Vol. VIII, 23 September 1959 the thirtieth posi­ No. 3, p. 144), has now been distributed tive reply was received and in accor­ to Members of WMO. At the request dance with the decisions of the Execu­ of the chairman of the Working Group tive Committee arrangements are now on Punch-Card Layout, Dr. L. J. L. being made for the election of the Deij, a new inquiry is now being carried president of the commission. In the out in order to obtain further informa­ meantime the affairs of the commission tion, in particular regarding the con­ are being conducted by Mr. Max A. tents of the various types of punch­ Kohler (U.S.A.) in his capacity as cards, the equipment available and chairman of the former Executive details regarding the processing of the Committee Working Group on Water punched data. Resource Development; the working group itself was automatically dissolved on 23 September 1959 when the new A second progress report by the commission formally came into being. president of the commission has been Mr. Kohler visited the Secretariat for distributed to the members of CCl. a few days in September for a general Among other things, the report deals discussion of the WMO programme with the possible establishment of two in hydrological meteorology. new working groups, one on climatic atlases, the other on the bioclimatology and the biometeorology of man. Prob­ INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF lems related both to climatology and OBSERVATION biology will be discussed at the second International Congress of Bioclimato­ I\ N inquiry has been distributed by logy, which is scheduled by the Inter­ fl. the Secretariat on behalf of the national Society for Bioclimatology Working Group on Automatic Weather and Biometeorology to take place in Stations (chairman : Mr. H. Treussart London in September 1960. (France)) with the object of collecting information regarding the equipment The Secretariat has completed the already in existence from those Mem­ draft of Chapter VII (Operational bers which use such stations, and of climatology) of the Guide to Climato­ assessing the requirements of those logical Practices and has forwarded Members which do not yet use auto­ copies, for guidance, to the members matic weather stations. of the CCl Working Group on the Guide and to the chairmen of other working An inquiry has also been distributed groups which have been entrusted on behalf of the Working Group on

206 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Instruments and Methods of Observa­ At the invitation of the Government tion on Aerodromes (chairman: Mr. A. of India, the third session of CIMO Hauer (Netherlands)). This working will take place in New Delhi in Novem­ group is making a study of the present ber rg6r. types of meteorological instruments in use on aerodromes, with a view to making recommendations on the most MARITIME METEOROLOGY suitable types for use, on their exposure and on methods of observation, espe­ HE CMM Working Group on Mar­ cially to meet the needs of aviation. T itime Climatology will meet at De Bilt, Netherlands, from r6 to zr A meeting of the Working Group on November 1959 and will deal with the Radiation Measurement was arranged allocation of responsibilities for various in connexion with the recent Oxford ocean areas, the international 'punch­ symposium (seep. zor). This arrange­ card, maritime climatological sum­ ment reduced the cost of the meeting maries and the maritime section of the to a minimum since most of the world climatic atlas. members of the working group were national delegates to the radiation symposium. There was the further advantage that it was possible to SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY consult other specialists attending the symposium on various problems which HE CSM Working Group on Net­ had to be dealt with by the working T works will meet in Stockholm, group. The meeting was presided over Sweden, from 7 to 13 October 1959 in by Dr. W. Morikofer, chairman of the order to determine what data and working group and the WMO Secre­ further research are required for estab­ tariat was represented by Dr. M. A. lishing quantitative criteria for the Alaka. distribution in space of instrumental observations at a given moment and Thanks to this meeting, the members the frequency of observations in a of the working group were able to have given network. an effective exchange of views on the task entrusted to them. In view of The Secretariat has prepared the the large number of items on the text of the part of Volume B of agenda, several sub-groups were estab­ Publication No. 9 concerning the new lished. These sub-groups made prelim­ international codes which will come inary studies of the problems en­ into use on r January rg6o. Members trusted to them and reported on their have been informed of these codes in findings to the full meetings of the advance, so that they can prepare their working group. The sub-groups were national instructions in the meantime. then directed to continue the study of their respective problems by corre­ spondence, taking into account the The Provisional Guide to Synoptic discussions at the meeting. A deadline .Meteorological Practices has been pub­ was set for reports which are to be lished in the two working languages of submitted by the chairmen of the sub­ WMO. An ad hoc working group is groups to enable the . working group revising this provisional version by as a whole to make suitable recom­ correspondence, with a view to pre­ mendations in time for the third session senting a proposed final text to the of CIMO. Commission for Synoptic Meteorology.

207 WMO Bulletin October 1959

DECISIONS OF ECOSOC

URING its z8th session, held in planning reserve of the executive D Geneva in July rg5g, the Eco­ chairman of the Technical Assistance nomic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of Board be increased in order to enable the United Nations took a number of him to make such adjustments in the decisions which are of great importance planning share of agencies participat­ for the future of the Expanded Pro- . ing in the Expanded Programme as gramme cif Technical Assistance in might prove feasible. general as well as for WMO's partici­ pation in this programme. In future one per cent of the whole funds available for the field programme (approximately $25o,ooo) will be Readers will recall that the Third available for the executive chairman Congress of the WMO, in April rg5g, to meet particularly the requirements expressed its concern that the present of newly independent countries and share of WMO in the Expanded Pro­ another one per cent will be at his dis­ gramme is not sufficient. Congress posal to meet any special difficulties of adopted a formal resolution appealing the smaller agencies, i.e. the WMO and to ECOSOC to make provision for a the International Telecommunication share of at least $5oo,ooo annually for Union (ITU), and of newly established WMO. When this appeal was consi­ agencies like the International Atomic dered by the Technical Assistance E.nergy Agency (IAEA). Committee (TAC) of the ECOSOC, the Secretary-General of WMO pointed out Although this decision does not that the present share was not sufficient entirely fulfil the hopes which WMO to provide even a small sub-total to had expressed in its appeal to ECOSOC each country known to be in need of it is believed that it will at least provide technical assistance from WMO. He the possibility of increasing, to a cer­ also stressed that, following a decision tain extent, the technical assistance to of the Third Congress of WMO to be given by WMO in the future. assume increased responsibility in the field of water resource development, Another important decision of the increased requests for technical assist­ T AC session, at · which WMO was ance in this field might be expected. represented by Dr. H. Sebastian, chief of the WMO Technical Assistance Unit, Several delegations expressed their was that, as an experiment, the Ex­ sympathy with the problems facing. panded Programme of Technical As­ WMO and appreciated the valuable sistance will be planned on a two-year . help which had been given by the basis for the period rg6r-rg6z, instead Organization in the past. The com­ of a one-year basis as up to rg6o. This mittee, however, hesitated to fix a cer­ means that early in rg6o preparations tain minimum amount for a single will have to be started for the technical agency and decided instead that the assistance programme covering a period

208 WMO Bulletin October 1959 up to the end of 1962 and that any comparison of synoptic charts of requests which are not included in this Africa and the Middle East for a five programme cannot be implemented months' period and all available locust before the year 1963. The directors of information of the corresponding pe­ meteorological services should, there­ riod. This comparison has provided fore, start early enough to develop, in valuable information about correla­ collaboration with the competent go­ tions between locust breeding and vernment authorities, their requests movements and the corresponding for technical assistance in the two-year meteorological factors. The two WMO · period 196r-r962. experts serving on this project, Mr. C. I. H. Aspliden and Mr. J. Cocheme, It was further decided that any tech­ will now continue to analyse the nical assistance project, the planned meteorological material for the rest of duration of which is longer than the the selected test year so that during

Haiti : A typical landscape near Port-an-Prince, capi­ tal·of Haiti, where a WMO technical assistance mission has recently been estab­ lished (United Nations photograph) two-year period, should be approved 1960 the comparison of the whole for the full duration of the project meteorological data with the corres­ when it is first included in the pro­ ponding locust information can be gramme. completed.

CURRENT PROGRAMME Haiti

Recent developments in the current As a result of a survey which was 1959 technical assistance programme undertaken last year by a WMO of WMO are given in the following technical assistance mission, the Gov­ paragraphs: ernment of Haiti requested the services of an expert to advise it on the organ­ ization of its national meteorological British East Africa service and to train local personnel. In July and August Mr. C. I. H. Mr. R. Grappe (France) was selected Aspliden undertook at the Anti-Locust for this mission and took up his duties Research Centre .(ALRC) in London a in August.

