At all modern BAROGRAPHS Recor.ding aneroids with conlinous meteorological stations charts ; adopted for over 40 years by the French Meteorological Service. Standard equipment in the French THE PRECISION Navy. INSTRUMENTS OF THERMOGRAPHS Which can 'be combined with our barometers and hygrometers. These JULES RICHARD instruments are outstandingly sen­ sitive. provide a permanent answer HYGROGRAPHS Direct recording of air humidity on ruled charts. All types of indicators and recorders, including upper-air and dew-point instruments.

SOLARIMETERS Direct reading and recording ins­ truments for measuring the intensity of solar radiation. Pyrheliogrophs.

ANEMOGRAPHS All types of anemometers, including "Popillon" electro-magnetic instru­ ments for recording instantaneous wind speed at a distance.

RAIN GAUGES All types of float, balance and syphon roingouges, both recording ond non·recording. upon request OFFICERS OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

President ; Mr. A. VIAUT First Vice-President : Dr. M. A. F. BARNETT Second Vice-President : Prof. Dr. H. AMORIM FERREIRA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr. A. VIAUT Mr. J. L.V. MALDONADO Dr. F. , V. REICHELDERFER D r. M. A. F. BARNETT Dr. A. THOMSON Mr. A. A. SoLOTOUKH INE Prof. Dr. H. AMORIM FERREIRA Mr. L. J. DWYER Sir GRAHAM SUTTON Mr. J. RAVET Dr. A. NYBERG Mr. M. F. TAHA Mr. S. BAsu Mr. L. DE AzcARRAGA Prof. D r. J. LUGEON

TECHNICAL COMMISSION PRESIDENTS REGIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS Aerology: Dr. R. C. SuTCLIFFE Africa (I): Mr. J. RAVET Aeronautical Meteorology: Mr. A. H. NAGLE Asia (II) : Mr. S. BAsu Agricultural Meteorology : Mr. J. J. BuRGOS South America (Ill) : Bibliography and Publications : Mr. J. L. V. MALDONADO . Dr. A. V ANDENPLAS North and Central America (IV) : Climatology: Mr. R. G. VERYARD Dr: A. THOMSON 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 Investigations Section :Mr. O.M. AsH FORD Tech. Assistance Unit- Chief : Opm•ations Section : Mr. N.L.VERANNEMAN Dr. H. SEBASTIAN

THE PURPOSES OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION "(a) To facilitate world-wide co-operation (c) To promote standardization of meteo­ in the establishment of networks of rological observations and to ensure stations for the making of meteorolog­ the uniform publication of observ­ ical observations or other geophysical ations and statistics ; observations related to meteorology (d) To further the application of meteor­ and to promote the establishment and ology to aviation, shipping, agricul­ maintenance of meteorological centres· ture, and other human activities; and charged with the provision of meteor­ (e) To encourage research and training in ological 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 ORGAN IZATION (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. 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 AT I 0 N

JULY 1958 VOL. VII NO. 3

THE PICTURE ON THE COVER TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page One of the most spectacular achievements Tenth session of the Executive Committee 100 of the International Geophysical Year is the Meteorology and longhaul civil turbine­ establishment of over 25 meteorological powered a)rcraft operations ...... 104 stations on the Antarctic continent through Emergj ng needs in development of the world's the co-operative efforts .of I2 countries . . The rivers ...... 108 observations from these stations are trans­ mitted by radio to the Antarctic ·weather WMO and hydrology ...... • .. . . 112 Central and thence to meteorological serv­ Technical Assistance Programme ...... 115 ices in the southern hemisphere. As a result, the synoptic weather maps being Meteorology in Ghana ...... 118 - prepared during the IGY of Antarctica and Observational characteristics of the jet stream 122 the surrounding oceans are undoubtedly the New building for the Central Office of the most comprehensive ever produced ; apart Deutscher Wetterdienst ...... 124 from their immediate operational value they will provide material for research workers Second session of Regional Association V 125 who are endeavouring to solve some of the Activities of Regional Associations ...... 12~ outstanding problems of Antarctic meteoro­ Activities of the Technical Commissions . . . 13(} logy. Collaboration with other international organi- The picture on the cover is a simplified zations ...... , ...... 132 ~ ersion, supplied through the good offices of News and Notes ...... 134 the President of WMO, Mr. Andre Viaut, Membership of WMO ...... , . . . . . 138 of the synoptic map for o6oo GMT on 7 J anuary rg58, the original of which was News from the WMO Secretariat ...... • . . . 13~ prepared at McMurdo Sound. The full lines Reviews ...... 142 represent the mean sea level isobars and the dashed lines are the isohypses of the 850 mb Members of the WMO ...... 145 surface. Calendar of coming events ...... : ...... 146

\ Vith the IGY approaching its end, many people are wondering if it will be possible to continue this magnificent example of inter­ matter will no doubt be discussed at the national collaboration in the Antarctic. important IGY meeting which opens in P roposals have already been made to this Moscow on 30 July rg58, a report on which effect by a special committee of the Inter­ will be published in the next issue of the national Council of Scientific Unions and the Bulletin.

The purpose of the WMO Bulletin is to provide a summary of the work of the vVorld Meteorological Organization and of developments in international meteorology of interest to . Members of the Organization and others concerned with the application of meteorology to human activity. The WMO Bulletin is published quarterly in two separate editions: English and French. The price is I Swiss franc per copy, including postage. Annual subscriptions (4 Swiss francs) and all other correspondence about the Bulletin should be addressed to the Secretary-General, W0rld Meteorological Organization, Campagne R igot, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva. Signed contributions do not necessarily represent the views of the Organization.

99 WMO Bulletin July 1958

TENTH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

HE tenth session of the WMO which WMO is playing such an important Executive Committee was held in part- questions regarding outer space, and T the possible extension of WMO's work in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, from the domain of hydrology. There is little 29 April to 17 May 1958, under the I could say on these subjects that would presidency of Mr. Andre Viaut. All help your deliberations, but it may interest members of the committee were you to know that an item on outer space the has now been included on the agenda of present, many being accompanied by the forthcoming session of the UN General advisers. Several other international Assembly. Some of the legal aspects ·of this organizations were represented, includ­ issue are now the subject of preliminary ing the International Civil Aviation study in the UN Secretariat. Organization, for which Mr. W. Binaghi, the As regards hydrology, the Economic and President of the Council, attended Social Council adopted last Friday a resolu­ opening meeting. The presidents of the tion which, among other things, commends Commissions for Bibliography and the report drawn up jointly by V.TMO and Publications and for SynoptiC Meteor­ the U r Secretariat, entitled A preliminary discus­ inquiry on existing hydrologic services. It ology were also present for the notes the recommendations with respect to sions · of the reports of the second the functions of the World Meteorological sessions of their commissions. Organization in the field of hydrology, and invites \'VMO to consider the report and take appropriate action thereon, bearing in Address by Mr. Dag Hammarskjold mind the discussion at the twenty-fifth session or the Economic and Social Council The Secretary-General of the United and the necessity of avoiding duplication Nations, Mr. Dag Hammarskjold, at­ with the work of the United Nations and tended one of the meetings of the the specialized agencies. Executive Committee and addressed : A later part of the same resolution requests the gathering as follows the specialized agencies and the UN services 'to keep the inter-related problem of water It is a great pleasure for me to have resources under continuous review, and, to this opportunity of addressing you. vVMO this end, to develop a programme of studies is one of the youngest of the specialized regarding such problems'. The Adrninis­ agencies within the UN family, but through trative Committee on Co-ordination, which its predecessor, the IMO, it can boast of has been meeting during the past two days a longer record of international co-opera­ in Geneva, has given special importance to tion than any in the scientific field . It has the possibilities of concerted inter-agency a .modest budget and a small staff, but it action on certain subjects within the general has an area of responsibility of universal field of water resources utilization and interest and of great importance to the development, and it has arranged for inter­ welfare of mankind. That area of respon­ Secretariat consultations on the desirable sibility affects agriculture, water resources, allocation of specific responsibilities in the aviation, aspects of atomic energy prob­ hydrological field . lems, and (rising for the first time above our horizon) problems of outer space- all matters in which it is self-evident that the We in the UN and the specialized agen­ UN, with its general mandate to ensure cies appreciate the collaboration we have peace and welfare, cannot but be closely already received from \'VMO in our regular interested. and technical assistance programmes and the excellent relations which have been There are several items on your agenda developed between our staffs and that of which are of special interest to the UN and \'VMO, under Mr. D. A. Davies. I have said to me personally. I refer to questions con• enough to make clear that, both at the cerning the International Geophysical Year level of the ECOSOC and at the level of - that unprecedented scientific venture in the executive heads of the various inter-

100 WMO Bulletin July 1958

national organizations, a great deal of would be made. He was confident that further co-operation on subjects in which within two years the building itself \VMO plays an important role is hoped for, and much reliance is placed on WMO's help would be ready for occupation. in the years ahead. On the afternoon of 14 May the The President of the Organization foundation stone of the. building was thanked the Secretary-General of the laid during a short ceremony at which United Nations for his speech and the members of the Executive Com­ assured him that the Executive Corn- mittee ·and many leading Geneva and . mittee would give close attention to Swiss Federal authorities were present .

Opening the ceremony, which took place beneath a threatening sky with distant thunder, Mr. Dutoit spoke on behalf of the authorities of the Canton of Geneva. After referring briefly to the long negotiations which had pre­ ceded the laying of the foundation stone, he recalled an old Swiss proverb which stated that the marriage which was celebrated in a thunderstorm would be a happy one. He was there­ fore confident that the present har­ The Secretary-General of the United Nations, monious relationship between the au- . Mr. Dag Hammarskjold, in conversation thorities and the Organization would with the President of WMO, Mr. A. Viaut, continue.

the questions which he had mentioned. In reply, the President of the Organ­ He spoke of the co-ordination between ization stressed the great and increas­ the work of WMO and of the other ing need for the facilities which the organizations interested in hydrology new building would provide if WMO · and stated that everything which could were to carry out its duties efficiently. · reasonably be done by WMO would be He was happy to record the indebt­ done. The increasing importance of edness of · the Organization to the water -in all fields of human activity Federal and Cantonal authorities for was well recognized. their friendly and generous hospitality · and to thank all those whose efforts New WMO building had contributed to this result. He hoped that the Members of the Organi­ Members of the committee were zation participating in the Third glad to hear of the good progress Congress in April 1959 would be able 'which had been made since the previous to see an appreciable part of the session with regard to the new building building already constructed. for the WMO Secretariat. Mr. J. Dutoit, President du Conseil d'Etat of the Immediately before the laying of Canton of Geneva, who attended the the foundation stone, Mr. G. Lepori, .. meeting at which this item was dis­ Conseiller federal, spoke on behalf of the cussed, assured . the committee that Swiss Federal authorities. He spoke all the major difficulties had now been of the anxiety with which our remote surmounted and that rapid progress ancestors had studied the skies, wonder­ on the construction of the building ing whether they would bring famine

101 WMO Bulletin July 1958 or plenty. Meteorology had advanced session of the Commission for Biblio­ far since those first hesitant footsteps graphy and Publications, a report on and man was now alarmed that this which was given in an earlier issue of progress might enable natural forces to of the Bulletin (Vol. VII, No. I, p. I8). be controlled and released at will. The The comments received on the draft Swiss nation was honoured to offer International Meteorological- V ocabu­ hospitality to an organization whose lary were noted and the Secretary­ task was to work peacefully for the General was directed to distribute the benefit of mankind. · revised version of this publication, now being prepared by the CBP Members of the Executive Commit­ Working Group on Terminology, to tee and senior officials of the WMO Members · for detailed examination. Secretariat were subsequently invited It was felt that it would be premature to a dinner given by the Conseil d'Etat to attempt to produce a World Meteor­ and the Conseil Administratif de la ological Bibliography until the whole Ville de Geneve to mark the occasion. questions had been reviewed at Third The President of the Organization Congress. Some further inquiries on took this opportunity of thanking the this project will be carried out by the Geneva authorities for the great help Secretary-General to help the" president which they were giving to the Organi­ of CBP in preparing his report for zation. Congress.

Preparations for Third Congress An account of the second session of the Commission for Synoptic Meteor­ items of the agenda of Many of the ology was given in the April I958 issue to the preparations the session related of the Bulletin (see p. 69). The recom­ which will be held for Third Congress, mendations arising from the session I959, and in Geneva from I-28 April which dealt with international meteor­ and budget for the to the programme ological codes were approved and during the third financial Organization incorporated in a single Executive Secretary-General's esti­ period. The Committee resolution ; the necessary expenditure for mates of maximum amendments will be made to Volume period were examin­ the third financial B of WMO Publication No. 9 and the com­ ed and a report containing most of the amendments will come committee was draftep. ments of the into force on I January I96o. Most involv­ This pointed out the difficulties of the other recommendations were for a four­ ed in preparing a budget also adopted and either referred to an Organi­ year period, especially for the appropriate constituent body or which zation responsible for a science the Secretary-General for appropriate It concluded is developing rapidly. was follow-up action. Some of these recom­ for the that the financial estimates mendations will be incorporated in the need third financial period would to Guide to Synoptic Meteorological Prac­ those for be substantially higher than tice, for which appropriate arrange­ The final the second financial period. ments have been made for completing matter will, of course, decision on this a provisional text. have to be taken at Third Congress.

the Sessions of constituent bodies The committee also considered decisions taken at the second session The committee considered the re­ of Regional Association V, a report of commendations arising from the second which appears on p. IZS. The new

102 WMO Bulletin July 1958 president of this association, Mr. L. J. the full collaboration of WMO in the Dwyer, attended the session of the meteorological aspects of atomic ener­ Executive Committee for the first time. gy. It was felt in particular that WMO He announced that it was proposed would be able to play a useful role in to set up a tropical analysis centre in connexion with the establishment of Australia and this development was warmly welcomed by the committee.

Technical questions The decisions of the Executive Com­ mittee with regard to developments in the International Geophysical Year programme, the WMO programme in hydrology, technical assistance activ­ ities and on the developments in meteorology which will be required to meet the needs arising from com­ mercial jet aircraft operations, are reviewed in separate articles in this issue of the Bulletin.

The discussions on the meteorol­ ogical aspects of artificial satellites appeared to "be very timely, with the announcement during the session of Placing records in a container which was subsequently sealed in the foundation stone the launching of the third Russian of the new Secretariat building. L eft to sputnik. The committee decided to right : Mr. G. Friedrich, chef du Service des request the president of the Commis­ Batimerits, Mr. D. A. Davies, Secretary­ sion for Aerology to nominate a rappor­ General of WMO and Mr. E . Martin, architect teur to study these questions and to re­ port to the next session on any possible activities which might legitimately be a network of stations for measuring undertaken by WMO in this field, espe­ the radioactivity of air and precipita­ cially with regard to observations which tion. might be made with the aid of artificial satellites which would contribute to Since the last session of the com­ our understanding of the physical mittee, the Secretary-General had com­ processes taking place in the atmo­ pleted an inquiry on the desirability sphere. It was further decided that of carrying out an international survey WMO should accept ;;my request for on tidal wave investigations and warn­ advice or assistance received from the ings and the committee decided that. United NationS' on this subject. WMO should initiate an international programme for the study of tidal The committee noted with apprecia­ waves in which the major contribution tion the report dealing with the work will be made ·through the regional of the WMO Panel of Experts on associations. The work will be carried Atomic Energy, and diFected the out in close collaboration with the Secretary-General to offer to the other International Union of Geodesy and international organizations concerned Geophysics.

103

/ WMO Bulletin July 1958

Administrative and financial questions will be given in a future issue of the Bulletin. The committee handled a number of administrative and financial ques­ tions, which included amendments to At the closing session, the President the internal staff rules, proposals to paid tribute to the services of Mr. S. Congress for revising the staff and Basu and Dr. Andrew Thomson for financial regulations and · the WMO w.hom this was their last appearance Convention, and the budget for 1959. at a session of the Executive Com­ Details of these items will be found in mittee. Members of the committee the Abridged Report of the sesswn. congratulated Dr. Thomson on the recent award to him of a Doctor of Science degree, honoris causa, by McGill Other questions University. The committee decided to award the Third IMO Prize to Mr. Ernest It was provisionally decided that Gold in recognition of his outstanding the eleventh session of the Executive contributions to international meteor­ Committee would be held in Geneva ology. A fuller report on this award immediately after Third Congress.

METEOROLOGY AND LONGHAUL CIVIL TURBINE-POWERED AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

OR some years past, the Inter­ At these new levels and for this new F national Civil Aviation Organi­ type of operation the necessity of more zation (ICAO) and the International accurate knowledge with regard to a Air Transport Association (IATA) have number of meteorological elements has been closely examining the operational suddenly come to the fore. For problems that will arise from the example, it is at these levels that general introduction of turbine-powered aircraft are most likely to run into aircraft operations. The main con­ jet streams, i.e. long narrow air sequences of this new type of operation, currents of extremely high wind speeds. as far as \iVMO is concerned, is to Apart from the very high wind speeds, force meteorologists to penetrate into a series -of other meteorological phe­ much higher levels of the atmosphere nomena which may have an effect on and to set increased accuracy require­ the safety of an aircraft may be ments for the meteorological services encountered in these air currents. provided. For reasons of fuel consump- Another important element is that of . tion these aircraft have to operate at the temperature of the air at the flight very low temperatures and therefore level. Turbine-powered aircraft are at much greater altitudes than present very sensitive to temperature, because day conventional aircraft ; turbine­ of ifs marked effect on the fuel con­ powered aircraft operations call for sumption and hence on the economics meteorological services to be provided of a flight. As a consequence, good up to at least 14,000 metres, as against upper-air temperature forecasts have roughly 6,ooo metres in the case of become essential, so as to permit the piston-engined aircraft operations. judicious choice of the flight level in

104 WMO Bulletin July 1958 the pre-flight planning stage. Other to set up a panel of experts on meteoro­ elements of great importance to these logical developments in view of com­ operations are aircraft icing, dense mercial jet aircraft operations. This cirrostratus clouds, hail and turbulence. panel held a meeting in March 1958 Knowledge of the latter two elements in Madrid, at the kind invitation of has always been important to the its rapporteur, Mr. Luis de Azcarraga. comfort and safety of flights, but their On the basis of the report of the ICAO importance has considerably increased J et Operations Requirements Panel, for turbine-powered aircraft as a the panel Goncentrated its attention result of the much greater speeds of on examining existing meteor-ological these aircraft. techniques with a view to finding out which points required further develop­ The. problems thus put to meteoro­ ment. The conclusions were presented logy · are not, however, limited to the in the form of a plan of action for very high levels. The necessity for WMO, that would contribute towards very accurate observations and fore­ bringing the meteorological techniques casts of the conditions at airports has up to the required standards. The never been so great. An accurate recent session of the Executive Com­ knowledge of the air t emperature over mittee examined the report of this the runway at the time of take-off is panel and decided on a series of required, because of its effect on the measures, which are summarized below. density of the air and, consequently, on the length of the run necessary for take-off or, alternatively, on the load Improving meteorological techniques capacity of the aircraft: On the other hand, the necessity for good landing Studies carried QUt during recent forecasts results from the fact that, years in the research centres of some because of its high fuel consumption of the larger meteorological services at high temperature, i.e. in the lower have already resulted in considerable levels, a turbine-powered aircraft, once progress in the field of high-level it has started its descent to the airport forecasting. There is no d.oubt, how­ at which it is intended to land, will ever, that there is still ample scope encounter great difficulties if, owing to for further research, especially with a last minute . closing down of this regard to the problems encountered in a!rport, it has to be diverted to another tropical regions where, for a variety airport. of reasons, high-level analysis and forecasting meet with considerable Action taken by W M 0 difficulties. The Executive Committee There can .be no doubt that the was of the opinion tqat the first introduction of turbine-powered air­ approach to the problem should be a craft operations raises for meteoro­ clear definition of the questions that logists an imposing series of problems are in need of further research and which, moreover, have to be answered, development, and it therefore decided as far as practicable, in a very short that, as an initial · step, information time, i.e. before rg6r, when it is should be gathered on the latest expected that longhaul high-level oper­ techniques developed by the various ations will be in full swing. meteorological services. Moreover, as the more advanced knowledge is at The need for urgent - action was present concentrated in a small number fully realized by the Executive Com­ of services, it was clear that an impor­ mittee when, in 1957, it was decided tant contribution of WMO would be

105 WMO Bulletin July 1958 to make this knowledge available to requested to develop, as a matter of all meteorological services. In con­ urgency, the observational techniques clusion, the Executive Committee in­ that will meet as far as is practicable structed the Secretary-General to ob­ the need of turbine-powered aircraft tain, before r September rg58, detailed operations. information about analysis and fore­ casting techniques for high-level tem­ Training perature and .wind fields, developed during recent years by meteorological The problem of training has a dual services, and to issue this information aspect. On the one hand, as indicated as a WMO Technical Note. The above, the more· advanced knowledge material thus assembled would then be in high-level analysis and forecasting studied by a panel of experts with a techniques is at present concentrated view to defining the individual ques­ within a rather small number of tions that require further research. meteorological services. This know­ ledge has to be made available in the best possible way to all meteorological In the meantime the Commission for services of the world. To this effect, Aerology (CAe) has been requested to the panel of experts had proposed the indicate, as a matter of urgency, to holding of a number of seminars at what extent it would be practicable which experts in the field of forecasting within the next few years, to ·make for high-level operations would give a numerical forecasts, for 12 to 24 hours, series of lectures and practical demon­ of wind and. temperature at levels strations of the most modern techniques between . soo and rso mb and to for the benefit of other meteorologists. estimate the standard deviations of the errors in wind and temperature On the other hand, high-level oper­ forecasts which are likely to arise. ations will require a considerably Similarly the Commission for Synoptic increased effort on the part of meteoro­ has been requested to Meteorology logical services, in that higher levels arrange for a survey to be made, in of the atmosphere will have to be collaboration with CAe, of the present analysed. In some regions meteo_ro­ state of knowledge in regard to hail, logical services are already encoun­ turbulence, icing and dense cirrostratus tering difficulties in recruiting the staff clouds, as well as of the possibilities necessary for the fulfilment of their of forecasting these phenomena. The responsibilities ; there is a great risk results of this survey will be published that the present-day staffing diffi­ as a WMO Technical Note. Members culties will increase with the advent have also been invited to accelerate of high-level operations and that their research in these fields. they may even affect meteorological services which to-day encounter no Finally, as indicated above, various such difficulties. In view of this important problems arise in relation situation, the panel of experts has to the necessity for better observations advanced the idea of setting up and more accurate forecasts of the training centres for general meteoro­ meteorological conditions on airports, logy. both for take-off and landing. Whereas Members have been urged to con­ While supporting in principle the centrate on the forecasting problem, holding of- seminars, the Executive the Commission for Instruments and Committee considered that detailed Methods of Observation has been arrangements could best be considered

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WMO Bulletin July 1958

after the WMO Technical Note on of the WMO, emphasized this point analysis and forecasting techniques for when he stated that "If in certain high levels has become available. As cases the users (of meteorological this note is to be published in the services) are not satisfied, this stems latter part of 1958, the Secretary­ from inadequate basic meteorological General was given the necessary facilities and installations. Without authority to examine further the adequate measures, the meteorologist necessary preparations for the holding is unarmed, and this is why all possible of such seminars. With regard to the efforts to improve the basic meteoro­ setting up of training centres, the logical facil~ties and installations ought Executive Committee considered that to be pursued with the greatest this question could best be examined promptness". -Conscious of the vital within each of the WMO regional character of this problem and of the associations in the light of the extent of the efforts that still remain respective prevailing staffing problems. to be made in large areas of the world It was noted, for example, that to bring the existing facilities up to Regional Association Ill (South Amer­ a minimum acceptable standard, WMO ica) had already set up a Regional and ICAO have decided to enter into training centre which 1s working a joint plan of action in an effort to satisfactorily. contribute to the elimination of the most important deficiencies. The Exe­ Basic meteorological facilities cutive Committee has given the and installations Secretary-General of WMO the neces­ sary general guidance within which he The availability of adequate meteoro­ is directed to conduct his further logical techniques is one thing ; to negotiations with ICAO on the details apply these technique_s to the analysis of this most impo~tant project. and forecasting of the weather situa­ tion is another. To do this, meteoro­ Concluding this broad review of the logical services require, as a condition problems which are facing meteoro­ sine qua non, a sufficient number of logical services as a result of the well distributed, good quality observa­ introductiorr of longhaul civil turbine­ tions. This implies the existence of a powered aircraft operations, one can good network of surface and upper­ but state that meteorological services, air observations and of an efficient individually and under the aegis of telecommunications petwork for the WMO, are sparing no effort to_ bring international exchange of the obser­ themselves into a position which will vations. A chain is no stronger than enable them, within the limits of the its weakest link ; this applies also to available facilities, to provide the the network of meteorological obser­ services required by international civil vations. Every large gap in a network aviation . . hampers not only the meteorological services in . the country responsible N. L. V. for the deficient network, but also the services in neighbouring countries * Ministere des travaux publics, des t rans­ within a very large radius. In an ports et du tourisme - Secretariat general address * which he gave at the second a !'aviation civile et commerciale - Direction session of Regional · Association Ill de la Meteorologie Nationa le- Les conditions (South America) in December l ast, meteorologiqttes aux hautes altitudes et l' assis­ tance meteorologique aux avions a grandes Mr. A. Viaut, director of the French performances - A. Viaut - Avril rg58 - Meteorological Service and President Imprime rg6 rue de l'Universite, Paris 7"-

107 WMO Bulletin July 1958

EMERGING NEEDS IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD'S RIVERS

new view of the opportunities and Republic, India, the U.S.A. and the A needs for river development has U.S.S.R. carrying on the larger pro­ been taking shape among national and grammes of construction. Such inte­ international agencies. The streams grated programmes typically combine of the land surface - ranging from several elements. They employ the great rivers like the Ob and the device of the multiple-purpose dam Mississippi to smaller ones like the which stores water to serve two or Flumendosa and the Cauca - increas­ more purposes. Advancements in ingly are seen as suited to integrated techniques of building concrete struc­ development and as requiring inter­ tures, moving large volumes of earth national scientific co-operation to and transporting electric power eco­ · achieve their wise use. That outlook nomically over long distances have is reflected in the recep.t report of the made it practicable to use a single United Nations Panel on Integrated structure like Hoover Dam on the River Basin Development discussed Colorado River or Genissiat Dam on by the Economic and Social Council the Rhone River to produce electricity, (:~<;:OSOC) last April. It is revealed control floods, promote navigation, more concretely in the wide-spread and supply water for municipal and work of national construction projects irrigation purposes. These dams now and international assistance program­ are planned and operated in systems mes; in dams in India, in hydro-electric for entire drainage basins. The Volga plants in Rhodesia, and in land and Basin in the U.S.S.R., the Damodar water surveys in Khuzistan. Basin in India, and the Kitakami Valley in Japan an~ examples of This emerging view of the poten­ unified basin treatment. Such systems tialities of water resource development and their accompanying land and is a product of converging technologi­ auxiliary programmes in many areas cal, political and economic trends are regarded not as ends in themselves which are at work over large areas of but as means of promoting desirable the world. These, in turn, create social change. special needs which seem to call for international organization on a world Although there had been scattered scale. examples of dams or canals which served two purposes such as irrigation and mechanical power, the large-scale Concept of integrated river development application of techniques of integrated river development did not begin until Three lines of thinking and action the 1930's. The Compagnie Nationale play a major part in shaping this du RhOne, and the Tennessee Valley unfolding view of water resources. Authority are among those that pio­ First is the concept of integrated neered with the idea in areas of river basin development. The idea different size. Today, there are numer­ of orderly marshalling of water ous efforts in the same direction. Some, resources of entire river basins for like the Snowy Mountains scheme in multiple purposes· to promote human Australia have major units well welfare has taken hold in many advanced toward completion, others countries, with the Chinese People's like the Tigris-Euphrates projects in

108 WMO Bulletin July 1958

Iraq are in rriid-stream, and still enthusiasm in many regions. The others like the V olta River s cheme are United Nations s urvey of the Mekong in an amorphous planning stage. There is an example. It would be a mistake are indications that such schemes will to regard all proposed water c onstruc­ increase in number over t he years tion projects as necessarily s ound or