209 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Iraq Morocco After having served as a WMO The chief of the WMO Technical expert in Iraq for two and a half years, Assistance Unit paid a short visit to Mr. J. Skaar (Norway) returned to his Morocco where Mr. K. N. Plard home country. He carried out very (France) has just completed the first

Iran : At Tehran airport, Mr. A. Nooshin, of the Iranian Meteorological De­ partment, explains to H.M. the Shah of Iran the func­ tioning of a Vaisala radio­ sonde. Mr. J. Skaar, former WMO radiosonde adviser in Iraq, is on the extreme left, next to the Prime Minister of Iran valuable work in advising the govern­ year of training local meteorological ment in the establishment and opera­ personnel. Representatives of the gov­ tion of radiosonde stations. ernment expressed their appreciation of the results of this first course and Mr. Skaar was succeeded by a fellow arrangements were made for the organ­ countryman, Mr. K. Hostvedt, who ization of a further one year's training took up his duties in Iraq in August. course.

Israel Sudan The Government of Israel is very In completion of his WMO fellow­ anxious to reduce the losses of evapora­ ship, Mr. A. G. M. Mula spent three tion from water surfaces and bare soil months in various divisions of the and the evapotranspiration from vege­ WMO Secretariat in Geneva in order tative cover. It also hopes to obtain a to become familiar with the work of better understanding of the water the Organization. requirements of crops and of the water balance of the country especially in its arid zone. To advise the govern­ Turkey ment on these questions, Dr. J. L. Monteith (United Kingdom) was ap­ After having served for one year as pointed for a three months' assignment a hydrometeorological expert in Tur­ under the WMO technical assistance key, Mr. M. Goldschmidt (Israel) com­ programme and took up his duties in pleted his assignment. The results of August. his mission will be of great value to

210 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Turkey for the organization and opera­ programme in Bangkok in July I959· tion of its · hydrometeorological serv­ A full account of this seminar is given ices. It is expected that Mr. Gold­ on page 195 of this issue of the Bulletin. schmidt will return to Turkey for a short mission before the end of rg6o Lower M ekong River Development in order to follow up the results of his recommendations. The co-ordinating committee of the four riparian countries of the lower Uruguay Mekong (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand Dr. H. K. Muller (Federal Republic and Viet-Nal/1) held a meeting in of Germany) completed his one year's Saigon from r6 to rg June 1959 at which WMO was represented assignment to Uruguay where he by Mr. 0. served as adviser on the reorganization M. Ashford of the WMO Secretariat. Among other things of the Uruguayan Aeronautical Mete­ the WMO par­ ticipation in this project orological Service. As a result of his was reviewed at this meeting. mission Dr. Muller has worked out detailed recommendations for the Steps are now being taken for further organization and operation of the recruitment of a hydrometeorologist this service, the implementation of to serve as WMO adviser to the executive which would enable the government to agent of the co-ordinating comply with present-day civil aviation committee requirements. and it is hoped that this expert will take up his duties soon.

In the meantime, two hydrologists, REGIONAL AND INTER-REGIONAL Messrs. H. Mounis and R. Mandin PROJECTS (France), were each appointed for a six months' assignment to assist in the Hydrological Training Seminar installation of hydrological equipment In collaboration with the United donated by France and in the trainihg Nations Economic Commission for Asia of local personnel in the use of this and the Far East (ECAFE) a training equipment. For further information seminar in hydrology was organized about the lower Mekong project see under the WMO technical assistance page 179 of this issue of the Bulletin.

PRESENTATION OF THE FOURTH IMO California,- Los Angeles, and formerly PRIZE chief of the meteorological office and professor of meteorology in Bergen, HE fourth International Meteoro­ was presented on rz August 1959 in T logical Organization Prize, award­ Bergen, Norway. Dr. Alf Nyberg, ed by the WMO Executive Committee president of Regional Association VI to Dr. Jacob Bjerknes, professor of (Europe), presented the prize during a meteorology at the University of ceremony which took place in the

211 WMO Bulletin October 1959 lecture hall of the Geophysical Institute influenced the methods of weather of the University of Bergen, under the forecasting in the temperate regions chairmanship of Dr. Erik Waaler, of the world. Rector of the University. Among these present were Dr. R. Fjortoft, director Dr. Nyberg added that after leaving of the Norwegian Meteorological Insti­ Bergen Professor Bjerknes had con­ tute, representatives of the meteoro­ tinued his research work in the U.S.A. logical office of Bergen, professors of and had published important papers the University and representatives of about the general circulation of the the press. atmosphere and other related subjects. Professor Bjerknes had also played an In paying tribute to Professor Bjerk­ important part in international meteo­ nes, Dr. Nyberg pointed out that he rological co-operation through his acti-

Presentation of the IMO Prize to Dr. Jacob Bjerknes (right) by Dr. Alf Nyberg must have been greatly influenced in vities in the International Union of · his choice of scientific field and in his Geodesy and Geophysics as president early work by his father, Vilhelm of the section of meteorology. Bjerknes, but that he had very soon carried out original research and had Dr. C. L. Godske, professor of meteo­ acquired for himself a place of eminence rology in the University of Bergen, paid in the history of meteorology. His homage to Professor Bjerknes on first scientific paper (rgrg), although a behalf of the university and expressed brief one, had become one of the appreciation of the fact that the· cere­ classics of meteorological literature. mony could be held in Bergen, where It presented the cyclone model which, the basic work of the Bergen School in in essence, had been confirmed bylater meteorology had been initiated. investigations. In 1922 he had carried the theory further and discussed the After receiving the prize, Professor polar front. These and later works Bjerknes thanked the president of from the Bergen period had greatly RA VI for having come to Bergen for

212 WMO Bulletin October 1959 the ceremony and expressed his gra­ world-wide membership . of go com­ titude for the honour bestowed upon panies. him. He mentioned the results of his scientific predecessors upon which his During the 40 years that have passed, own work had been based, his collab­ air transport has developed to such an orators in Bergen and his father who extent that the smallest of interurban had been the leader and teacher of the helicopter operators now carries more group. He also paid tribute to the passengers than all the members of the Norwegian Government, the munici­ original lATA carried together in I920. pality of Bergen and private individuals These 40 years have also seen vast for the financial support given. He changes in the types of aircraft used, then spoke about the modern technical their speed, the loads carried and in improvements which had made it the distances covered and network possible to carry out analyses of the served. state of the atmosphere in a far more complete manner than had formerly In its early years lATA was set the been the case, and drew attention to task of countering the obstacles expe­ the great possibilities inherent in the rienced by airline companies in dif­ use of electronic computers by weather ferences of language, law, currency, services. Finally he expressed the wish commercial practice and technical and that the WMO would continue in the economic regulations. These and other future to follow with interest the problems have been solved by inter­ research by the new generation of national co-operation without the sacri­ Norwegian mathematical meteoro­ fice of the character, the nationality or logists. the vital interests of any single member.

We take this opportunity of congra­ MEMBERSHIP OF WMO tulating lATA on its 40 years of fruitful Iran effort and of wishing it continued success in the future. N 30 September I959, the Gov­ O ernm~nt of Iran deposited an instrum~nt of accession to the World Meteorological Convention with the WHALING SHIPS' REPORTS Department of State in Washington, HE plan for obtaining weather in accordance with the provisions of T messages from whaling ships in Article 3 (b) of the Convention. Iran the southern hemisphere, recommended thus becomes a Member of WMO on by the Commission for Maritime Meteo­ 30 October I959· rology at its first session and first put into operation during the I952-I953 WMO now has IOJ Members - 79 whaling season, continues to operate States and 24 Territories. very successfully. As reported pre­ viously this year (Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. I, p. 24) meteorological broadcasts 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF IATA from Australia for whalers for the N 28 August I9I9, representatives I958-I959 season began on IS Novem­ 0 of six european airline com­ ber I958. panies met at The Hague to found what has now became the International The permanent representative of Air Transport Association, with a Australia now reports that weather