Spillway o f t he Genissiat Dam on the Rhone R iver . ( P hoto Karquel, Direction GhuJrale du Tourisme)

immediately ahead in response to timely in aiding under-developed social and economic pressures and countries t o accelerate their rate o f partly because of and partly in spite of economic growth. Some unduly expen­ international political complications. sive projects m ay lack social justifica­ tion. Some heavy capital outlays f or dams a nd canals may be wise at one World economic growth stage of a country's development but A s econd line of thinking relates to unwise at an earlier time. the strategy of water resources r egula­ tion in world economic growth. Rapid Notwithstanding these cautions, it and gigantic growth of the global seems likely that large-scale planning population combined with low levels and construction of water projects of living prevailing over l arge areas will be in order in the decades imme­ foster a lively interest in means by diately a head. The pressure for new which the process of economic develop­ land through irrigation and for new ment with its associated social changes energy sources through hydro-electric may be stimulat ed. River-basin installations w ill be g reat. Even schemes are among the investment accepting optimistic estimates of the possibilities now being canvassed with spread of nuclear power facilities and

109 WMO Bulletin July 1958 of improved farming techniques, many national character of the drainage water programmes will be required. areas it seems likely that international The increasing urbanization of the action will be necessary in several population, which is proceeding faster directions to prevent needless waste, in Asia and Africa than in Europe, delay and friction in the new develop­ is placing heavier demands upon ments. streams for . industrial water and also is loading them with polluting wastes. Needed lines of action In a unique way river-basin develop­ The panel recommended that the ment commands the imaginative inter­ United Nations play a positive role in est of peoples around the world as a helping lay the groundwork for reconcil­ symbol of efficient utilization of water iation of conflicting interests in inter­ and land resources. This seems partic­ national basins. It also saw the need ularly the case in less well developed for increasing the funds, basic studies, areas. The UN panel ventured the and amount of integrated technical suggestion that economically attractive assistance services available to govern­ river development might claim several ments for hydrological work. The hundred billions of dollars in invest­ financing of solid basic surveys and ment in the next forty to fifty years. designs seems especially important Outlays on this scale would not seem and might be aided in part by proposals out of proportion to probable invest­ now before the ECOSOC. All too ment and saving rates. often, works are undertaken without adequate prior surveys. International basins There is persistent need for focusing A third line of thinking has to do the interests of both governments and with the political conditions in which specialized agencies upon methods, river development of that magnitude procedures and standards for studies may take place. It is a striking fact affecting the shape and results of that, as shown in the map opposite, river development. Much more atten­ a large proportion of the world's tion should be directed, for example, rivers are international. Indeed, most to means of evaluating water resources of the great streams such as the - both surface and underground ­ Amazon, Amur, Congo, Ganges-Brah­ and to estimating prospective require­ maputra, and Nile drain more than ments. Obviously, many nations and one country. The total number of several specialized agencies are working international streams exceeds 125. In on aspects of these problems. Thus, place after place the international the Food and Agriculture Organization character of these rivers has been an is sponsoring studies of water use in obstacle to their integrated develop­ agriculture, and the World Health ment. It is easier to obtain agreements Organization has taken an active part as to river navigation rules than as in helping to establish standards of to water allocations and new regulation water quality. A few nations, such schemes. Several .of the international as France and the U.S.S.R., have streams are now the subject of bitter elaborate research facilities in hydrau­ controversy. Others are certain to lics. Certain others are wholly depend­ become involved in disputes unless ent upon research results from the sound measures are taken to substitute outside. In general, the pace and constructive co-operation for tardy interchange of scientific research in the recriminations. Regardless of the inter- water field will have to be stepped up

110

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km' km' 100.000 100.000 DE DE PLUS PLUS DE DE INTERNATIONAUX INTERNATIONAUX FLUVIAUX FLUVIAUX km km sq. sq. BASSIN: BASSIN: 100,000 100,000 OVER OVER OF OF BASINS BASINS RIVER RIVER INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL WMO Bulletin July 1958 if maximum effectiveness is to be It will be impracticable in numerous gained for the huge new programmes. areas to wait for twenty years of records before beginning the design of additional engineering works. A con­ Improving basic sermces m hydrology centrated amount of imaginative analysis may be far more fruitful than The field of hydrology is especially expensive outlays for pedestrian data lacking in concerted attention. Al­ collection. though the meteorological borders of the field are covered by WMO, hydrol­ Some aspects of the hydrological ogy is a kind of no-man's-land into cycle are not well understood. The which many national agencies and a movement of water through unsatu­ few international agencies venture rated formations, for example, requires without any clear definition of respon­ more searching examination,. and this, sibility. It now seems evident that like other aspects of the cycle, is · the several tasks affecting hydrology and object of work by n-umerous scientists hydrological data should be tackled on which is reported from time to time a world scale as a base for much of at sessions of the Association of the future river development. Scientific Hydrology and its member groups. But with the knowledge Hydrological instruments and survey already at hand it is beginning to be methods should be standardized so practicable to" make reasonable esti­ that comparable observations may be mates of some critical . hydrological available on stream discharge, moisture features where long-term records are storage, water quality and similar missing. Thus, river-forecasting meth­ phenomena. This may be urgent in. ods, . which are vital to successful the international basins but is impor­ operation of systems of storage dams tant in all areas. Data publication and navigation control works, are also should be standardized. improving rapidly. One of the limiting considerations in dam and spillway Much more systematic work on design is the frequency or maximum recording of basic measurements should probable volume of flood flows resulting be encouraged. In some major basins from intense rainfall, and this appar­ the observations are pitifully sparse ently may be estimated from upper-air and discontinuous. observations. The amount of water available to run-off in a drainage Not only are international obser­ basin after accounting for evaporation vation networks lacking but there are and transpiration from soil surfaces is only a few instances, such as in· the another critical factor for design of lower Danube, of well articulated river storage works. Here, the water-balance forecasting services. These also should analysis may suggest ways of deter­ be promoted in the international basins. mining volumes of water from temper­ ature and precipitation records without It would be unfortunate, however, requiring long stream discharge meas­ if emphasis in what must be an urements. expanding programme in hydrology were to centre solely upon networks There seems little doubt that these and data collection. Of equal if not and other analytical methods and greater importance is the personnel their associated data must be widely sufficiently trained to make discrimi­ tested, applied and refined if they are nCJ.ting use of the scanty data available. to serve as they should in the design

Ill WMO Bulletin July 1958 and operation of new water-regulation prospect for the spread of such works structures. Some methods and findings to other areas. makes it likely that the have wide applicability in basins in next few decades will see continued dry areas and humid areas alike. In activity in this process of changing other cases it may be . desirable to the time and place of water on the compare results from widely separated land surfaces. Whether those new areas, such as humid, tropical mountain dams and control works are wisely regions, having similar hydrological designed and operated to avoid disaster conditions. In any event, international and to promote social growth · will collaboration on a world-wide scale depend in no small measure upon steps seems in order. which are taken in the years imme­ diately ahead to improve the basic Current investments in new nver serVIces m hydrology. developm~nt prog1:ammes and the GILBERT F. WHITE.

WMO AND HYDROLOGY

N recent years WMO has been the scope of the Convention as it-now I devoting increasing attention to stands. - international work in hydrology, in accordance with the policy laid down Second session of the panel at Second Congress and the programme approved by the Executive Committee The replies of Members were con­ (see Bulletin, Vol. IV, No. 3, p. 99 sidered at the second session of the and Vol. VII, No. I, p. 8) . The object WMO Panel on Water Resource of the present article is to describe Development, held in the Secretariat some of these activities and to review from 24 to 26 March 1958. All the the discussions on this subject at members of the panel were present several recent meetings. except Professor Gilbert White, who had submitted his comments in writing. Members of WMO were requested, In view of the substantial support from in a circular letter from the Secretary­ Members, the panel saw no reason to General in November 1957, to comment revise its earlier proposal. In clari­ on a proposal, arising from the first fication of this proposal, it was stated session of the WMO Panel on \'Vater that in recommending that WMO Resource Development, that the Organi­ should accept responsibilities in hydrol­ zation should accept responsibilities ogy, the panel did not wish to imply in hydrology similar to its present that the Organization should become responsibilities in meteorology. T.he involved in engineering work, such as majority of the Members which replied the design of hydraulic structures, nor supported the proposal, the full imple­ in the broad-scale planning of water mentation of which would probably resource development. ' require an amendment to the \'VMO Convention. Most of the other With regard to amending the WMO Members agreed that WMO should Convention, the panel recommended increase its activities in hydrology, for that, in general, the words meteorology example by setting up a Technica~ and hydrology should be substituted Commission for Hydrology, but they for meteorology wherever this word felt that this should be done within appears in the present Convention.

112 WMO Bulletin July 1958

To enable the Secretariat to handle and hydrological services, and the the increased work-load, the . panel arrangements for the collection and suggested that a hydrological unit storage of hydrological data. Infor­ should be established with a minimum mation is then given about current total staff of six persons, to be recruited problems in respect of hydrological progressively during the third ·financial activities and the conclusion is reached period (rg6o-rg63). It was felt that that much valuable assistance could a IS per cent increase in the WMO be rendered by the United Nations budget, based on the maximum expendi­ and the specialized agencies concerned. ture authorized for the second financial period, would provide a reasonable The present programmes of these sum for all the· new hydrological organizations in the field of water activities. resource development are reviewed in the third of the above-mentioned documents, the main purpose of which 25th session of ECOSOC is to show how carefully the work is co-ordinated by means of regular The future policy of WMO with inter-agency meetings. The report regard to.hydrology was considered at refers to the conclusions reached at the 25th session of the United Nations these meetings that ''one of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) specialized agencies should assume the in April rg58 ; WMO was represented major responsibility for promoting at the session by Messrs. J. W. Osmun, collection of hydrologic data and M. A. Kohler and Louis Harmantas dealing with related problems" and of the United States Weather Bureau. that "the specialized agency best The question arose from the consid­ equipped to do so is the WMO". eration of three of the session documents, namely Integrated river In the resolution adopted on this basin development (Ej 3o66), A pre­ subject at the 25th session of ECOSOC, liminary inquiry on existi11g hydrologic the WMO was invited to take appro­ services (E/ 3070) and International priate action on the reco~mendation co-ordination with respect to water that the functions of WMO should be resource development (Ej307I). The expanded so as to include responsibil­ first of these documents was prepared ities in the field of hydrology. At the by a UN panel of experts under the same time the UN Secretary-General chairmanship of Professor Gilbert was requested to establish, within the White, who contributes an article in UN Secretariat, a centre "to promote the present issue of the Bulletin co-ordinated efforts for the develop­ (see p. ro8). ment of water resources".

The survey of existing hydrological services had been carried out by the Tenth session of Executive Committee UN, in very close collaboration with WMO, in compliance with an earlier This ECOSOC resolution and the ECOSOC resolution. The report high­ report of the WMO Panel on Water lights the wide variety of ways in Resource Development were considered which hydrological services are organ- at the tenth session of the WMO ~ ized in different countries· (details for Executive Committee. There was con­ over So countries are given in an siderable divergence of opinion as to annex to. the document), the form how far WMO should accept respon­ of collaboration between meteorological sibilities in hydrology and it was noted

113 WMO Bulletin July 1958

in this connexion that ·action is being recommendations to Congress con­ taken by the UN Administrative cerning the necessity of amending the Committee on Co-ordination to allocate Convention. The suggested terms of primary responsibilities between the reference fo r the technical commission interested agencies in the field of are as fo llows : hydrology. The majority of the com­ (a) The formulation of observational mittee believed that WMO should requirements for hydrology,_including

Prague, April 1958 : Pro­ fP-ssor V . Bezdicek, Presi­ dent of the Seminar (left) , talking with Dr. F . Curato (Vice-President, ICID) and Mr. 0. M. Ashford, WMO Secretariat

adopt a broad initial approach to this location and distribution of stations, question, bearing in mind that it was times of observation and the units to difficult to. foresee all the possible be used ; future relationships between meteorol­ (b) The formulation of requirements ogy and hydrology. A minority felt for the international routine exchange .. that WMO's hydrological activities and dissemination of hydrological data, should be strictly limited to the forecasts and warnings ; common ground between meteorology (c) The formulation of requirements and hydrology. The committee finally for the arrangement of climatological agreed unanimously to recommend data to meet the needs of hydrology ; that WMO's future policy should be that, in addition to those aspects (d) Studies of methods of hydrological which fall within the common ground forecasting ; of meteorology and hydrology (pre­ (e) The development of international cipitation and evaporation), WMO standards in hydrology. should accept responsibilities in all other aspects of hydrology which involve meteorological considerations. Collaboration with ECAFE It was also generally agreed to support the view that a WMO Technical An example of the way in which Commission for Hydrology should be WMO is collaborating with other established at Third Congress. It was organizations in the fi eld of hydrology further decided not to make any is provided by a report, prepared

114 WMO Bulletin July 1958 jointly by the Secretariats of the international seminar on flood control, Economic Commission for Asia and drainage and irrigation, held in Prague the . Far-East (ECAFE) and WMO, in April 1958. The opening meetings which was submitted to the Regional of this seminar were largely devoted Technical Conference on Water Re­ to the broader aspects of multiple­ source Development, held in Manila in purpose river basin development, with December 1957. The report was en­ lectures by Dr. F. Curato, Vice­ titled M a for deficiencies in hydrologic President of ICID and by Professor data and contained information about V. Bezdicek, President of the Seminar existing and planned networks of Organizing Committee, and to hydrol­ various kinds of hydrological stations ogical questions. The lectures in the in the ECAFE region, from which it latter field included Data collection and was concluded that the number of the work of WMO in hydrology, by stations is far from adequate to meet Mr. 0. M. Ashford of the WMO the expanding needs. Suggestions were Secretariat, Application of basin ac­ made for action to remedy the situation counting techniques to hydrologic fore­ and attention was called to the need casting, by Mr. Max A. Kohler, who for well qualified personnel, both for also attended under WMO auspices, making hydrological observations and and several by Czech hydrologists. for analysing the results of the observ­ The remainder of the seminar was ations. devoted to the technical and engi­ neering aspects of flood control, irriga­ Discussions are now taking place tion and drainage. between the V'lMO and ECAFE Secre­ tariats about further joint proj ~c ts , The participants, who came from including action under the technical about zo different countries, had assistance programme. ample opportunity for discussions with the lecturers, both during the official meetings and in the course of Prague Seminar two study tours which included visits WMO was associated with the Inter­ to many impressive hydro-projects in national Commission on Irrigation and different parts of Czechoslovakia. Drainage (ICID) in participating at an 0. M. A.

FUNDS FOR THE 1959 PROGRAMME

HE Technical Assistance Board country-requests for technical assistance T (TAB), during its 41st meeting in to be rendered in 1959. In suggesting New York in March, approved country its sub-totals WMO was bound to a targets as well as s~tb-totals for the planning share which was only sufficient participating organizations. These to cover about one quarter of the have been submitted, in the meantime, known requirements. However, gov­ to the governments concerned, which ernments are free to modify the are requested to formulate their official suggested sub-totals within certain

115 WMO Bulletin July 1958 limits and may therefore submit from t_he technical assistance pro­ requests for increased technical assist­ gramme, negotiations with the Iranian ance in the field of meteorology if Government are being undertaken for they so wish. the recruitment of such an expert on a reimbursable basis.

VISITS T!J ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA Upon request of the Iranian Meteor­ ological Department, Mr. J. Ska<).r The chief -of the WMO Technical (Norway), the WMO expert in Iraq, Assistance Unit, Dr. H. Sebastian, paid a short visit to Tehran to -advise made brief visits to Pakistan, the on the production of hydrogen from Thailand and Iran to Philippines, aluminium scrap. discuss technical assistance problems, particular those relating to the in Peru 1959 WMO programme. In all these countries discussions were held with On 30 March 1958 Mr. R. J. Grace the directors of the meteorological (U.S.A.) took up an assignment in services and also, where appropriate, Peru in continuation of the mission with government representatives and which was commenced by Dr. W. the resident representatives of the Rudloff (Federal Republic of Germany) TAB. While in Manila he . attended who terminated his appointment in part of the second session of Regional September last year. Mr. · Grace Association V. advises the government mainly on the improvement of weather forecasting On r June 1958 Dr. Sebastian left with particular emphasis on practical for a three weeks' visit to Geneva meteorology. most of the countries in South America to discuss technical assistance questions with the governmental authorities con­ cerned and, in particular, to assist FELLOWSH lP ACTIVITIES them in formulating their requests for Economides (Greece) has technical assistance to be rendered by Mr. M. studying synoptic meteorology WMO under the 1959 programme. been in France since December 1957. He will shortly proceed to Italy for a 1958 PROGRAMME period of study at Rome airport.

Recent developments m the Mr. M. S. al Rifai (Iraq) who was approved programme for 1958 - are trained in radiosonde observations by described in· the following paragraphs. the WMO expert in Iraq, Mr. Skaar, is now receiving advanced training in Iran this field in Norway. Mr. H. D. Hoyle (U.K.) who took A fellowship has been awarded to up his assignment in Iran in late 1957, Mr. K. Gambo (Japan) to study is advising the Iranian Meteorological numerical weather prediction in the Department on climatological proce­ United States. dures and is also training meteorological assistants. Arrangements were made to enable In order to meet the urgent require­ Mr. K. G. Mowla (Pakistan) who was ment for an additional instruments studying under a WMO fellowship expert, who could riot be financed in the British Meteorological Office to

116 WMO Bulletin July 1958 attend, as an observer, the joint In implementation of these recom­ ICAOjWMO telecommunications meet­ mendations WMO received an urgent ing which took place in Geneva in request for the services of a top-level February 1958. His fellowship has expert in meteorology and hydrology been extended for further study in who, during the next few months, Sweden and Norway. would conduct a survey of requirements and advise on the establishment of a Mr. C. J aiyalapho (Thailand) who, suitable network of observing stations. until 31 May 1958, was studying aviation meteorology under an ICAO An expert has been nominated to fellowship, was granted a further award the Government of Haiti to carry out under the WMO Technical Assistance a general survey of meteorological Programme to enable him to continue requirements. States. his studies in the United An aeronautical expert and an agrometeorological expert are being and Mr. R. H. Mr. M. R. C. Akil recruited for assignments in Uruguay. Shami, from the Syrian part of the United Arab Republic, took up fellow­ An expert has been nominated to ships in the Federal Republic of the Government of Morocco to under­ Germany during May to study the take the training of local meteorological repair and -maintenance of telecom­ personnel. munications equipment.

SPECIAL FUND FOR ECONOMIC NEW PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT

As a result of the discussions which In December 1957 the General Mr. M. F. Taha, director-general of Assembly of the United Nations decided the Meteorological Service of the United to establish a Special Fund to render Arab Republic, had with government technical assistance for economic devel­ authorities during his visit to Saudi opment of a different character from Arabia, the government has lodged an that now rendered under the Expanded urgent request for a high level meteor­ Programme of Technical Assistance. ological expert to advise on the Proposals for the application and establishment of a modern meteoro­ administration of this new fund were logical service. worked out by a preparatory· com­ mittee, composed of representatives of Upon request of the Governments of 16 governments, which met in New Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet­ York in March and April this year. Nam, a study group under the chair­ WMO was represented at part of manship of General Wheeler made this session by the chief of the Technical recommendations concerning the devel­ Assistance Unit. The Executive Com­ opment of the Lower Mekong River mittee of WMO at its tenth session Basin in South-East Asia. One of the considered the role which WMO could findings of General Wheeler's report play in rendering assistance under was that this vast project of river the new fund, and decided that the development, which would have enor­ Members of WMO should be kept mous economic consequences, could fully informed of developments by only be undertaken when sufficient circular letter from the WMO Secre­ meteorologic_al and hydrological data tariat. It is hoped that the Special of the area concerned were available. Fund will come into operation in 1959.

117 WMO Bulletin July 1958

METEOROLOGY IN GHANA

HANA became a Member State of of stations, but in the supervision and G the World Meteorological Organ­ publication of reports. The depression ization on 6 June 1957. It is one of of the thirties again caused a set­ the world's newest sovereign states, back. Shortly before the second World achieving independence as a Dominion War, the four British West African within the British Commonwealth on Governments, encouraged and assisted 6 March 1957 and becoming a Member by the British Colonial and Meteoro­ of the United Nations within a few logical Offices and spurred by the hours of its creation. advent of international aviation, set up, on a very modest scale, the British The country lies within the West West African Meteorological Service. African tropics, between 5° an_d n° N Within the Gold Coast, as it then was, and astride the Greenwich meridian. the responsible body was the Air Serv­ It covers. an area rather over go,ooo ices Department with a single meteoro­ sq. miles (about that of the British logical officer and a handful of assist­ Isles) comprising the territories for­ ants responsible not only for the merly known as the Gold Coast provision of weather reports but also Colony and Protectorate and Togoland for aerodrome control. under United Kingdom Trusteeship, and has a population of between four The exigencies of war necessitated and five million. Its principal product a rapid expansion on a temporary is cocoa, of which it produces about basis under the operational control of half of the world's supply, but timber, the United Kingdom Air Ministry. diamonds, gold, manganese and bauxite Space does not permit of a descrip­ also contribute to its economy. tion of the many difficulties in securing men, material and sites and the fine work done under difficult conditions Development of a meteorological servtce during those days. It will suffice to say that, at the end of the war, it The earliest systematic meteorolog­ was necessary to establish the British ical observations commenced in r886 West African Meteorological Service when the government established three on a greatly extended and permanent climatological stations on the coast basis. By this time, a forecast office and entrusted their operation to the and synoptic station were in operation Medical Department. The coverage of at Accra, with ro other synoptic climatological stations increased slowly stations, some zo climatological and until World War I, which caused a 70 rainfall stations. Equipment was temporary halt. Summaries of the limited and heterogeneous, sites and observations were published in official offices makeshift and temporary and journals. senior staff pitifully few in numbers. Shortly after the first World vVar, The principal preoccupations were the Agricultural Department took over aviation meteorology and the struggle responsibility for the operation of the for survival. . climatological stations. Considerable climatological progress was made in The last ten years have seen a the twenties, not only in the number striking change. Between them, the

118 WMO Bulletin July 1958

United Kingdom and the local govern­ climatological stations and the re­ ments have contributed nearly mainder as rainfall stations. A feature £ go,ooo for expenditure on equip­ of note is the existence of a network ment and buildings. Under the able of 30 tank-evaporimeter stations with guidance of Mr. J. R. Clackson, di­ an experimental evaporation station rector of the B ritish West African Me­ at Accra for the intercomparison of teorological Services since rg4g, the evaporimeters. Equipment has been

Meteorological station and office at Navrongo, in the north of Ghana. ( I nfor­ mation Services Department photo)

strenuous effor ts of a few expatriates improved and standardized and suit­ and about a hundred Ghanaians have able arrangements made for main­ led to the e mergence of a small well­ tenance and regular inspection. Even balanced national service, which the majority of the rainfall stations achieved its own independence on have been visited within the last two 6 March rg57 as the Ghana Meteoro­ years. logical Department. Hourly (or even half-hourly, if required by aviation demands) ob­ Present-day networks and programme servations are made a t all synoptic stations. C ommunications permit the The department riow has r4 synoptic passage of hourly reports to the fore­ st ations, five of which m ake pilot­ cast office at Accra during daylight balloon observations, provided with a hours and at least every three hours full range of normal equipment all at night from the majority of the out­ manned by full-time personnel and stations. Eight territorial broadcasts operating 24 hours a day (something are made daily from Accra at intervals of a rarity in Africa), and nearly a ll of three hours. The provision of provided with permanent sites, offices climatological returns and analyses and quarters for the staff. In addition, from the synoptic stations receives there are over 400 other stations, of considerable attention and these sta­ which 20 are classed as agrometeoro­ tions are provided with a small library logical or experimental stations, 45 as for study purposes. They also receive

119 WMO Bulletin July 1958

departmental publications, answer estimation of evaporation. Punched limited climatological inquiries, arrange card analysis is being mtroduced this for the provision of special forecasts year and the greater part of past data for local interests and exercise a certain has been checked and analysed. amount of supervision over climatolog­ ical and rainfall stations in their neighbourhood. The agrometeorological branch was established on a very modest basis Headquarters, the forecast office and three years ago and it clearly has an the Accra experimental stations are important future in a predominantly all locat~d on the international air­ agricultural country. Its principal - port at Accra. The forecast office is tasks so far have been the establish­ mainly concerned with operational ment of suitable stations and liaison forecasting, -chiefly for aviation operat­ with agricultural interests. At present ing locally and internationally over an it issues a weekly review of past area extending to Dakar, Tripoli and weather specially for agricultural of­ Leopoldville. A recent welcome in­ ficers. novation has been the installation of the Decca storm warning radar. The forecast office forms the synoptic An instrument workshop on a small division of the department, being also scale was established three years ago. responsible for a limited amount of It has already proved its value in forecasting research and international overhauling autographic instruments, co-operation in the fields of synoptic pilot-balloon theodolites, etc., which · and aeronautical meteorology. formerly had to be sent overseas for this purpose, and in adapting equip­ ment bought from overseas to suit H eadquar!e'rs branches local conditions.

Headquarters, in addition to the directorate, comprises branches respon­ sible for climatology, agrometeorology Training and manpower and basic organization. Climatological work has expanded greatly during the So much for the material side of past five years, which has been a meteorology, but no account can be period of intensive development in the complete without reference to the country with heavy and continuous problems of manpower and training demands from planners, agricultural­ inherent in the satisfactory building ists, engineers and others. Monthly of a modern meteorological service. weather reports and rainfall bulletins The present department follows the have been published regularly since British practice in having three main 1952, the latter . incorporating both categories of staff ; scientific, experi­ isohyetal and anomaly maps. Annual mental and technical officers. Until summaries for 1951, 1952, 1953 have the last few years, the first two were appeared and will shortly be followed manned by expatriates, mainly British. by those for later years. Seven Both the former colonial government . departmental notes have been publish­ in its later years and the present ed since 1952, including a short government have rightly attached con­ account of the climate (1952), a more siderable emphasis to the manning of detailed account (1957), summaries of departments by nationals of the coun­ past rainfall records and two on the try. The improvement in schools

120 WMO Bulletin July 1958 providing post-matriculation educa­ use of e xisting manpower i s a t l east tion and the founding o f a U niversity as important as the increase in num­ College in Ghana as part of the Uni­ bers r eceiving higher education. One versity of London, w ith, amongst of the directorate's major t asks is to others, degree courses in physics and keep under constant review t he ever­ mathematics, provided sufficient re­ expanding demands for meteorology cruits of the right calibre and qualifica­ and to devise ways and means whereby tions t o fill all but three of the s even- the standards and responsibilities of the technical officers may be raised to meet these demands. Methods suitable in the more highly-developed countries are often unsuitable here and others have to be devised. These re­ quire a willingness to learn and active co-operation from the staff. Fortu­ nately, these t wo q ualities are among the c haracteristics of the Ghanaian and progress is encouraging.

I nternational co-operation

Although only recently a full Mem­ Accra airport : Display unit of t he Decca ber of the World Meteorological Organ­ T ype 41 storm warning radar ization, G hana has already had a little experience in international meteoro­ logy as a partner in the membership teen posts in the scientific and ex­ of the British West African T erritories. perimental officer grades with Ghan­ Its first international meeting, the first aians. In a ddition a generous scholar­ session of t he Working Group on Me­ ship scheme is providing opportunities teorological T elecommunications ( Re­ for the experimental and technical gional Association I), was held in offi cers to obtain the academic c ourses Accra in 1958 and the department's that their advancement demand's. This present director i s c hairman of the scheme has already produced its first Working Group on Agrometeorology experimental officer f rom the ranks of R A I and c hairman of the CIMO of the technical officers a nd its opera­ Working Group on E vaporation Meas­ tions in the years to come s hould urements. Ghana recognizes that its provide the material t o meet the membership o f the World Meteorolog­ expansion which will inevitably occur. ical Organization carries responsibilities Training w ithin the department has as well as privileges. Its situation in received much attention within the the tropics, t he structure of its depart­ last f ew years. Technical . officers ment and the friendliness of its people receive their entire training w ithin the can, and we hope will, provide excellent department, including initial t raining opportunities for collaboration in stud­ and provision of study a nd refresher ies of synoptic techniques and instru­ courses. The senior grades receive mentation, for example, in collabora­ their earlier training partly in Ghana tion with o lder and more highly and partly in Britain. T here is a developed Member States. generally recognized shortage of Ghan­ aians with higher education and wise H. 0. WAL KER .