213 WMO Bulletin October 1959

services for the whaling fleets have radiosonde data. The full report, again been provided by the Australian Reduction of diurnal variation in the ·Bureau of Meteorology by means of a reported temperatures and heights of Southern Ocean Inference broadcast by stratospheric constant pressure surfaces Canberra AXM. The messages received by S. Teweles and F. G. Finger, will from the whalers either directly in be published shortly in the ] ournal of Australia, or as retransmitted by the Meteorology of the American Meteoro­ South African Meteorological Service logical Society. through pre-arranged channels, have been disseminated in the Canberra collectives after deciphering and re­ SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SYNOPTIC encoding. Practically all reports re­ CHARTS ceived each year are from the Japanese . fleets, and their increased co-operation OPIES of the first roll of the series may be gauged from the fact that the C of microfilmed charts to be issued number of reports received has in­ by the International Antarctic Analysis creased from 24I during the I952-I953 Centre (IAAC) in Melbourne, Australia, season to I3IO during the I958-I959 have now been distributed to national season. delegates of the countries associated with the Special Committee on Ant­ arctic Research (SCAR) of the Inter­ RADIOSONDE ERRORS AT HIGH national Council of Scientific Unions. ALTITUDES HE increased number of high The IAAC was set up following a T altitude radiosonde observations recommendation of the second meeting carried out during the International of SCAR (Moscow, 1958) which stressed Geophysical Year has made it feasible the importance of the establishment of for the first time to prepare and analyse an international weather central to upper-air charts up to heights of 30 km. continue some' of the activities carried Work of this kind in the United States out during the IGY at Little America. of America has demonstrated the neces­ At the third meeting of SCAR (Can­ sity of applying corrections to the berra, 1959) the Australian offer to observations in order to eliminate the assume responsibility for such a centre systematic radiation errors. Several was noted with appreciation. The different radiosondes were used in the main purpose of the IAAC is to prepare United States during the IGY and these synoptic charts and analyses on a systematic errors vary greatly from routine basis and to distribute the one type of instrument to the other. results by radio broadcasts, including radioteletype and facsimile, for current use, and by microfilm for other uses. The United States Weather Bureau has recently published a summary of a report, describing a method of making The roll now distributed contains the readings from their various instru­ synoptic charts for four levels (surface, ments compatible, together with a 700, 500 and 300 mb) for oo and 12 complete tabulation of the types of GMT daily for June 1959, and also radiosonde used at each of their upper­ time cross-sections for selected stations air stations during the IGY. Copies of for the same period. this document have been distributed by the WMO Secretariat to all recipients Members of WMO have been urged of the IGY Microcards containing USA to assist in the operation of the centre

214 WMO Bulletin October 1959 by assigning cqmpetent meteorologists subject including instrumentation, dif­ to work there and by co-operating in fusion studies, microclimatology and the provision of the necessary tele­ the organization of radioactivity mea­ communication facilities for the speedy surements. Dr. Fea (Italy) presented transmission of synoptic data to the arguments in favour of national radio­ centre. activity networks forming an integral part of the state meteorological service.

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SAFETY AND LocATION oF NucLEAR PLANTS INTERNATIONAL CoNGRESS ON PHOTO­ BIOLOGY URING the Sixth International D Exhibition on Electronics and HE International Committee on Atomic Energy, held in Rome from T Photobiology will hold its third 16 June to 5 July 1959, an international international congress in Copenhagen, symposium on the safety and location Denmark, from 31 July to 5 August of nuclear plants was organized, by the 1960. In honour of the hundredth National Committee of Nuclear Re­ anniversary of the birth of Niels R. search in Italy, as part of a congress Finsen, recognized as the father of on nuclear energy. modern photo- and radio-biology, it will be called the Finsen Memorial Congress. This symposium, from 16 to 20 June 1959, was attended by delegates from about 15 countries and included dis­ The programme will consist of cussions on six specialized topics, one contributed papers and of symposia of which concerned the meteorological on the following topics : Biological factors involved in reactor siting. A action spectra ; Initial mechanisms report on the symposium has been involved in radiation effects ; Photo­ received from Mr. P. J. Meade, member therapy ; Photorecepters in aquatic of the WMO Panel on Atomic Energy. organisms ; Results of the International Geophysical Year in regard to radiation. Lectures on other subjects (for instance, In the meteorological session about the effects of long visible and near 17 papers were presented, the majority infra-red radiation) may be included. by experts of the host country, Italy. A paper from Sweden dealt with Further information may be obtained the experimental determination of the from the president of the Finsen various Sutton parameters over dif­ Memorial Congress (B. Chr. Christensen, ferent kinds of terrain; a delegate M. D., D.Sc., The Finsen Memorial from Belgium described the techniques Hospital, Strandboulevard 49, Copen­ in use in his country for the measure­ hagen 0, Denmark) or from the ment of radioactivity in the air and in secretary-general of the congress (Dr. precipitation; Dr. Gifford (U.S.A.) techn. B. Buchmann, Biofysisk Labo­ surveyed the whole subject in his paper ratorium, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copen­ Meteorology in relation to reactor hazard hagen 0, Denmark.) and site evaluation ; · and Mr. Meade (U.K.) presented a paper dealing with the effect of meteorological factors on the dispersion of airborne material. ERRATUM- WMO Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. r6g, second column, tenth line from The Italian papers dealt with most of end of page -for "sodium bicarbonate solu­ the meteorological aspects of the tion" read : "sodium carbonate solution".

215 WMO Bulletin October 1959

OBITUARY

MR. NORMAN R. HAGEN

E received with regret the news period, during which he attended W of the sudden death in Washing­ numerous international meetings in ton, on 15 August 1959, of Mr. Norman various branches of meteorology, avia­ R. Hagen, public information co-ordi­ tion and telecommunications .. As mem­ nator of the U.S. Weather Bureau. ber of the Commissions for Aeronau­ tical Meteorology and for Synoptic Mr. Hagen joined the Weather Weather Information of the IMO, Bureau in 1928 and from 1929 to 1943 Mr. Hagen attended the meetings of served with the Forecast Division in those commissions in Toronto in 1947 Washington, where he was in charge of and he was also a participant at the meteorological codes. He was then first session of the WMO Commission selected as liaison officer to foreign for Synoptic Meteorology (Washington, governments, serving until 1946 as 1953). Weather Bureau representative in On his return to Washington from Europe, and from then until 1952 as Europe in 1952, Mr. Hagen served as special liaison officer to all European, aviation weather specialist and in 1955 Middle Eastern and North African he became the Weather Bureau's first meteorological services and also as public information co-ordinator. His meteorological attache to the U.S. confidence in and devotion to his pro­ embassies in London and Moscow. His fession and its future development interest in the opportunities for public were well known to his many friends service in the field of public relations and acquaintances. His sudden death in meteorology developed over this is a grievous loss to all who knew him.

IGY METEOROLOGICAL DATA CENTRE In the previous issue of the WMO 65 per cent of the total estimated number Bulletin (Vol. VIII, No. 3, pp. 152-156), of Microcards for all except the marine some of the main features of the Micro­ data should soon be in the hands of cards of IGY meteorological data were the subscribers ; so far they have discussed. The preparation of the received over 4,ooo Microcards. completed IGY forms for reproduction on Microcards has since continued with For some regions, the whole of the increasing speed so that by mid­ meteorological data for the 18 months September 1959 this work had been of the IGY (1 July 1957 to 31 December completed for more than 8,ooo Micro­ 1958) has already been reproduced on cards. This means that from 50 to Microcards. For example, the series

216 WMO Bulletin October 1959

containing the surface observations for consideration to the proposal and Europe (excluding the U.S.S.R.), Aus­ directed the Secretary-General to ex­ tralia, U.S,A. and Canada have now amine the possibility of carrying it out been completed, together with five of on a self-supporting basis. An inquiry, the series containing radiosondejrawin­ conducted in the same year by the sonde data from Europe and Asia. Secretariat, revealed unmistakable en­ thusiasm for the project among Mem­ In accordance with the decisions of bers of WMO, but the need to make Third Congress (see Bulletin, Vol. VIII, the proposal self-supporting gave rise No. 3, p. 132), Members have been to some financial difficulties. requested to send their 1959 aerological, ozone and radiation-balance observa­ In view of the educational aspects tions to the IGY Meteorological Data of the project, the Secretary-General Centre. Inquiries are now being made of WMO proposed to the Director to determine whether it will be possible General of the United Nations Educa­ to publish these observations on a self­ tional, Scientific and Cultural Organ­ financing basis. ization that the preparation of the slides or filmstrips and of the explan­ atory booklet should be a joint project CLOUD FILMSTRIPS AND SLIDES between the two organizations. The Director General of UNESCO accepted Volume II of the International Cloud the proposal and it was agreed that Atlas consists of 224 cloud plates WMO would select the photographs selected from many thousands of and prepare the text of the explanatory photographs by a group of world booklet while UNESCO would produce experts on the subject. The value both films trips and slides of the selected of this unique collection of photographs photographs and print the booklet. for the practising meteorologist and for In addition UNESCO undertook full instructional purposes is readily appre­ responsibility for the financial aspects ciated. of the project. A bound volume of photographs is The project has since however not the ideal medium for been carried to a successful conclusiol]. and demonstration purposes. Largely .as a the following material is now result of experience gained from a on sale : lecture tour in the United States in Sets of colour slides, size 35 mm (frame 1956, Professor W. Bleeker, then pres­ 50 X 50 mm), consisting of 76 frames and ident of the WMO Commission for one copy of the commentary notes in English. Synoptic Meteorology, who had played Price per set : $ro.-. Sets of two colour filmstrips, size 35 mm, a prominent role in the preparation of consisting of 76 pictures in all (identical the Atlas, proposed that in order to with those on the slides). with one copy make the material more suitable for of the commentary notes in English. instructional purposes, filmstrips or Price per set : $5.-. sets of slides from a selection of these Orders or requests for information should be addressed to the Visual Media Division, plates should be published. The slides Department cif Mass Communication, or filmstrips should be accompanied by UNESCO, Place Fontenoy, Paris 76 • a small explanatory booklet to assist Payment can be made in French francs, the lecturer in demonstrating the sterling, US dollars or UNESCO coupons, various cloud types. The commentary notes are attrac­ At its eighth session, the WMO tively presented in a booklet of about Executive Committee gave favourable 50 pages in which alternate pages are

217 WMO Bulletin October 1959 left blank for personal notes by the bler:h.s, established by the WMO Com­ user. The notes are at present available mission . for Agricultural Meteorol­ only in English, but it is hoped that ogy, will be able to benefit from the the income from the sale of the film­ valuable information contained in strips and slides will eventually allow various EPPO public~tions, and that the preparation of the commentary the group may in return study the notes in French and Spanish. meteorological aspects of certain pests and diseases to which EPPO is giving The slides and filmstrips are of high particular attention at present. quality and reflect much credit on the Visual Media Division of UNESCO. WMO'S NEW HEADQUARTERS For the selection of the photographs and the preparation of the commentary The construction of the new WMO notes, WMO is once again indebted to headquarters in Geneva has progressed

Construction of the new WMO headquarters build­ ing (July 1959) (Photo WMO -De Belleval)

Professor Bleeker who, as mentioned rapidly and by mid-September 1959 above, made the initial proposal for the work on the roof of the building the project. was practically finished. The accom­ panying photograph was taken at the end of July, just before work on the VISIT OF Dr. V. E. WILI

218 WMO Bulletin October 1959

construction reached the level of the from other international bodies. The roof ; this tree can be seen in the following examples are all of recent photograph. date.

A large number of Members of WMO The Food and Agriculture Organiza­ · have informed the Secretary-General tion (FAO) of the United Nations and of their desire to present gifts for the the United Nations Educational, decoration of the WMO headquarters. Scientific and Cultural Organization Three gifts- a carpet with the WMO (UNESCO) have decided to study the emblem, presented by Hong Kong, a ecology of the Mediterranean countries reproduction of the picture by Goya and South-west Asia, and have estab­ entitled El Coloso, donated by Spain, lished for this purpose a joint study and a two-panel folding screen of the group on the ecological map for the early 17th century representing a Wind Mediterranean Basin. On behalf of this

Presentation of the Japa­ nese gift for the new build­ ing. Left to right : JVIr. D. A. Davies (Secretary-Gene­ ral), H. E. JVIr. Ichiro Kawa­ saki and Mr. Tsuneo Oyake (Copyright Freddy Bertrand, Geneva)

God and a Thunder God, presented by study group, FAO has requested WMO Japan -have already been received to provide a bibliographic list of clima­ by the Secretariat. The photograph tological documentation for the coun­ above was taken on 14 August 1959 tries and territories concerned. The when His Excellency Mr. Ichiro Kawa­ main purpose of the ecological study saki, the Permanent Delegate of Japan is to investigate the possibility of with the international organizations in increasing materially the agricultural Geneva, presented the gift of his and forestry production of the Medi­ country to the Secretary-General. terranean countries and South-west Asia. The importance of detailed and reliable climatological CLIMATOLOGICAL INQUIRIES data in this connexion is obvious. The value of climatological informa­ tion for planning purposes is being In response to a request by the realized to an ever-increasing extent. United Nations Economic Commission At the international level this fact is for Africa, UNESCO is undertaking reflected in the number and scope of the preparation of a bibliography of the inquiries which the WMO Secreta­ published material and a critical review riat receives from outside, in particular of scientific knowledge related to the

219 WMO Bulletin October 1959 natural conditions and natural re­ is now being planned. To assist in the sources of the African continent. The establishment of this service on the critical review will include suggestions most satisfactory basis for its future for future scientific work and for users, a questionnaire together with a· improvements of methods of utilization list of known meteorological films was of resources such ·as soil, water, mine­ sent out recently to Members of the rals, etc. As far as climate, weather Organization. The replies now coming and hydrology are concerned, the in show considerable interest in the UNESCO Department of Natural · planned loan service, particularly on Sciences has asked WMO to supply the the part of developing meteorological necessary information. services which have extensive pro­ grammes for training observers and The International Atomic Energy forecasters. Agency (IAEA) is dealing with prob­ lems concerning the proper instrument­ The Government of India has donated ation to be used in different atomic as a gift to the Film Loan Service a projects. As it is important to know copy of its meteorological documentary under which climatic conditions the film Weather for To-morrow which was instruments will have to work, IAEA shown during Third Congress. has asked WMO for information re­ garding mean and extreme values of temperature and humidity in cities all RECENT WMO PUBLICATIONS over the world. Basic Documents (Excluding the Tech­ The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, nical Regulations). Edition I959· Stanford, California, has sought the WMO-No. rs. BD. r. Pp. r68. advice of the Secretariat regarding the Price : Sw. fr. 8.-. availability of oceanographic and me­ teorological data for the Pacific Ocean. This new edition of the Basic Docu­ ments of the World Meteorological In dealing with requests of this kind, Organization contains the unchanged the Secretariat often has to rely on the texts as published in the 1956 edition willingness of the national meteoro­ of the agreement between the United logical services in relevant Member Nations and WMO, the convention on countries to submit the necessary the privileges and immunities of the observational data or bibliographic specialized agencies and the agreement, information. The Secretariat is pleased plan. of execution and protocol con­ to acknowledge the readiness with cluded between the Swiss Federal which the requests to the permanent Council and WMO to govern the legal representatives are usually met, in status of the Organization in Switzer­ spite of the amount of labour involved, land. which may sometimes be considerable. Certain modifications approved by Third Congress are included in the METEOROLOGICAL FILM LOAN SERVICE revised texts of the WMO Convention, the General Regulations, the Staff The establishment within the Sec­ Regulations (effective from 28 April retariat of WMO of a Meteorological 1959) and the Financial Regulations Film Loan Service, which was approved (which will come into force on r January by the World Meteorological Congress 1960). An additional text is that of for the third financial period 1960-1963, the agreement drawn up between the

220 WMO Bulletin Octobe1· 1959

International Atomic Energy Agency Congress, on the structure and terms and WMO which came into force on of reference of technical commissions ; 12 August 1959 following its approval an outline syllabus for instruction in by the General Conference of the agricultural meteorology at university Agency and by two-thirds of the level ; the adopted budget of WMO Mt:mbers of WMO which are States. for rg6o and of the Technical Assistance Unit for 1959 ; and a statement of the This publication is now available in advances to the working capital fund English and French, and will later be for the third financial period (rg6o­ issued in Spanish and Russian. rg63).

An account of the eleventh session of the Executive Committee was given Extraordinary sesswn (r959) and in the last issue of the WMO Bulletin Eleventh session of the Executive (Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. r36). Committee - A bridged report with resolutions. Pp. 5 + ix + JI. WMO­ No. 87. RC. 16. Price: Sw. fr. J.- Weather Reports : Volume D - I nforma­ tion for Shipping (Part D - Inter­ This publication, available now in national regulations concerning ships' French and English, contains the reports and the provision of informa­ abridged report of the extraordinary tion for shipping. Part G - Miscel­ session of the Executive Committee, laneous) held on 4 April 1959, together with WMO-No. g. TP. 4· Loose-leaf. that of the eleventh session, held in Price : Part D - Sw: fr. I2.-; Geneva from 29 April to 5 May I959· Part G - Sw. fr. 4.-. The resolutions only of the eleventh session will shortly be available in Russian and Spanish. Part D of Weather Reports : VolumeD comprises three chapters dealing res­ pectively with WMO practices and The report of the extraordinary procedures concerning meteorological session, which was held in camera, reports from ships at sea and the contains the decisions of the Executive provision of meteorological service for Committee regarding the award of the shipping, with general regulations de­ fourth IMO Prize and its consideration termined by the International Conven­ of certain important items of the tion for Safety of Life at Sea (London report of the Working Group on the rg48) and with the regulations deter­ Status and Salaries of Staff of the mined by the international conventions WMO Secretariat. governing telecommunications which are applicable to meteorological ser­ A list of the participants at the vices. eleventh session of the Executive Committee and its final agenda are Part G contains equivalents; con­ followed by the general summary of stants and conversion tables for the its work and the texts of the 26 resolu­ various units employed in meteorology tions adopted. and also information concerning the universal time system and tables Annexes to this summary include showing the legal time in use in the a report, prepared by presidents of various countries with reference to technical commissions attending Third Greenwich Mean Time.