121 WMO Bulletin July 1958

OBSERVAJIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JET STREAM

J\ T the first session of the Commis­ of weather systems. An extensive f\. sion for Aeronautical Meteorol­ bibliography does, however, include ogy, which was held simultaneously papers concerned with those subjects. with the fourth session of the Meteor­ ology Division of the International Civil The first and second sections deal Aviation Organization (Montreal, June­ with definitions, a short historical July 1954),' a recommendation was resume and with the general charac­ passed that WMO should issue a de­ teristics of the wind and temperature scriptive survey of existing literature fields in the vicinity of the jet stream; on the jet stream. The fifth session of as shown by aerological analyses. the Executive Committee approved In the third section, a discussion this recommendation. of data and analysis problems is fol­ lowed by a general summary of exist­ The former president of the Com­ ing knowledge on the planetary dis­ mission for Aerology, Professor Van J. tribution of jet streams. Easterly jets Mieghem, set up a working group up to around roo knots are found in. composed of R. Berggren (Sweden), equatorial regions above the 200-mb . W. Gibbs (Australia) and C. W. J. level. Westerly subtropical jet streams Newton (U.S.A., chairman), to prepare are found near 200-mb in both hemi­ the requested survey. Thanks to the spheres, having typical speeds of commendable diligence of the members roo-200 knots near latitudes 30° north of the working group, a completed and south. These show great steadi­ manuscript was submitted to the ness, particularly in winter, and shift second session of CAe which was held poleward and weaken . in summer in Paris in June-July 1957. The com­ (becoming difficult to identify in sum­ mission having recommended early mer in the northern hemisphere). publication of the work, the Secretary­ Near 300-mb between latitudes 40° General took the necessary steps to and 6o0 are found jet streams associat­ have the survey issued in the WMO ed with the polar-front zone, which Technical Note series, and this has now are highly variable in position and been done. do not appear clearly on mean charts. The following abstract of the survey, Strongest winter mean winds, in the prepared by Professor C. W. Newton, northern hemisphere, are found where is published in French, Russian and troughs in middle-latitude westerlies Spanish at the beginning of the dip into latitudes of the subtropical Technical N ate. jet stream, these locations being near the east coasts of Asia and North Abstract America, and over the Middle East. Stratospheric jets, with strongest speeds This report attempts to summarize at 30 km or higher levels, are found in the principal known characteristics of subpolar regions, and vary from strong the jet stream insofar as they are re­ westerlies in winter to moderate east­ vealed by direct observations and erlies in summer. aerological analysis. No attempt is made to discuss theories of jet stream The fourth section summarizes the formation, or hypotheses relating fea­ relation of jet streams to synoptic tures of the jet stream to development systems. Subtropical jets, in latitudes

122 ...... WMO Bulletin July 1958 of the subtropical highs, are not related which tends to lie in the region of a to frontal systems. Middle-latitude break between tropopause systems. · frontal cyclones are ' related to polar­ Statistical studies indic·ate that on the front jets in a general way, and waves average vertical shear in middle lati­ and longitudinal variations in speed tudes tends to vary little with height are found on the jet stream, which are and that on the average the wind speed crudely related to migratory surface drops to about half the maximum systems. The polar-front jet, however, value, at levels 5 km above and below is often characterized by breaks and the level of maximum wind. Through on occasions its relation to surface· distinct fronts, the vertical shear is fronts is quite complex. Pronounced often rs to zo mjsec per kilometre. In fronts extending all the way to tropo­ the subtropical jet stream, strong winds pause level always have associated jet may be confined in a shallow layer streams (tending to lie above the soo­ roo mb above and below maximum mb location of the polar front), but wind level. Problems of wind measure­ distinctly identifiable fronts are often ment are discussed, and it is concluded absent near jet streams. that very large and irregular fluctua­ tions of wind speed in the vertical are : The fifth section summarizes know­ often fictitious. ledge on the horizontal variation of wind. Aerological analyses and some The seventh section summarizes aircraft measurements verify that on knowledge on clear-air turbulence. the anticyclonic side of the jet stream Such turbulence is observed almost the horizontal shear is limited by the entirely on the cyclonic flank of the condition that absolute vorticity does jet stream and is commonly observed not go below zero. For a straight with pronounced vertical stability. current in middle latitudes, this means There are indications that turbulence the anticyclonic shear does not exceed intensity in a given situation varies but frequently approaches a value with direction of flight of an ajrcraft. around ro mjsec in roo km, correspond­ The eighth section discusses . some ing to the value of the Coriolis para­ characteristic types of middle- and meter. On the cyclonic side, shears of high-level clouds typical of the jet two or three times this value are stream. Results of statistical studies common, and shears up to five or six of cloud types, relative to various times as great have been observed on locations around the jet stream, are occasion. Evidence for marked small­ discussed. scale variations. based on aircraft reconnaissance, is considered weak; In the ninth section, a brief summary deviations from a smooth velocity pro­ is given of the practical methods of file appear to be at most about ro aerial navigation taking advantage of knots. Multiple jet streams, each the jet stream. Effective use of wind having characteristic widths of soo km forecasts has been made, particularly or so, may however be found in close by aircraft employing in-flight temper­ proximity to each other. ature observing techniques, in regions where jet streams are generally asso­ In the sixth section, the variation ciated with polar fronts. of wind in the vertical is discussed. On the average, strongest winds tend A bibliography of several hundred to be found about r km below tropo­ papers, dealing directly or indirectly pause level ; this relation is not clear with the jet stream, is included at very near the axis of the jet stream the end of the report.

123 WMO Bulletin July ' 1958

NEW BUILDING FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE DEUTSCH ER WETTERDI ENST .

. HE formal opening. of the new public meteorological service. In the T building of the Central Office of following decade the other Liinder the Deutscher W etterdienst, at Offen­ built up similar services which, in 1934, bach-am-Main, took place on 21 April were combined in the Reichs w etter~ 1958. Representatives of the authori­ dienst, the headquarters of which were ties, of scientific institutions and of in Berlin. After 1945, the four occu­ technical organizations were welcomed pation powers established independent by Dr. G . . Bell, President of the meteorological services within their Deutscher W etterdienst. The Federal occupation zones. With the inte­ Minister of Transport, Dr. Ing. Hans­ gration of the three occupation zones Christoph Seebohm, outlined in his in the Federal Republic of Germany,

Model of the headquarters buildings ( Deutscher W etter­ dienst photo graph)

address at the ceremony the historical efforts were made to unite the zonal development of the public meteoro­ services under federal authority. These logical service in Germany and then endeavours resulted in the foundation, formally handed over the building to in 1952, of the Deutscher Wetterdienst, the President of .the Deutscher Wetter­ the different divisions of the Central dienst. The Secretary-General of WMO, Office of which were lodged separately Mr. D. A. Davies, who also participated at Frankfurt-am-Main and at Bad in the opening ceremony, expressed the Kissingen for five years. Now, with congratulations of the Organization the construction of the new head­ and spoke of the co-operation between quarters, it has been possible to house the Deutscher Wetterdienst and WMO. them under one roof, together with the Regional Weather Office (Wetteramt) In his historical review the Minister of Frankfurt-am-Main ; . the number mentioned that Prussia was the first of officials working in the different German Land to possess, in 1847, a sections amounts to about 400. The

124 WMO Bulletin July 1958 various sections of the General Division Central Office is situated in about deal with the following items : edu­ I5,700 square metres of park land; cation, public information, personnel, 3A55 square metres of which are juridical affairs, budget, aeronautical occupied by the main building and the meteorological service, instruments, two side-wings. These two side-wings aerology, monitoring of radioactivity, join the main building, which lies library and publications, . and inter­ north-south, near its main entrance. national affairs (which includes co­ Above the eastern side-wing, which ordination of all correspondence with lodges the lecture-room and the WMO). reading-room, is a hexagonal, air­ conditioned, windowless construction The Synoptic, Climatological, Re­ for the library, which, with its Ss,ooo search, Agrometeorological and Tele­ volumes, may certainly be considered communications Divisions are respon­ to be one of the largest and oldest sible for the relevant aspects of collections of meteorological literature regional, national and international in the world. The Hollerith room, meteorology. · climatological data archives and cafe­ teria are housed in the western side­ It became evident, during the sight­ wing. In the Hollerith room a large seeing tour arranged for the partici­ part of the observational data is pants at the opening ceremony, that continuously entered on punch-cards. the architect in charge had very The archives contain to date about successfully combined convenience and r6 million punch-cards. fine proportions in the building. The H.P.

SECOND SESSION OF REGIONAL ASSOCIATION V

H E second session of Regional stressed the difficulties of the problems T Association V (South-West Pa­ that were facing the Region, owing to cific) opened in the Rizal Hall of the the fact that the greater part of it is University of the Philippines at Manila, oceanic. He emphasized the impor­ on 7 April rg58, under the presidency tance of the problems facing meteoro­ of Dr. Casimiro del Rosario, director of logy as a result of curre·nt developments the Philippines Weather Service. in aviation.

Mr. F. Serrano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, officially opened the session Organization of the sesswn and, in his address, emphasized the importance of meteorology for eco­ The ten Members of the regional nomic development, stressing, in association were represented at the particular, its functions with respect session and observers were present to agriculture. from two WMO Members belonging to other Regions and from five other Dr. M. A. F. Barnett, Vice-President international organizations. A total of WMO, thanked the Philippines of 34 delegates and observers attended Government for its hospitality and the the session. The WMO Secretariat was arrangements made to hold the session represented by Mr. N. L. Veranneman, and to facilitate its work. He then chief of the Operations Section. The

125 WMO Bulletin July 1958 local secretariat was directed by for weather observation and all Mem­ Mr. C. C. Reyes. bers were urged to initiate or continue efforts for the installation of such Two working committees were estab­ equipment. Similar interest was shown lished : one under the chairmanship of in the developing network of automatic Mr. A. W. Johnson (United States) for weather stations and in the network questions relating to observational for the observation of atmospherics. networks, instruments, maritime The situation with regard to meteoro­ meteorology, aeronautical meteorology, . logical observations from merchant climatology and technical assistance ; ships was examined and it was noted the other, under the chairmanship of that the scheme was in general working Mr. W. A. Dwyer (Australia), respon­ sa,tisfactorily, except in the areas east sible for problems relating to code and south-east of the Hawaiian Islands, matters and to meteorological tele­ and south and east of the Philippines, communications. from which very few ship reports were being received. It was agreed that all Members should concentrate on Observing networks impr ~lVing the situation in these areas.

The association was unammous m Major attention was paid to the considering that the improvement of question of meteorological reports made the synoptic networks was one of the by aircraft in flight. The importance most important problems requiring of these observations, as a comple­ attention in the Region. In establishing mentary means of obtaining infor­ the plan of the basic network, the mation on the upper air, particularly association was well aware of the for the higher levels of the atmosphere. difficulties of establishing the necessary is no doubt increasing. For the facilities to meet new requirements guidance of ICAO the association and agreed that stations included in decided, following the example of the basic network should be limited what had already been done in Regional to those required for rendering partic­ Association Ill, to establish the ular services and for which implement­ meteorological requirements in regard ation is reasonably practicable. With to this type of observation. With a particular reference to the requirements view to assembling the necessary of the International Civil Aviation factual information, it was also agreed Organization (I<~ AO), the network was to collect statistics on the number of designed to provide the synoptic data aircraft reports received. and information considered necessary to furnish the standard meteorological services for existing and planned Code matters operations. Due account was taken of the fact that recent experience has The session reviewed completely the shown that within tropical regions Regional coding practices, taking into greater priority should be given to account the requirements of the second radio- and radar-wind observations session of the Commission for Synoptic than to· radiosonde observations. The Meteorology. In considering this sub­ necessity for all Members of the Region ject, major attention was paid to the to adhere strictly to the standard requirements of the main analysis times of observations was also empha­ centres of the Region for the prompt sized. Particular interest was taken reception of the upper-air reports in the increased use of ground radar needed by them for the preparation

126 WMO Bulletin July 1958 of the upper-air analyses for which was urged, as the only satisfactory they are responsible. means of transmitting upper-air analyses. Transmissions Finally it was decided to re-establish the Regional Working Group on In ~xaminin,g the meteorological Meteorological Telecommunications, in in the telecommunication problems view of the constructive work that the reviewed com­ Region, the association previous group had been able to carry for the pletely the existing plan out and of the problems that still observa­ exchange of meteorological remain to be solved. tions within the Region. It re-affirmed its policy supporting the use of the of trans­ radio-teletypewriter form Maritime meteorology missi\)n for territorial and sub-conti­ nental broadcast messages and sup­ While considering that the existing Morse pressing the use' of manual plan for the collection of ships' observa­ It also operated telegraphic facilities. tions within the Region is satis­ decision that confirmed its earlier factory, it was noted that on occasions continental the establishment of a ships encountered difficulties in con­ egional Asso­ broadcast centre in R tacting a shore station located in the and was ciation V was impracticable collecting area in which they were that the . indeed not required, seeing plying. The session agreed on the system of sub-continental broadcast need for a procedure permitting ships in such a the Region was organized to contact, if necessary, shore stations of manner that a Regional coverage located· in adjacent collecting areas. by inter­ observations was available The broadcasting · scheme of weather broad­ ception of three sub-continental bulletins for shipping in the Region the different casts. The contents of was also examined and it was noted · types of territorial and sub-continental that no complaints had so far been also reviewed, broadcast messages were received from shipping interests regard­ procedures as well as the transmission ing its adequacy. for meteorological broadcasts by radio­ teletypewriter. With regard to the Finally, noting that the Commission exchange of analyses and prognoses, for Maritime Meteorology had empha­ it was noted that the plan established sized the importance of good cloud and by the first session of the association meteor observations on board ship, was very far from being implemented the session strongly supported the and that, in fact, there was not a early preparation, under the aegis of complete coverage in the whole Region WMO, of a simplified version of the for even one upper level. The main Abridged Cloud Atlas for use on ships. reasons for this position were the lack of upper-air observations, chiefly radio­ wind, and the lack of generally accept­ · Aeronautical meteorology able techniques for tropical analysis. It was concluded that the development Aeronautical questions were exam­ of tropical analysis techniques should ined in the light of future turbine­ be undertake·n on an experimental powered aircraft operations, but dis­ basis at a suitable centre in the Region cussions were hampered by the fact and Australia was invited to establish that the session preceded shortly the such a centre. The procurement of radio­ tenth session of the Executive Com­ facsimile equipment by all the Members mittee at which this important problem