221 WMO Bulletin October 1959

General Meteorology. Third edition. By by the considerable advances of the last H. R. BYERS. New York, Toronto, Lon­ 20 years, because the development both of don (McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.) methods of measurement and of theories 1959. 540 pages ; 223 figures. Price : has kept pace with that of electronics. Whilst 7 4 shillings. recalling clearly the former basic ideas justly accepted by physicists, this work This is another among the current crop of provides an up-to-date synthesis of problems new editions of famous meteorological text­ quite different from those disclosed to the books necessitated by the rapidly changing world by the pioneers of the latter part of state of our knowledge of the atmosphere. the last century and the first two decades Like the second edition, which was published of the present one. The theoretical concepts in 1944, the present third edition cuts across of Mascart, Elster, Geitel, Exner, Thomson the artificial boundaries between synoptic and even Langevin have been superseded by and theoretical meteorology and gives a those of the modern school, with which the broad treatment in which mathematics is name of Dr. Israel is certainly the most judiciously intertwined with description to representative and the most authoritative provide an excellent first view of the subject. of the very few names so far associated. 1 This is fair warning to the student that meteorology is a highly mathematical disci­ This scientist has devoted almost 40 years pline. In this first course, however, the of a fine career to a subject of which he has mathematical treatment is kept simple complete mastery, so that his book is a enough for students familiar with or con­ work of great value, adapted to the scientific currently learning the calculus to be able to and teaching requirements of the clay. The follow the text without difficulty. material is dealt with in two parts : the history of aeronomy, conductivity and ioniza­ As its title implies, the book covers a wide tion, followed by fields, charges and currents. range of branches of the general field. Volume I indicates first of all the general Necessarily, the emphasis is on basic material bases of the physics of ionizing gases, and fundamental principles. Enough details recalling the fundamental definitions of are however given to provide the student s·mall, medium and large ions, their process with a good foundation upon which he could of formation, recombination, mobility, ab­ later build specialized knowledge in areas sorption and diffusion. The basic formulae which retain his predilection. Scientists of Thomson, Langevin, Wilson, van Schweicl­ whose primary interests lie in other disci­ ler and many others are studied. Everything plines should also find the book very useful relating to loss of charge is dealt with for getting acquainted with the fundamentals separately by H. Dolezalek, who describes of meteorology. Finally, qualified meteoro­ the sources of ionization in the atmosphere logists whose daily preoccupations have and - apart from dealing with alpha, beta prevented them from following recent devel­ and gamma rays - makes a rapid incursion opments in those branches of meteorology into· the field of radioactivity ; this subject with which they are not in daily contact is dealt with again at the end of the book, cap. find in this book a sound summary of where a list is provided of the more recent our present-day knowledge in these fields. measurements. M. A. A. The variability of parameters is reviewed once again and Dr. Israel's classic theory of Atmosphtirische Elektrizittit. Teil I : Grund­ the generation of the general electric state of lagen, Leitftihigkeit, I onen. (Atmospheric the air is recalled. This is followed by a Electricity. Vol. r : Principles, Conduc­ chapter on conductivity aucl various defini­ tivity, Ions). By H. IsRAEL. Leipzig tions· and principles of measurement. In (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest dealing with the variation of conductivity as and Portig K.-G) 1957. 370 pages; a function of altitude, the author quotes 124 illustrations. Price : DM 42.-. examples of soundings carried out by himself As stated in the preface, the author has and comments on the meteorological in­ endeavoured to place the entire problem of fluences. He expresses original ideas regard­ atmospheric electricity within the framework ing the coeffi.cient of recombination, bringing {)f meteorology. This has been necessitated out the general aspects of the problem.

222 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Dr. Israel makes considerable use, whilst a book eminently suitable for introducing bringing them up to date, of the earlier works the general public to the science of meteoro­ of Langevin, Wright, etc. and clarifies the logy and one from which even professional expression of the ionizing force (I onisie­ meteorologists should derive much pleasure. rungstarke q) also used by Chalmers, Scrase, Wait, Gish and others. A substantial annex M. A. A. contains several tables relating to measuring techniques, units and their reduction to the Descriptive Meteorology. Second edition. By Giorgi system. Some instruments, both old H. C. W1LLETT and F. SANDERS. New and modern, are described. A rich biblio­ York (Academic Press, Inc.) 1959. graphy, containing 841 items, completes this 355 pages; 72 figures. very detailed and elegant work. Price : US $7.50. JEAN LUGEON Like the first edition, published fifteen years ago, the present second edition is intended as an introductory text-book in Vents, nuages et tempetes (Winds, clouds and meteorology for students familiar with storms). By J, BESSEMOULIN and R. general physics and elementary calculus. It CLAUSSE. Paris (Editions Pion) 1957. gives a coherent, systematic description of 342 pages ; 21 plates ; 77 maps and dia­ the principal weather phenomena and grams. Price: 1500 Fr. fr. a logical explanation of the basic principles and processes underlying these phenomena. This book tells the story of man's concern with the weather and his progress in under­ During the period between the two edi­ standing its structure and processes, fore­ tions, our knowledge of the atmosphere has telling its development and influencing its been considerably enriched. This is reflected behaviour. It is a story which began with in the present edition both by the addition man himself. To early man, no less than to of many charts incorporating new modern man, many of the manifestations data and by a rewriting and substantial amplification associated with the weather must have been of certain sections. Notable among the dazzling or even awe-inspiring, and it is not rewritten parts is one on tropical hurricanes surprising that he attributed these phe­ which gives an excellent account of nomena to the most important and powerful the structure, formation and movements of these of his deities and spent hours admning his destructive phenomena. Also notable for caves with crude though recognizable pic­ its excellence is the last chapter tures of sun, moon, haloes, tangent which gives arcs and a summary of luminous columns. the principal methods of approach which are currently being used in weather forecasting and in attempts Since this early epoch of awed contempla­ at weather modification, ·and a well-reasoned tion, man's progress in sounding the mys­ estimate of the results which may teries of the atmosphere has been charac­ be expected from these approaches, on terized by a series of jumps and setbacks, the basis of our present state of knowledge. and the authors trace the meandering course of human endeavour in this field in a style, Aside from its primary intended use as simple and elegant, which grips the atten- · a text-book in meteorology for college tion of the reader from the very start. stu­ dents, the book should be useful to both practising meteorologists and to scientists The book is however more than an his­ in other disciplines who are interested in torical survey. Indeed the story of man's a sound, up-to-elate summary of our earlier efforts only serves as an introduction present­ day knowledge of to a vivid account of present various basic weather day knowledge processes. of the atmosphere and of modern theories M. and methods of approach. In succession, A. A. the following topics· are treated :climatology; synoptic meteorology ; the general circula­ Between earth and space. By Clyde ORR, Jr. tion of the atmosphere; air masses, fronts New York (The Macmillan Company) and atmospheric perturbations ; clouds ; 1959. x + 253 pages ; 8 plates. Price : jet streams and air navigation ; the wind and us $4-95· the sea ; weather forecasting ; and the future of meteorology. This is a non-technical survey of the earth's atmosphere and its effects on human Throughout, the authors show consider­ activities. The author, who is research pro­ able skill in presenting their subject matter fessor of chemical engineering at Georgia clearly and without getting too deeply Institute of Technology, leads the reader involved in technical detail. The result is forward from theories of the origin of the

223 WMO Bulletin October 1959 universe, through consideration of the a clearer idea of the atmospheric complex in general structure of the atmosphere, its which he has to live. physical properties and composition, to a U.M.B. final chapter on the challenge of supersonic flight beyond the stratosphere. Three chap­ OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED weather ters deal specifically with weather, Turbulent transfer in the lower atmosphere. the modifications and climate and within By C. H. B. PRIESTLEY. Chicago (The author confines of this 253-page volume the University of Chicago Press). Price : and storms, hydro­ also treats of winds us h75 meteors, optical, electrical and acoustic By· Louis J. BATTAN. phenomena and air pollution. The material Radar meteorology. of Chicago Press). is of necessity condensed, but the author Chicago (The University $6.oo manages to impart a profusion of facts and Price : US theories without losing sight of his main · Tables of temperature, relative· humidity and theme. precipitation for the world. Part II - Cen­ the West Indies That the information is compiled from tral and South America,. 6r7b) London (Her sources varying from the technical journal and Bermuda. (M.O. Stationery Office). Price: ss. 6d. to the popular magazine article is evident Majesty's from' the unevenness of the style, which is at M eteorologische A bhandlungen. Bahd VIII, its best in purely factual description. This Heft r -Extreme Druck- und Temperatur­ unevenness is a defect in an otherwise abweichungen in der Troposphare. Berlin admirably conceived volume, which may (V erlag von Dietrich Reimer). Price ; well serve to provide the general reader with DMg.-