127 WMO Bulletin - July 1958

was to be examined in detail. Never­ Members to give priority to the theless, an important step in the right preparation of national atlases. direction was taken in revising comple­ tely the Regional plan for the exchange of upper-air analyses and prognoses. Future programme The problem of training meteorological In establishing its inter-session personnel in high-level forecasting programme the association adopted, techniques led the Region to establish as a general policy, the desirability of a scheme for the ex·change of expe­ concentrating its efforts on a restricted riences amongst services which may number of questions recognized to be ultimately lead to the holding of a of fundamental importance. It was seminar on high-level forecasting tech­ therefore decided that top priority niques. In addition, Australia was should be given between the second invited to expand its existing training and third sessions to .. the imple­ courses . in general meteorology so as mentation of the basic synoptic net­ to cover also high-level forecasting. works, the conversion of territorial and sub-continental broadcasts to radio-teletypewriter form of trans­ Climatology mission and to the tasks given to the three Regional working groups, set up It was concluded that it was too to deal with telecommunications, codes early to set up a Regional network of and radiation problems. reference climatological stations (see Bulletin, Vol. VI, No. z, · p. 6r), but Members were invited to pursue the Conclusion study of this problem. On the other , , hand, however, a preliminary network At the end of the session, Mr. L. J. of CLIMAT and CLIMAT TEMP Dwyer, director of the Australian stations was established, but a revision ·Meteorological Service, was unani­ of the -CLIMAT TEMP code form mously elected president of the asso­ (FM 75) was asked for, in order to ciation and Mr. J. Giovannelli, director permit the reporting· of mean surface of the Meteorological Service of New pressure, temperature and humidity. Caledonia, was elected vice-president. The delegation of New Caledonia With respect to radiation measure­ then extended an invitation to the ments, it was agreed that, among association to hold its third session in other proposals, urgent action on - Noumea, New Caledonia, subject to standardization of instruments in the this invitation being confirmed by the. Region was necessary, and it was French Government during the Third decided to establish a Regional working Congress of WMO. group for advice on and study of radia­ tion matters. Delegates expressed their apprecia­ tion to Dr.. C. del Rosario for the Finally, in view of the preponderance excellent guidance he had given to the of ocean areas over land areas within Association during his term of office. the Region, the association considered Dr. del Rosa,rio did not stand for that the efforts involved in the prepa­ re-election as an officer· of the asso­ ration of sub-regional and regional ciation in view of his forthcoming climatic atlases might prove to be retirement as director of the Philip­ out of proportion to the benefit to be pines Weather Bureau. derived from them and asked its N. L. V.

128 WMO Bulletin July 1958

AFRICA SOUTH -WEST PACIFIC

H E president of Regional Asso­ H E second session of Regional T ciation I (Africa) submitted to T Association V (South-West Pa­ the Members, for adoption by corre­ cific) was held in Manila (Philippines) spondence, a draft resolution concern­ from 7 to I8 April I958. A report on ing the synoptic network recommended the session will be found on page I25. for Africa. This draft, intended to replace the present resolution 2 (li­ RA I), was prepared as the result of EUROPE a decision of the Executive Committee a result of resolution IJ (li­ I to take inviting the president of RA RA VI), the territorial broad­ modification N the necessary action for casts provided by Austria, Czecho­ I), so as to of resolution 2 (II-RA slovakia and Poland have ceased and the bring it into conformity with have been replaced by a block broad­ Technical provisions of the WMO cast from Poland. Regulations as regards the hours of upper-air observations. This draft also In application of resolutions I6 takes into account an amendment (li-RA VI) and 44 (57-RA VI), the proposed by Portuguese West Africa Federal Republic of Germany has regarding the network of stations announced its intention of ceasing the operated by that Member. Morse broadcasts from Frankfurt (DDF) and Quickborn (DDH) on I December Ig58 and replacing them SOUTH AMERICA by a radio-teletypewriter broadcast from Frankfurt. Preliminary trials are H E president of Regional Asso­ at present being carried out. Similarly, T ciation Ill (South America) has the United Kingdom intends to stop taken the necessary steps for setting its continental · Morse broadcast on up the working groups decided upon I December I959 ; it has already during the second session of the brought into operation the radio­ association. All Members of Regional teletypewriter broadcast designed as a Associations Ill and IV (North and replacement. In accordance with Central America) have been informed resolution 54 (57 RA-VI), this broad­ that a regional training centre for cast now includes a selection of meteorologists is in operation in Buenos European data for the intermediate Aires; this centre can receive both synoptic hours, in addition to those technical assistance fellows and broadcast at the main hours. students sent direct by their govern­ ments. The creation of this centre is The president of Regional Asso­ an event of capital importance for the ciation VI (Europe) is at present progress of meteorology in Latin consulting the Members of the Region American countries. in order to ascertain whether the

129 WMO Bulletin July 1958 discontinuation, proposed by the mation regarding the climatic charts United States, of the NMH broadcast . relating to Europe, prepared or from Washington, containing the published during the last 20 years, so results of observations at ocean sta­ that it can continue with its task. tions, would cause any difficulties for the services concerned. Judging from the replies already received, this action . The RA VI Working Group on does not appear likely to lead to any Hydrology will hold its first session in senous difficulties. Warsaw from I5 to 20 September I958. The agenda and the relevant The RA VI Working Group on explanatory memorandum have al­ Climatic Atlases has asked for infor- ready been distributed.

AERONAUTICAL METEOROLOGY

T has been deci'ded,-after consultation Meteorology, due to open in Warsaw I with the International Civil Aviation on 29 September I958, are now well Organization (ICAO), that the second advanced. session of the Commission for Aero­ nautical Meteorology will take place In conjunction with this meeting, simultaneously with the fifth session and with the meeting of the Working of the MET Division of ICAO, begin­ Group on Hydrology of RA VI, which ning on I September I959· Consul­ precedes it (see above) the Polish tations are taking place between the Meteorological Service is arranging two organizations with a view to excursions to representative hydro­ drawing up the agenda for this session. meteorological and agrometeorological stations. Following the comments received on the subject of a draft supplement to the WMO Technical Regulations and BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS to the PANS/ MET of ICAO, relating EMBERS on the Com­ to the provision of upper-wind data represen~ed mission for Bibliography and for preliminary operational planning, M Publications have now adopted by the Air Navigation Commission of postal ballot the resolutions and recom­ ICAO has proposed, in agreement with mendations adopted provisionally at the president of CAeM, that this the second session of CBP, held in question should be referred to the Paris from 5 to 22 November, 1957 simultaneous CAeM-Ilj MET V session. (see Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. I, p. I8) . The elections of Dr. A. Vandenplas AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY (B elgium) as president of the commis­ sion, and Mr. D. ]. Bouman (Nether­ REPARATIONS for the second session lands) as vice-president, were un.anl­ P of the Commission for Agricultural mously approved.

130 ·WMO Bulletin July 1958

Action taken by the tenth session Certain Members have been invited of the Executive Committee on some to participate in a comparison of of the resolutions and recommendations visibility recording instruments plan­ is mentioned on page 102 of the present ned to be held at Frankfurt-am-Main issue of the Bulletin. (Rhein/Main Airport) from November 1958 onwards. Arising from a recommendation of CLIMATOLOGY the Fourth International Congress of Plant Protection (see Bulletin, Vol. VII, brief progress report has been No. I, p. 14), action is being taken issued by the president of the A by the president of CIMO for the Commission for Climatology, sum­ formation of a twelfth CIMO working marizing recent activities and decisions group, to study instrumental and of the tenth session of the Executive visual observing of . the duration of Committee which concern the com­ wetness of plant foliage. mtsswn. Correspondence between the indi­ vidual experts concerned has led to responsibility The question of the progress in settling the specifications regarding the for giving guidance for the international reference precipi­ of surface publication of daily values tation gauge recommended at the (as distinct and upper-air observations second session of CIMO (see Bulletin, means, frequencies, etc.), from monthly Vol. VI, No. 4, P• 147). Full infor­ Executive Com­ was examined by the mation concerning this will shortly that CCl should mittee, which decided be distributed to Members. be responsible for considering problems relating to the publishing and preserv­ ing of daily synoptic · data, it being understood that this commission should MARITIME METEOROLOGY consult with the Commission for HE Executive Committee examined Synoptic Meteorology on the best T the report prepared by the manner of publishing and preserving Secretary-General containing the result such data for the purposes of synoptic of his inquiry concerning tidal waves meteorology. (see Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 88). It was agreed that WMO should initiate an international programme in INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF for the study of tidal waves but, of this OBSERVATION view of the regional nature phenomenon, it was further agreed ROBLEMS concerned with the meas­ that the programme could best be P urement of evaporation are being conducted by the regional associations. studied by the working 'group set up at the second session of the Commission The Executive Committee expressed for Instruments and Methods of Obser­ its appreciation of the work carried out vation under the chairmanship of· by the Working Group on the Beaufort Mr. H. 0. Walker (Ghana Meteoro­ Scale in the short period since the logical Service). · The group would last session of the committee and it welcome suggestions from Members was decided to re-establish the working and any information concerning publi­ group with a view to obtaining its cations or articles relating to the final report in time for consideration problems under consideration. by Third Congress.

131 / WMO Bulletin July 1958 .

On account of the new developments SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY which have taken place in Region V HE report of the president of the (South-West Pacific), the revised pro­ T Commission for Synoptic Meteoro­ cedure for governing the transmission logy containing the resolutions and of ships' reports to coastal · stations, recommendations of the second session which had been presented to the of the commission was examined by Executive, Committee by the president the Executive Committee at its tenth of the Commission for Maritime session (see page 102) . The Executive Meteorology as a result of an earlier Committee decided to note the d 3cision of the Executive Committee, 13 resolutions and approved most of was referred back to him for submission the 89 recommendations and adopted to his commission and for the prepa­ the necessary measures for their imple­ ration of a report for Third Congress. mentation. ·-

FAO preliminary consultation on the WMO in connexion with meteorological A establishment of an African service for future high-altitude flights Regional Office of the Food and by turbine-powered aircraft was indi­ Agriculture Organization was held in cated by the presence of Mr. W. Accra, Ghana, from z8 April to 2 May Binaghi, President of the ICAO Council, 1958. WMO was represented by at the tenth session of the Executive Mr.· H. 0 . Walker, director, and by Committee. Mr. Binaghi was accom­ Mr. A. L. Djabatey, both of the Ghana panied by Dr. J. H. Heierman, chief Meteorologic.al Service. of the MET Division of the ICAO Secretariat. The Executive Committee The meeting reviewed FAO's past spent a considerable time examining activities in Africa and agreed that the report of the panel of · experts these should be expanded, a develop­ which had been instructed by the ment which 1s likely to lead to greater ninth session of the Executive Com­ interest in agricultural meteorology mittee to report, under the direction in RA I. The meeting discussed the of Mr. de Azcarraga, on the developments possibilities of FAO Regional Offices necessary and on suitable action in the in Africa and suggestions were made field of meteorology in connexion for an office in Africa north of the with the introduction of commercial Sahara (in addition to the Near East turbine-po.;,ered aircraft (for detailS Office in Cairo), and for two offices of this question, see page 104). south of the Sahara.

The Executive Committee then ICAO studied a co-ordinated plan of action, HE importance. attached by the for WMO and ICAO, designed to assist T International Civil Aviation Or­ meteorological services in filling the ganization to close collaboration with gaps in the basic installations and

132 ' WMO Bulletin July 1958 services. · The aim of this study was Consultative Committee for Telegra­ mainly to provide the Secretary­ phy and Telephony (CCITT) of the In­ General of WMO with the directives ternational Telecommunication Union necessary for the continuation of his held its third meeting in Rome from negotiations with ICAO regarding the g to rg April rgs8. The main tasks form to be taken by the co-ordinated of the meeting were : to bring up to action between the two organizations. date the interconnexion plan that was It was decided, in particular, that in prepared for the period 1954-58 ; to the case of WMO the new factfinding ascertain the anticipated requirements and implementation unit established of the various services such as meteoro­ within the Secretariat from r July logy, aviation, broadcasting etc., for rg58, by decision of the ninth session international telegraph and telephone of the Executive Committee, would channels; and to develop, taking into have an important role to play in the account the requirements, the general question of basic synoptic networks. plan for interconnexion in Europe, It should be noted that the work of the Mediterranean basin, the Middle the panel of experts mentioned above East and South Asia for the period falls directly within this co-ordinated 1959-62. WMO was represented at plan of action. this meeting by Mr. V. Sundaram, telecommunication expert in - the Secretariat. Finally, as the' result of two recom­ mendations - one passed by Regional The Secretariat had ascertained in Association III and the other by advance from the Members in the Regional Association IV-the Executive areas concerned their anticl.pated Committee once again looked into the requirements for high speed or exclusive problem of in-flight weather reports. telegraph and telephone channels for It was noted that these two asso­ the period 1959-62. These were pre­ ciations had taken the initiative of sented to the meeting, and have been establishing for the guidance of ICAO included in the final interconnexion the precise requirements of meteorology plan developed by the meeting. The in their respective regions, as regC~;rds advantage of this is that when the this type of observation. The ICAO meteorological services · require the representative informed the Executive telecommunication channels, it will Committee that his organization was greatly facilitate their obtaining them in favour of this action, provided without any delay. that the establishment of the regional supplementary procedures themselves remained in the hands of ICAO. It It was recognized that, so far as was in this spirit that the two asso­ Europe was concerned, the require­ ciations had established their require­ ments for telecommunication channels ments and that the Executive Com­ for the exchange of meteorological mittee had approved their action. information might undergo changes resulting from the decisions of the joint ICAOj WMO European telecom­ munications meeting held in February/ ITU (CCITT) March rgs8. The meeting was an HE Study . Group for the Develop­ informed of this possibility and T ment of the General Intercon­ appropriate note has been included in nexiOn Plan of the International the relevant parts of the plan.

133 WMO Bulletin July 1958

PRESENTATION OF THE SECOND IMO the WMO Secretariat in Geneva. PRIZE After expressing appreciation of the team spirit which had animated Pro­ HE second International Meteoro­ fessor Rossby, Mr. Viaut continued: logical Organization Prize, which T "If, for his collaborators, he was what the Executive Committee awarded posthumously to Professor Carl Gustav Rossby, former director of the Inter­ national Meteorological Institute in Stockholm, was presented to Mrs. Har­ riet Rossby on 15 April 1958, in Stockholm. Mr. Andre Viaut, President of WMO, made the award during a ceremony which took place in the assembly hall of Stockholm University. Among the officials who were present with Mrs. Harriet Rossby and Pro­ fessor Rossby's family were Mr. Rickard Sandler, former Provincial Governor and President of the Administrative Council of the International Meteoro­ logical Institute, Professor H. Cramer, Rector of the Free University . of Stockholm, representatives of the Swedish Government and of other governments, Dr. A. Nyberg, president of RA VI and director of the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Insti-· Mrs. Harriet Rossby, widow of Professor tute, and Dr. B. Bolin, acting director C. G. Rossby, receiving the IMO Prize from of the International Mr. A. Viaut, President of WMO. (Svenskt Meteorological P ressphoto, Stockholm) Institute in Stockholm.

In his tribute to Professor Rossby, Mr. Viaut mentioned his two main we in France call - somewhat famili- . active interests : scientific research on arly perhaps, but with affectionate the most varied subjects connected respect - a patron, for his students he with meteorology, and the training of was in every sense of the term a young meteorologists. Mr. Viaut out­ maitre. Whether working in his native lined Professor Rossby's career, both country or his adopted country, in Sweden and the United States, and whether teaching or carrying out recalled that one of the last things research, he was always contributing which he had done had been to visit to the progress of meteorology."

134 WMO Bulletin July 1958

Other tributes were paid to Pro- munication centre there important fessor Rossby, particularly by additional responsibilities which in Mr. Rickard Sandler. turn required the installation of addi­ tional equipment. The new Potsdam main weather office was just then On behalf of all readers of the under construction and fortunately it Bulletin, we wish to be associated with was possible to revise the plans for the homage paid to the memory of the telecommunication centre so as to Professor Rossby. incorporate the new requirements. The centre was completed on I November 1957· NEW METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATION CENTRE All radio and teleprinter working I\ T the second session of Regional is centralized in this new telecom­ .I"\. Association VI it was decided munication centre. There are the that the two separate meteorological duplex teleprinter links with Moscow,

Potsdam telecommunica­ tion centre showing \'lj T reception cubicles (Photo Zentral Bild)

teleprinter networks in the western \Varsaw, Frankfurt-am-Main and two and the central and eastern parts of links with Prague. An extensive Europe should be interconnected and antenna system has been installed the interested countries were invited permitting the choice of suitable -to study the matter. As a result of antennae for long or short wave and these studies the two teleprinter net­ directional reception. Provision is works were interconnected in the first also included for facsimile transmis­ quarter of 1957 by the establishment sions. A well-equipped and modern of two duplex links, one between repair and maintenance shop capable Frankfurt-am-Main and Prague and of servicing both teleprinter and radio the second between Frankfurt-am­ equipment forms a very useful part Main and Potsdam. of the centre.

The interconnexion via Potsdam The new telecommunication centre threw on the meteorological telecom- works on a 24-hour schedule and

135 'I

WMO Bulletin July 1958

handles a daily average of 300,000 A and B) for approximately US $8.oo groups on its teleprinter links and by writing to the United States about 13,000 groups by radio. Weather Bureau, Washington 25, D.C.

AVAILABILITY OF 5-DAY MEAN MAPS NEW FRENCH OCEAN WEATHER SHIPS FOR A I ·O-YEAR PERIOD T was decided at the end of 1956 HE United States Weather Bureau I that, in view of their age, the T announces . the availability on French ships forming part of the microfilm of the results of an extensive North Atlantic ocean weather ship historical map project carried out in network since 1948 would be replaced its Extended Forecast Section. These by more suitable vessels. are five-day mean 700-mb charts which have been constructed twice a week The first of these new ships, France I, for the ten-year period from June 1945 was successfully launched on 3 May to May I955 on maps covering most 1958 from the shipyard at Graville, of the northern hemisphere north of is degrees latitude. Superimposed on the contours are broken lines showing the departures from monthly normal of 700-mb height, where the normal was obtained from the series of charts published by the Weather Bureau in 1952 *. Individual values of dep~rture from normal are plotted at intersections ·of latitude and longi­ tude. The basic data for the charts were read at these grid points from contours on hemispheric twice-daily synoptic charts at the 700-mb )evel. Contours were drawn at zoo-foot intervals and departures from normal at Ioo-foot · Launching of t he F rench ocean weather ship, intervals.· In addition, trough. lines, F rance I centres of high and low height, and centres of high and low departure are near Le Havre. The second, France If, indicated on the maps. will be launched on 14 September this year, from the same shipyard. The area covered by these charts was less than a full hemisphere from 1945 Each of .these ships is driven by to 1948, the omitted area being mainly two electric motors of 1050 continental· Asia and the western Pacific. horsepower. They are 76.1 m (about 250 ft) in length and 12.55 m (about The series contains a total of 40 ft) in width and will attain a speed 1040 maps. The complete set may be of :14 knots when laden. They were obtained on microfilm (z reels, MF zoz6 designed to ensure the greatest possible · economy in operation, to facilitate the work of meteorologists as mu~h as possible- particularly in carrying out * U.S. \"'eather Bureau, Normal Weather Charts for the Northern H emisphere, Technical all types of observations - and to Paper No. 21, Oct. 1952, 74 pp. improve the comfort of the personnel,

136 -WMO Bulletin July 1958 whose task l.s often rendered arduous The full set of stamps may also by heavy weather. be bought for philatelic purposes from

They are equipped with modern electronic instruments for both navi­ gation and meteorological work and will come into service, if there are no unforeseen hitches, at the end of January and the end of May 1959, respectively.

WMO EXHIBIT AND STAMP AT BRUSSELS WMO stamp issued by the Belgian FAIR postal authorities ISITORS to the Brussels Interna­ V tional Exhibition, which is to the UN Postal Administration at UN last until October 1958, will find an Headquarters in New York.

Brussels Exhibition : part of the WMO exhibit in the UN pavilion (United Na- tions photograph) exhibit about WMO and its work in PROCEEDI NGS OF THE IR AQI SCIENTIFIC the United Nations Pavilion. A brief SOCIETIES description of the exhibit was given E are pleased to acknowledge in the last issue of the Bulletin W the receipt of the first volume (Vol. VII, No. 2, p. go) . . (1957) of the Proceedings of the Iraqi Scientific Societies which "is a medium A new Belgian postage stamp for the publication of original con­ honouring ~T MO was issued as part of tributions in the fields of mathematics, a set of sixteen stamps for the United physics, geophysics, engineering, chem­ Nations and specialized agencies, ten istry, zoology and botany". for surface mail and six for airmail. These stamps are valid for postage One of the purposes behind the pub­ only for mail posted at the UN Pavilion lication of the proceedings is to con­ at the Fair. tribute to international co-operation

137 WMO Bulletin , July 1958 between scientists and to provide a Professor Abdullah is the e ditor-in­ means for discussion and exchange of chief of the Proceedings; he is assisted information. For this · reason, con­ by an editorial committee composed tributions are accepted in English, of six Iraqi scientists, and an inter­ French and German. In each case, national advisory board consisting of however, a short abstract both in several eminent personalities in the Arabic and English appears at the various fields, including Professor beginning of the contribution. B. Haurwitz of New York University.

The pr.esent volume contains seven It is with pleasure that we con­ articles, relating to va-rious branches gratulate a ll those responsible for of the sciences, of which six are in this useful publication and wish English and one in German. Meteoro­ them every success in their endeavour. logy is represented b y a n article on The rate of transmission of mechanical Applications for subscription to the energy by the waves of the westerlies, Proceedings should be sent to Dr. Abdul contributed by Professor A. J. Abdul­ K. Khudairi, College of Sciences, lah, who has to his c redit several Adhamia, Iraq. The annual sub­ important contributions in dynamic scription fee is one Iraqi dinar ( = £ I meteorology. sterling) or US $ 3.00.

MEM BER SH I P 0 F W M0

United Arab R epublic World Meteorological Convention with the Department of State at Washing­ H E Government of the United ton, under the provisions of Article T. Arab Republic notified the Sec­ 3 (b) of the Convention. Malaya thus retary - General _ by a memorandum became a Member State of WMO on dated 24 March 1958, of the establish­ r8 June 1958. ment of the United Arab Republic. It further d eclared that the Union will henceforth be a s ingle Member of Singapore and British Territories the United Nations and of the various eo specialized agencies, bound by the in Born provisions of the Charter of the United N view of the accession of the Nations and the various constitutions Federation of Malaya as a Member of the specialized agencies. The list I tate of the Convention of WMO, the of the Members of the Organization S e to be used in respect of the was modified accordingly. titl Territories of Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei, which remain grouped as a s ingle Member T erritory Federation of Malaya of WMO, will be "Singapore and the British Territories in Borneo". HE Government of the Federation T of Malaya deposited on 19 May WMO now has 97 Members, 75 States 1958 an instrument of accession to the and 22 Territories.

138 ,.

WMO Bulletin Ju ly 1958

IGY METEOROLOGICA L DATA CENTRE

At the tenth session of the WMO . be made to avoid unnecessary dupli­ Executive Committee, it was decided cation in the important and costly that the IGY Meteorological Data work of processing the IGY meteoro­ Centre (MDC) should be made respon­ logical data. It was decided to request sible for collecting and publishing the the Secretary-General to obtain infor­ International Geophysical Year obser­ mation from Members about their vations of evaporation and evapo­ plans for processing the IGY meteoro­ transpiration and of atmospheric elec­ logical data and to distribute the tricity. Two standard forms have been results of this inquiry to Members. designed for evaporation observations, One important step towards co­ in collaboration with the International ordinating this work is the world Association of Scientific Hydrology. weather charts project, already Specimens of these forms and instruc­ reported in the Bulletin (Vol. VI, No. 4, tions for their completion are contained p. IJJ). A member of the Executive in IGY Meteorological Data Centre Committee brought forward a detailed Report No. IZ : Observations of evapo­ plan for producing a much more ration and evapotranspiration. The comprehensive series of IGY world standard forms for atmospheric elec­ weather charts and aerological cross­ tricity observations are being prepared sections. The principle behind this ·in collaboration with the Joint Com­ proposal was supported and the mittee on Atmospheric Electricity of Working Group on the IGY was the International Union for Geodesy requested to study it in detail. and Geophysics.

Details of the other types of obser­ RECENT WMO PUBLICATIONS vations being handled by the MDC and of the MDC publications, were Annual Report: I957· WMO- No. 6g. given in an earlier issue of the Bulletin RP. z8. Pp. xi + I6z. (Vol. VII, No. I, pp. z-6). MDC Report No. rr : Atmospherics obser­ As in previous years, this publication vations has recently been issued. It combines the annual report which the contains a resume of all the decisions Secretary-General is required to submit relating to the IGY atmospherics to Members of the Organization with programme which had previously been the annual report on the work of promulgated by means of circular WMO as a specialized agency of the letters. United Nations, which is submitted to the United Nations for study by the At its tenth session, the Executive Economic and Social Council. Committee studied a recommendation from the Working Group on the IGY Part I is a general summary of the to the effect that every effort should Organization's activities during the

139 WMO Bulletin July 1958 year and concerns developments in about WMO, and certain principles WMO's programme; relations and governing the award of the IMO Prize co-operative projects with the United are described in Part 4· Nations, with other specialized agencies and with intergovernmental and non­ governmental international organiza­ Part 5, which concerns activities in tions ; action taken on recommenda­ the field of technical assistance during tions of the UN General Assembly and 1957, contains details of the programme Economic and Social Council ; and the implemented; an analysis,. by fields of programme of meetings of WMO activity, of the experts employed and constituent bodies planned for 1958. the fellowships awarded; and an account of the very successful seminar on hydrologic forecasting and the Parts 2 to 7 of the report deal in water balance, which was held in more detail with the work of the Belgrade, under the auspices of the Organization during the year under WMO and the UN Technical Assistance review. The composition of the Organi­ Administration, at the invitation of zation and · its constituent bodies is the Government of the Federal People's dealt with in Part 2. Changes in the Republic of Yugoslavia. political status of the Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia and Ghana resulted in the accession of these countries as Member The past year was one of much States of the Organization ; Chile and activity in the technical field ; a full Albania also became Members during account of the various projects arising 1957, bringing the total Membership from collaboration with other inter­ to 97. There were some changes in the national organizations is given in composition of the Executive Com­ Part 6 of the Report. These projects mittee, and in the officers of the include participation in the UN water regional associations and the technical resource development programme, in. commissions, resulting from elections the arid zone and humid tropics during sessions of these bodies held research programmes of UNESCO, in during the year. the International Geophysical Year, and in various meetings concerned with the peaceful uses of atomic Part 3 reviews questions concerning energy. Other matters of technical the ·Convention and Regulations of the . interest concern the International Cloud Organization. Some proposals for Atlas, for which the demand has amendment to Articles 13 (c), 10 (a) greatly exceeded previous indications (2) and 10 (b) of the Convention have of requirements. Many complimentary been studied by Members and by the letters have been received by the Executive Committee with a view to Secretariat regarding the high technical referring these matters to Third standard of the Atlas and the high Congress. Members were also asked to quality of the printing and binding of give their opinions on the proposed the various volumes. Recommenda­ extension of WMO's responsibilities in tions for specifications ·of require­ hydrology. ments , to be met by national, sub­ regional and regional climatic atlases, prepared by the Working Group on External relations with the host Climatic Atlases, were approved by country and with non-Member coun­ the Executive Committee. The com­ tries, the dissemination of information mittee also considered the possibility

140 WMO Bulletin July 1958 of developing an international warning publications of WMO issued in 1957, service on the formation and movement and a table showing the contributions of tidal waves. receivable from Members.