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS World JYieteorological Organization 7-13 October znd session of the Working Group on Networks (CSM) Stockholm, Sweden 3-17 November znd session of Regional Association II (Asia), Rangoon, Burma g-rr November znd session of the Working Group on _the International Geophysical Year, Geneva, Switzerland 12-13 November rst session of the Panel of Experts on Artificial Satellites, Geneva, Switzerland r6-zr November rst session of the \'Vorking Group on Marine Climatology (CMM), De Bilt, Netherlands 30 November­ Joint Munitalp Foundation/WMO Symposium on Tropical I7 December Meteorology, Nairobi, Kenya Other International Organizations 14 October (2 months) Plenipotentiary ·Conference of the International Telecom­ munication Union, Geneva, Switzerland r6-rg October 2nd session of the International Advisory Committee for Humid Tropics Research of UNESCO, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 31 October roth session of the Conference of FAO, Rome, Italy 3-12 November 3rd Inter-African Soils Conference of the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara, Dalaba, French West Africa r6-zr November Antarctic Symposium (organized by the Argentine Govern­ ment), Buenos Aires, Argentina r6-zr November 2nd Specialist Meeting on Hydrology of the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara, Y aounde, Cameroons · r6-zr November Scientific Conference on the Disposal of Radioactive Wastes, International Atomic Energy Agency, Monaco 23 November rst meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, London, England 27 November- rrth General Conference of the International Federation 5 December of Agricultural Producers, New Delhi, India

224 WMO Bulletin October 1959

PUBLICATIONS 0 F THE WMO Basic documents WMO-No. 15. BD. I - Basic Documents (excluding the Technical Regulations), Edition I959· English - French. Price : Sw. fr. 8.- 49· BD. 2 - Technical Regulations. Volume I- General, rst edition, I956. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 6.- 49· BD. 3 Technical Regulations. Volume II -Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, Ist edition, I956. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 7·- 6o. BD. 4 - Working arrangements with other international organizations, rst edition, I957· English - French - Russian - Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 2.- Records I. RC. I - First Congress of the WMO. Volume I- Resolutions ·of the first session, Paris, 1951. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price :. Sw. fr. 2.- rn. RC. I - First Congress of the WMO. Volume II- Proceedings of the first session, Paris, 1951. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. r8.- IIII. RC. r - First Congress of the WMO. Volume III - Documents of the first session, Paris, 1951. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. I2.- 3· RC. 2 - Executive Committee. Resolutions of the first session, Paris, 1951. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 0.50 4· RC. 3 Executive Committee. Resolutions of the second session, Lausanne, 1951. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 2.50 6. RC. 4 - Executive Committee. Resolutions of the third session, Geneva, 1952. English- French- Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 2.50 20. RC. 5 Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the fourth session, Geneva, 1953. English- French. Resolutions of the fourth session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 3.50 34· RC. 6 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the fifth session, Geneva, I954· English- French. Resolutions of the fifth session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 4.50 45· RC. 7 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the sixth session, Geneva, April I955· English- French. Resolutions of the sixth session. Russian- Spanish Price : Sw. fr. J.so 46. RC. 8 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the seventh session, Geneva, May 1955. English- French. Resolutions of the seventh session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 3.50 48. RC. 9 - Second Congress of the WMO. Volume I- Abridged report with resolutions of the second session, Geneva, I955· English- French. Resolutions of the second session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- 48. RC. IO - Second Congress of the WMO. Volume II- Technical Regulations. English- French- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- 48. RC. II - Second Congress of the WMO. Vclume III - Proceedings of the second session, Geneva, 1955. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- 48. RC. I2 - Second Congress of the WMO. Volume IV- Selection of documents, Geneva, 1955. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- 53· RC. I3 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the eighth session, Geneva, April I956. English- French. Resolutions of the eighth session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- 67. RC. I4 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the ninth session, Geneva, September-October I957· English- French. Resolutions of the ninth session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 20.- 75· RC. I5 - Executive Committee. Abridged report with resolutions of the tenth session. Geneva, April-May 1958. English- French. Resolutions of the tenth session. Russian - Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 14.- 87. RC. I6 Executive Committee. Abridged report of the extraordinary session (I959). Abridged report with resolutions of the eleventh session, Geneva, April- May I959· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. 7·- Resolutions of the eleventh session. Russian- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 7.-

225 WMO Bulletin October 1969

Technical Publications

WMO-No. 2. TP. I - Offices meteorologiques du monde (former IMO Publication No. 2, being completed by the WMO). I948 edition. French. Price : Sw. fr. I4.- 5· TP. 2 - Composition of the WMO. Bilingual (English and French). · . Price : Sw. fr. IO.- 8. TP. 3 Guide to International Meteorological Instrument and Observing Practice (former IMO Publication No. 78, being completed by the WMO). Edition I954· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. II.- g. TP. 4 - Weather reports : Stations, codes and transmissions. Volume A: Nomenclature of stations. I953 edition. Bilingual (English and French). Price without cover: Sw. fr. 29.­ Volume B: Codes. English- French. Price : Chapter I: Sw. fr. IJ.- Chapter II : Sw. fr. 6.- Chapter III : Sw. fr. J.- Volume C: Transmissions. English- French.* Volume D : Information for shipping. English- French.* 17. TP. 5 .:... Bibliographie Meteorologique Internationale. Annee I952. Fascicules I, 11, Ill, IV. Price per fascicule : Sw. fr. 20.-·· 2I. TP. 6 World distribution of thunderstorm days. Part I : Tables. Bilingual (English and French). Price: Sw. fr. 9·- Supplement No. r. Bilingual (English and French). Price : Sw. fr. 2.- 2I. TP. 2I - World distribution of thunderstorm days. Part 2 : Tables of marine data and world maps. Bilingual (English and French). Price : Sw. fr. 9·- 24. TP. 7 - Artificial inducement of precipitation. Technical Note No. r. English. French summary. Price : Sw. fr. I.- 26. TP. 8 - Methods of observation at sea. Part I - Sea surface temperature. Technical Note No. 2. English. French summary. Price : Sw. fr. I.- 30. TP. 9 - Meteorological aspects of aircraft icing. Technical Note No. 3· English. French summary. Price : Sw. fr. I.- 32. TP. Io - Energy from the wind- Assessment of suitable winds and sites. Technical Note No. 4· English. French summary. Price : Sw. fr. IO.- 35· TP. II - Diverses experiences de comparaison de radiosondes. Technical Note No. 5· French. Diagrammes aerologiques. Technical Note No. 6. French. English- Russian -Spanish summaries. Price : Sw. fr. I.- 36. TP. I2 - Reduction of atmospheric pressure- Preliminary report on problems involved. Technical Note No. 7· English.** Price: Sw. fr. J.­ 38. TP. I3 Atmospheric radiation (Current investigations and problems). Technical Note No. 8. English.** Tropical circulation patterns- Technical Note No. g. English.** Price : Sw. fr. I.­ 39· TP. I4 Guide to Meteorological Library Practice. English - French. Price : Sw. fr. I.­ 40. TP. IS Methods of observation at sea. Part II- Air temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloud height, wind, rainfall and visibility. Technical Note No. 2. English.** Price: Sw. fr. r.-- 42. TP. I6 - The forecasting from weather data of potato blight and other plant diseases and pests. English.** Technical Note No. Io. The standardization of the measurement of evaporation as a climatic factor. Technical Note No. II. English.** Price: Sw. fr. 2.-- 44· TP. I7 -Atmospherics techniques. Technical Note No. I2. English.** Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 47· TP. I8 - International list of selected and supplementary ships. Bilingual (English and French). Edition I958. Price : Sw. fr. IO.­ so. TP. I9 Artificial control of clouds and hydrometeors. Technical Note No. I3. English.* Price : Sw. fr. J.-

* Individual sale prices are fixed for each Region or Part of the Volumes. ** French- Russian- Spanish summaries.

226 WMO Bulletin October 1959

WMO-No. sr. TP. 20 - Homogeneite du reseau europeen de radiosondages. Technical Note No. 14. French- English- Russian- Spanish. The relative accuracy of rawins and contour-measured winds in relation to performance criteria. Technical Note No. 15. English.* Superadiabatic lapse rate in the upper air. Technical Nqte No. r6. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 4·­ 56. TP. 22 Regional charts of meteorological observing station networks. Region VI­ Europe. Bilingual (English and French). rst edition. Price: Sw. fr. Io.­ 56. TP. 2 4 Regional charts of meteorological observing station networks. Region I­ Africa. Bilingual (English and French), rst edition. Price : Sw. fr. IO.­ 56. TP. 33 Regional charts of meteorological observing station networks. Region V­ South-West Pacific. Bilingual (English and French). rst editicn. Price : Sw. fr. IO.­ s6. TP. 34 - Regional charts of meteorological observing station networks. Region Ill - South America. Bilingual (English and Spanish). rst edition. Price : Sw. fr. IO.­ 63. TP. 23 Notes on the problems of cargo ventilation. Technical Note No. 17. English.* Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 66. TP. 25 Les diagrammes aerologiques. Report of a working group of the Commission for Aerology. French. Price : Sw. fr. I0.- 68. TP. 26 - Aviation aspects of mountain waves. Technical Note No. r8. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 7·- 7!. TP. 27 - Observational characteristics of the jet stream (A survey of the literature). Technical Note No. 19. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 9.- 72. TP. 28 - The climatological investigation of soil temperature. Technical Note No. 20. English.* Measurement of evaporation ; humidity in the biosphere and soil moisture. Technical Note No. 21. English.* Price: Sw. fr. s.- 73 TP. 29 - Preparing climatic data for the user. Technical Note No. 22. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 4·­ 76. TP. 30 - Meteorology as applied to the navigation of ships. Technical Note No. 23. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 4·­ 77- TP. 31 Turbulent diffusion in the atmosphere. Technical Note No. 24. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 7·­ 82. TP. Design of hydrological networks. Technical Note No. 25. English.* Techniques for surveying surface-water resources. Technical Note No. 26. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 4·­ 84. TP. 35- Use of ground-based radar in meteorology (excluding upper-wind measure­ ments). Technical Note No. 27. English.* Price : Sw. fr. 9.-

Reports

7· RP. I Annual Report for 1951 of the Secretary-General of the WMO. Not for sale. !O. RP. 2 Commission for Maritime Meteorology. Abridged final report of the first session, London, July 1952. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ II. RP. 3 - Regional Association VI (Europe). Abridged final report of the first session, Zurich, May- June 1952. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- !2. RP. 4 Annual report of the WMO 1952. English- French. Not for sale. 13. RP. 5 Regional Association I (Africa). Abridged final report of the first session, Tananarive, January, 1953. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 14· RP. 6- Commission for Climatology. Abridged final report of the first session, Washington, March 1953. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 16. RP. 7 Commission for Synoptic Meteorology. Abridged final report. of the first session, Washington, April 1953. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. 6.­ r8. RP. 8 Commission for Aerology. Abridged final report of the first session, Toronto, August-September 1953· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 19. RP. 9 Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation. Abridged final report of the first session, Toronto, August- September 1953. English- French. Price: Sw. fr. J.-

* French - Russian - Spanish summ~ries.

227 WMO Bulletin October 1959

WMO-No. 22. RP. ro - Regional Association III (South America). Abridged final report of the first session, Rio de Janeiro, September I953· English- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 23. RP. rr - Regional Association IV (North and Central America). Abridged final report of the first session, Toronto, August 1953. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 27. RP. 12 Commission for Agricultural Meteorology. Abridged final report of the first sessicn, Paris, November 1953. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 28. RP. I3 Regional Association V (South-West Pacific). Abridged final report of the first session, Melbourne, January I95+ English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 29. RP. r4 Annual report of the WMO I953· English- French. Not for sale. 3I. RP. rs - Commission for Bibliography and Publications. Abridged final report of the first session, Paris, November- December I953· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 33. RP. r6 - Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology. Abridged final report of the first session, Montreal, June- July I954- English- French. Volume I, Price : Sw. fr. J.­ Volume II, Price : Sw. fr. g.- 37· I~P. 17 - Regional Association VI (Europe). Resolutions and recommendations adopted since the first session, June I952 - December I954· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. I.- 4I. RP. r8 Annual report of the WMO I954· English- French. Not for sale. 43· RP. rg - Regional Association II (Asia). Abridged final report of the first session, New Delhi, February I955· English- French- Russian. Price: Sw. fr. J.- 52. RP. 20 - Annual report of the WMO I955· English- French. Not for sale. 54· RP. 2I Regional Association VI (Europe). Abridged final report of the second session, Dubrovnik, March r956. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 57· RP. 22 Annual report of the WMO 1956. English- French. Not for sale. 59· RP. 23 - Commission for Maritime Meteorology. Abridged final report of the second session, Hamburg, October- November rg56. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 6r. RP. 24 Regional Association I (Africa). Abridged final report of the second session, Las Palmas, January- February 1957· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.­ 62. RP. 25 - Commission for Climatology. Abridged final report of the second session, Washington, January I957· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. J.- 64. RP. 26 - Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation. Abridged final report of the second session, Paris, June- July I957· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. 3·- 65. RP. 27 - Commission for Aerology. Abridged final report of the second session, Paris, June-July 1957. English- French. Price: Sw. fr. J.- 6g. RP. 28 Annual report of the WMO I957· English- French. Not for sale. 70. RP. 29 Regional Association III. Abridged final report of the second session, Caracas, December I957· English- Spanish. Price : Sw. fr. 5·­ 74· RP. 30 Commission for Synoptic Meteorology. Abridged final report of the second session, New-Delhi, January- February rg58. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. 7·­ 78. RP. 3I Regional Association V (South-West Pacific). Abridged final report of the second session, Manila, April rgs8. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. s.­ 79· RP. 32 J oint ICAO/WMO meteorological telecommunications meeting for Europe. Final report, Geneva, February- March rg58. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. s.- 8o. RP. 33 - Regional Association VI (Europe). Resolutions and recommendations adopted by RA VI (a) following the meeting of the Working Group on Meteorological Transmissions (April I957) and (b) during the ·extraordinary session of the RA VI (February- March rgs8). English- French. Price : Sw. fr. s.- 8r. RP. 34 - Commission for Bibliography and Publications. Abridged final report of the second session, Paris, November I957· English- French. Price : Sw. fr. 4·­ s3. RP. 35 - Commission for Agricultural Meteorology. Abridged final report of the second session, Warsaw, September- October rg58. English. Price : Sw. fr. J.-

228 WMO Bulletin October 1959

WMO- No. 85. RP. 36 - Regional Association IV (North and Central America). Abridged final report of the second session, Washington, December 1958. English. Price : Sw. fr. 5·- S6. RP. 37 - Annual report of the WHO 1958. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. ro.-

International Geophysical Year

55· IGY. I - International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. Meteorological programme: General survey. English- French. Price : Sw. fr. ro.- j8. IGY. z - International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. Meteorological Programme: Lists of stations. Bilingual (English and French). Price : Sw. fr. 8.- Microcards containing IGY meteorological data (surface and upper-air observations) Price : US$ 5,990 per set

International Cloud Atlas

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229 MEMBERS OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION*

Afghanistan French Togoland Philippines Albania French West Africa Poland Argentina Ghana Portugal Australia Greece Portuguese East Africa Austria Guatemala Portuguese West Africa Belgian Congo Guinea Romania Belgium Haiti Bermuda Ruanda Urundi Hong Kong Bolivia Saudi Arabia Hungary Brazil Singapore and British Iceland British East African Territories in Borneo Territories including India Spain the Seychelles Indonesia Spanish Territories of British West African Iraq G\linea Territories Iran Sudan Bulgaria Ireland Burma Surinam Israel Byelorussian S.S.R. Sweden Italy Cambodia Switzerland Japan Canada Thailand Jordan Ceylon Tunisia Korea Chile Turkey Laos China Ukrainian S.S.R. Lebanon. Cuba Union of South Africa Libya Czechoslovakia Luxembourg Union of Soviet Socialist Denmark Republics Madagascar Dominican Republiq United Arab Republic Mauritius Ecuador United Kingdom of Great Mexico El Salvador Britain and Northern Morocco Ireland Ethiopia Netherlands United States of America· Federal Repub. of Germany Netherlands Antilles Uruguay Federation of Malaya Netherlands New Guinea Federation of Rhodesia Venezuela and N yasaland New Caledonia Viet-Nam Finland New Zealand West Indies, Bahamas, France Nicaragua British Guiana, British Honduras and British French Cameroons Norway Virgin Islands French Equatorial Africa Pakistan Yugoslavia French Polynesia Paraguay French Somaliland Peru * On 30 October 1959

230 WMO Bulletin October 1959

WMO BULLETIN VOLUME VIII (1959)

Index

Activities of the regional associations Africa (RA I) . . . . . Zf, 93, !57, 199 Asia (RA II) ...... 24, 93, !57, 199 South America (RA Ill) . . 93, 199 North and Central America (RA IV) 2f, 94, zoo South-West Pacific (RA V) 2f, 94, I 57 Europe (RA VI) zs, 94, !57, zoo See also . . . 77

Activities of the technical commissions Aerology ...... 37, ss, Z04 Aeronautical Meteorology . . S6, r6z, zos Agricultural Meteorology . . . S5, r6z, 205 Bibliography and Publications 37, 86 Climatology ...... 37, S6, zo6 Hydrological Meteorology !63, 206 Instruments and Methods of Observation 38, S7, !63, 206 Maritime Meteorology S7, !63, 207 Synoptic Meteorology S7, !63, 207 See also . . . 9

Antarctic meteorology . 61

Artificial control of clouds and hydrometeors 140

Atmospheric ozone and radiation : Symposium at Oxford . ZOI

Collaboration with other international organizations CCTA/CSA. IS CIRM .... . I9, 190 FAO ...... Sr, 184 ICAO (MID/SEA RAN) 14S ICSU (SCAR) 75 IFALPA. I 50 IMCO Sr IPGH Sr ISO . 19 ITU. Sz ITU (CCITT) S3, 190 IUGG ... !09 IUGG/IOC. 19, 191, ZOI UNITED NATIONS 151, 19Z UN (ECA) .. S3 UN (ECAFE). 194, 195 UN (ECE) .. 151 UN (ECLA) . I5Z UN (ECOSOC) 174 UNESCO ... zo, 6S, Sf WMO Bulletin October 1959·

Commission for Agricultural Meteorology, Second session 9 Comparison of raingauges ...... r86 Comparisons of evaporation pans . . ·. 95 Comparisons of radiation instruments . 203 Evaporation pan measurements in Hungary . 198 Executive Committee, Eleventh session . . . 136 High-level analysis and forecasting techniques for longhaul turbine-powered aircraft 138 Hydrological networks and methods: Seminar in Bangkok 195 Instrument for counting local lightning flashes . . 14 International c~llaboration on the lower Mekong. 179 International Geophysical Year. . 22, 6o, 152, 216 Japanese automatic wind station. 73 Measurement of soil temperature . 88 Membership of WMO ...... 45, 58, 126, 165, 172, 213, 230 Meteorological problems in atomic energy 6 Meteorological stations in Angola. 158 Meteorology helps to fight the desert locust. 184 Meteorology in the Antarctic : Discussions in Australia 75 New British ocean weather ship ...... 35

News and Notes Death of Sir Gilbert Walker . . . . 38 Fifth Arab Meteorological Conference 106 Fortieth anniversary of lATA ... 213 International Cloud Atlas . . . . . 39 International Congress on Photobiology . 215 International Symposium on Safely and Location of Nuclear Plants. 215 Leningrad Geophysical Observatory. . 40 New cold pole ...... 107 Presentation of the fourth IMO Prize. 21! Radiosonde errors at high altitudes. 214 Southern hemisphere synoptic charts 214 Studies of climatic fluctuations . . . 40 Sudan agrometeorological bulletin 107 Symposium on atmospheric ozone and radiation 39 Television in pre-flight briefing at Dublin Airport 166 Voluntary weather observers in U.S.A. 165 Whaling ships' reports...... 213 World Power Conference . . . . . 39 Yearbook of International Organizations, 1958-59 39

News from the WMO Secretariat Belgrade Seminar 42 Caribbean Hurricane Seminar 42 Climatological inquiries 219 Cloud filmstrips and slides . . 217 IGY Meteorological Data Centre 216 Meteorological film loan service 220 Panel of experts on atomic energy 41 Provisional Guide to Synoptic Meteorological Practices 168 Publication of aerological data ...... 168 Symposium on atmospheric ozone and radiation 109 Symposium on tropical meteorology IIO, 167 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Technical Division 40 Visit of Dr. V. E. Wilkins 2I8 WMO's new headquarters 2I8

Obituary Dr. Serge Frolow . . . I64 Mr. Norman R. Hagen 2I6 Mr. Pierre Hilaire . . . Io8 Dr. Andre Prudhomme Io8 Dr. Ivan Ray Tannehill. I64 Sir Gilbert Walker . 38

Publications of the WMO 46, I2I, 225 Recent WMO publications 43. IIO, 220 Regional Association IV, Second session 77 Reviews Bessemoulin, J. and Clausse, R. - Vents, Images et tempetes ...... 223 Byers, H. R. - General Meteorology (Third edition) ...... 222 Foitzik, Leonhard and Hinzpeter, Hans - Sonnenstrahlung und Lufttrlibung rr8 Hennig, Horst - Meteorologische Abhandlungen, Band IV, Heft 3 . rr6 Israel, Hans - Atmospharische Electrizitat ...... 222 Jacobs, Ingrid - Meteorologische Abhandlungen, Band IV, Heft I, 2 rr6 Kilinski, Erich von - Lehrbuch der Luftelektrizitat ...... II9 Koeppe, C. E. and De Long, G. C. - Weather and Climate . . . . I70 Lahaye, E. - Realisation du Centre de Physique du Globe a Dourbes I7o Landsberg, Helmut - Physical Climatology (Second edition) . . . . . I69 Linsley, R. K., Kohler, M. A. and Paulhus, J. L. H.- Hydrology for Engineers rrg Orr, Clyde - Between Earth and Space ...... 223 Petterssen, Sverre - Introduction to Meteorology (Second edition) . . . . rr8 Proceedings of the Symposium on Ground Water, I955 ...... I69 Steinhauser, F., Eckel, 0., and Lauscher, F. (Editors) - Klimatographie von Osterreich, erste Lieferung . : ...... I 70 Sutcliffe, R. C. (Editor) - Polar Atmosphere Symposium, Part I . . II7 Tunnell, G. A. - World Distribution of Atmospheric Water Vapour Pressure I20 Wehrle, Philippe - L'univers aleatoire ...... _ II5 Willett, H. C. and Sanders, F. - Descriptive Meteorology (Second edition) . 223

Seminar in Rome : Synoptic meteorology in the Mediterranean 68 Survey of national punch-card programmes, I958 ...... 144

Technical Assistance Programme I958 programme 26 I959 programme . . 28, 99, I 59 I960 programme . . Io6, I6I Country programmes Afghanistan 26, IOI Argentina 102 British East Africa 99, I 59, 209 Burma. IOI Chile ... I02 China .. IOI Colombia. I02 Ecuador z6, I02 Haiti I03, 209 WMO Bulletin October 1959

Iceland 104, 159 Iran. z6, 101 Iraq .. IOI, 210 Israel . 104, 210 Jordan. 104 Libya . 100 Morocco roo, 210 Nicaragua 103 Paraguay. 103 Pakistan roz, 16o Peru ... 103 Poland .. 160 Saudi Arabia z6, 102 Sudan . IOO, 16o, 210 Thailand 102 Tunisia z6, 101 Turkey. 104, 210 United Arab Republic. 27, IOI, 104 Uruguay. 27, 103, 16o, ZII Viet-Nam 102 Yugoslavia 104, 160 Decisions of ECOSOC zo8 Discussions at Congress 159 Fellowships ...... 27 Regional projects HydrologicaJ training seminar . . . . . 105, ZII Lower Mekong river development 27, 105, 2II Water Resources Survey, Latin America 27, 105 Special Fund ...... z8, 106, 161, 192 Technical assistance in public administration 28, 161 Travel to Africa and Saudi Arabia . . . . . 105 Travel to the Near and Middle East . . . . 160 Visits to North Africa and Central America . z6

Third World Meteorological Congress Review of the main questions to be discussed 52 Review of the main decisions . . . 128

WMO and the development of meteorology 2 WMO and the United Nations . 174 WMO Membership now 100 . ss

Working groups and panels of experts Atmospheric ozone (CAe) 204 A to mic energy (EC) . . 41 High-level analysis and forecasting techniques (EC) 138 Hydrology (RA VI) ...... 25 Meteorological transmissions (RA VI) . . . 201 Numerical weather analysis and forecasting (CAe) ss Radiation measurement (CIMO) 207 Terminology (CBP) . . . 37

World meteorology: retrospect and prospect 29 ORDER FORM To WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Campagne Rigot, Avenue de la Paix GENEVA, Switzerland.

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