The second sessions of the Com­ Regional Association III (South missions for Aerology, for Bibliography America) -Abridged final report of and Publications, for Climatology and the second session. WMO -No. 70. for Instruments and Methods of Observ­ RP. 29. Pp. 104. Price : Sw. fr. 5.-. ation were held during 1957, and several new working ·groups were This report, published in English and established to carry out technical Spanish, contains the texts of the studies during the coming four years. 36 resolutions and four recommenda­ Regional Associations I and Ill also tions adopted at the session, together held their second sessions during the with a list of participants, the final year. In addition to the routine agenda, a general summary ofthe work publications containing the reports of of the session and a list of the docu­ such meetings of constituent bodies of ments published before and during the the Organization, two important publi­ session. cations concerning the meteorological programme for the International Geo­ Annexes to this report include the physical Year were issued during the recommended basic synoptic network year. of surface and upper-air observing stations in the Region, and a model standard form for reporting the number The report concludes with a survey of aircraft in-flight reports received in in Part 7 of administrative and financial the region. activities. There were few changes in the staffing of the Secretariat during A general account of the second the year. A revised draft of the session of RA Ill was given in an Internal Staff Rules, bringing the terms earlier issue of the Bulletin (Vol. VII, of service of WMO Secretariat personnel 2, p. 59). closer to those of the UN personnel, No. was adopted by the Executive Com­ mittee for introduction on r January Observational characteristics of the jet 1958. Negotiations were continued stream. Technical Note No. I9. with the Canton of Geneva on the WMO- No. 7!. TP. 27. Pp. ro2. question of the construction of a new Price : Sw. fr. g.-. Secretariat building. This survey of existing literature O!l Annexes to the report include a list the jet stream is available in English, of meetings of international organi­ with summaries in French, Russian zations during 1957 at which WMO and Spanish. An abstract by Professor was represented ; lists of Member C. W. Newton, chairman of the work­ countries, of their permanent repre­ ing group responsible for its prepa­ sentatives, of Members of the regional ration, will be found on p. 122. associations and of the working groups and panels of constituent bodies ; the programme of technical assistance au­ Weather reports : Volume D - I nfor­ thorized for implementation under mation for shipping (Part C - List WMO . during · rg58 ; a list of the of meteorological liaison officers in

141 WMO Bulletin July 1958

ports of the world). WMO- No. 9· International list of selected and 'supple­ TP. 4· Loose-leaf. Price: Sw. fr. 3.-. mentary ships. I958 edition. WMOj OMM - No. 47· TP. 18. Pp. 160. This part of volume D contains lists Price : Sw. fr. ro.-. of port meteorological liaison officers for each Region. Under each Region This is the fourth edition of this the ports are listed according to the bilingual publication, which has now country in which they are situated, in been brought up to date according alphabetical order, and for each port to information, valid on I January the address and telephone number of the 1958, received from the directors of meteorological liaison officer is given. meteorological services concerned.

The Threshold of Space. Edited by M. ZELI­ chemistry are of most direct benefit to spe­ KOFF. London, New York, Paris, Los cialists in these particular fields. On the Angeles (Pergamon Press) 1957· 342 pages; other hand, the third section, dealing with numerous figures and diagrams. Price : rocket probing of the upper atmosphere, £5.5s. contains a series of papers which are extreme­ ly inspiring for everyone interested in the This book contains the papers presented at expld'ration of the atmosphere. It might the Conference on Chemical Aeronomy well be that the techniques of rocket probing sponsored by the Geophysics Research of the ionosphere, or similar techniques, Directorate of the Air Force Cambridge could be extended downwards to those parts Research Center. The m eetings were held in of the stratosphere, i.e. the ozonosphere, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in June 1956 and which meteorologists are showing a brought together scientists in upper atmo­ steadily increasing interest. sphere physics and chemistry with research workers engaged in studies of phenomena The last section of the book contains a produced by hypersonic flight. number of well illustrated, interesting arti­ cles on aerothermod ynamical problems relate d to hypersoni.c flight. It is not the intention here to review in any detail the 45 papers presented to the It should be mentioned that, in a number conference but only to indicate broadly what of cases throughout the first three sections a meteorologist might find of interest in the of the book, the articles are followed b y a book. The papers fall in the following four brief summary of the discussion which took categories : Atmospheric photochemistry place after the presentation of the paper3. (Earth and V en us) ; Spectroscopy and photo­ chemistry ; Rocket probing of the upper atmo­ The editor and the publishers should be sphere and Phenomena produced by hyper­ complimented on the very attractive and sonic flight. From this it will be seen that clear presentation of the material. the conference did not include in its pro­ K. L. gramme a detailed discussion of atmospheric ozone, which would have been of particular interest to meteorologists. Among the Indian journal of lVleteorology and . Geo­ papers presented in the first chapter, how­ physics (Agricultural Nfeteorology Num­ ever, the meteorological reader will find an ber). Volume 8. (India Meteorological De­ interesting work by A. T. Vassy on the for­ partment) December 1957· 181 pages; mation of ozone by electrical discharges in numerous illustrations. Price not stated. the atmosphere. The Silver Jubilee of the Agricultural The other papers in this section and also Meteorology Division of the India Meteoro­ in the section on spectroscopy and photo- logical Department was celebrated by a

142 ..,

WMO Bulletin Ju ly 1958 meeting at Poona on IS December I957 showing the distribution of the following and by the publication of a special issue of quantities : the Indian Journal of Meteorology and (a) Consecutive five-day means of pressure Geophysics which will serve as a permanent at sea level ; record of the occasion. (b) The standard deviation of the five-day ·Interest naturally centres on the con­ means; and tributions of Indian met eorologists, which (c) The change in mean pressure during constitute the major part of the publication. the following five days. The first article appropriately reviews the history of agricultural meteorology in India Each page contains one of each of the with special attention to the work based above maps for a given p entade, so that on Poona, an important feature of 'which the volume contains 73 sets of maps cor­ is experimental research on the micro­ responding to the number of p entades in climate of the layers near the ground. the year. · Other articles deal with the influence of climatic factors on wheat, coconut and The mean values used were computed sugar-cane and with new instruments which from the twenty best years for hemispheric have been developed in India for investiga­ coverage (I907-I9I3 and I925-I933) for the tions in agricultural meteorology. Dr. L. A. belt lying between 30° and 65° N, the Ramdas, the first head of the Agricultural analysis being made from 252 grid points Meteorology Section, contributed a report spaced ten degrees of longitude and fi ve on evaporation control in which he reviews degrees of latitude apart. recent experiments on the use o f m ono­ m olecular films to reduce evaporation from Although ·the compilation of the Atlas open water surfaces. Experiments are b eing was made in connexion with a study of made in India with indigenous oils and singularities in the general circulation which their derivatives. was undertaken b y the a uthors, the maps 'should prove useful for research workers Among the papers from research workers dealing with many different meteorological in other countries may be mentioned two problems, and the volume would be a reports from Israel, dealing with micro­ useful addition t o meteorological libraries. climatological observations in a banana· plantation and with a n ew type of instru­ The. unusual format ' of the publication m ent shelter, a review of work in agri­ (9%, by 24 inches) is compensated by the cultural m eteorclogy in Poland, and an convenience of having on the same page all article by P. M. Austin Bourke of Ireland three maps described above for a given on meteorology and some problems of plant pentade. pathology : M. A. A. This very brief review of the publication will, it is hoped, demonstrate that the con­ tents are of interest to agricultural meteoro­ Solar-terrestrische Beziehungen in NI eteorologie logists all over the world. The high quality und B iologie (Solar-terrestrial relationships of the articles augurs very well for the in meteorology and biology) . By Heljmut future of agricultural m eteorology in India BERG. (Probleme der kosmischen Physik, and we t ake this opportnnity of offering Band XXX) Leipzig (Akademische Ver­ the Agricultural Meteorology Division our lagsgesellschaft, Geest & Portig K-G.) very best wishes for the successful con­ I 957· I72 pages ; 77 illustrations. Price: tinuation of its important work. DM 23.-. 0 . M. A. Professor Hellmut Berg is the well-known author of a number of papers dealing with Atlas of Five-Day Normal Sea-Level P ressure possible relationships between geophysical Charts for the Northern Hemisphere. By factors and phenomena observed in medicine James F. LAHEY, R eid A. BRYSON and and biology. Eberhard W. VI AHL. Madison (University of Wisconsin Press) I958. So pages. The book under review is a praiseworthy I our Price : US S 4.00. attempt to summarize in 72 pages present knowledge of the solar-t errestrial This volume, the imminent publication of relationship in the fields of meteorology a nd which was announced in the January I958 biology and also to undertake a critical issue of the Bulletin (page 43), consists of examination of the numerous papers written three sets of northern h emisphere maps on this subject.

143 WMO Bulletin July 1958

In his foreword the author points out that The book contains a list of 200 papers " it is perhaps surprising that the solar­ referred to in the text and the additional t errestrial relationships in meteorology and indexes by n ame and by subject are also biology are discussed together". but he very convenient for the reader. There seems draws attention to the possible parallels little doubt that this book fills a real gap between m eteorological and biological phe­ in providing a clear and condensed summary nomena and concludes that "it may not be of our knowledge in this field at the beginning absurd to consider that a study of the of 1957. solar-terrestrial relationship in biology might K.L. lead to knowledge which could be of value for our understanding of the solar-terrestrial La practica de la conservaci6n del suelo (Soil relationship in meteorology". conser vation practices) - Madrid (Minis­ terio de Agricultural 1957. 127 p 3.ges; The book is divided into three main 64 figures; 13 tables. Price not stated. chapters, the first of which includes a brief summary of our knowledge of the This manual, written for agriculturalists various solar phenomena, the possible and farmers, is divided into two parts, The effects of which are discussed later on in the first part deals with soil erosion and its book. It also contains the basic principles cqnsequences. The second and larger part on which the examination of the various (two thirds of the volume) contains a clear papers is based. In this connexion it is and practical expose of how to protect the important to note that the author does not soil and increase its fertility by rational share the commonly held opinion that and well planned farming practices. "nothing can be proved by statistics alone". On the contrary, Professor Berg points out The manual is very well illustrated with that by means of statistics one may discover photographs and self-explanatory drawings, significant relationships for which one in which m ake for easy and pleasant reading. turn will have to establish well-founded Throughout the book there are many physicai explanations. references to meteorological factors and phenomena, such as rainfall, wind and In the second chapter the author discusses droughts. Spanish speaking meteorologists in considerable detail the various theories for interested in the application of meteorology solar-terrestrial relationships in meteorology, to agriculture, in particular to soil conser­ starting with the old problem of possible vation problems, will find in this m

144 WMO Bull etin July 1958

Climatology: Reviews of Research. (UNESCO). Majesty's Stationery Office). Price: US S s.oo, 25 shillings, Fr. fr. r,soo. Part I: North America, Greenland and Atlas of soo mb wind characteristics for the the North Pacific Ocean (M. 0 . northern· hemisphere. Madison (University 6r7a). Price: 8 shillings. of Wisconsin Press) . Price: US S 4.00. Part IV: Africa, the Atlantic Ocean Atmospheric Explorations. Edited by H. G. South of 35°N and the Indian HouGHTON (The Technology Press, Massa­ Ocean (M .O. 6r7d}. Price: chusetts Institute of Technology and 20 shillings. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York). Part V: Asia (M.O . 6r7e). Price: rz shil­ Price : US S 6.50. lings. Climatological · Summary : lv!ould Bay, Part VI: Australasia and the South Pa­ N. W .T., Canada and Climatological Sum­ cific Ocean (including the cor- mary: Alert, N.W.T., Canada. Toronto responding sectors of Antarc­ (Department of Transport, Meteorological tica) (M.O. 6r7f). Price: ss. 6d. Division). Tornadoes in England, lV!ay 2I, I950. By The Climate of British Columbia and the H . H. LAMB. (M.O. s84g). Geophysical Yukon Territory. By vV. G. KENDREW Memoirs No. 99. London (Her Majesty's and D . KERR. Ottawa (Queen's Printer). Stationery Office). Price : 7s. 6d. Price : Sr.oo. Schnee und Lawinen in den Schweizeralpen. Tables of temperatttre, relative humidity and Winter I955-r956. Davos-Platz (Buch­ precipitation for the world . London (Her druckerei Davos A.G.). Price : Sw. fr. 7·75 ·

MEMBERS OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION * Afghanistan Finland Norway Albania France Pakistan Argentina French Cameroons Paraguay Australia French Equatorial Africa Peru Austria French Polynesia Philippines Belgian Congo French Somaliland Poland Belgium French Togoland Portugal Bermuda French West Africa Portuguese East Africa Bolivia Gha.na Portuguese West Africa Brazil Greece Romania British Caribbean Guatemala Singapore and British Territories Haiti Territories in Borneo British East African Hong Kong Spain Territories and Indian Hungary Spanish Territories of Ocean Islands Iceland Guinea British West African India Sudan Territories Indonesia Surinam Bulgaria Iraq Sweden Burma Ireland Switzerland Byelorussian S.S.R. Israel Thailand Cambodia Italy Tunisia Canada Japan Turkey Ceylon Jordan Ukrainian S.S.R. Chile Korea Union of South Africa China Laos Union of Soviet Socialist Cuba Lebanon Republics Czechoslovakia Libya United Ar<;~.b Republic Denmark Luxembourg United Kingdom of Grea.t Dominican Republic Madagascar Britain and Northern Ecuador Mexico Ireland E l Salvador Morocco United States of America Ethiopia Netherlands Uruguay Federal Repub. of Germany Netherlands Antilles Venezuela Federation of Malaya Netherlands New Guinea Viet-Nam Federation of Rhodesia New Caledonia Yugoslavia and Nyasaland New Zealand * On r July 1958

145 WMO TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

Recent additions to the WMO series of METEOROlOGICAl Te chnical Notes include : Price : No. 17 Notes on the prob­ INSTRUMENTS lems of cargo ven­ tilation . W . F. McDonald . . Sw. fr. 3.- No. 18 Aviation aspects of mountain waves . M. A. Alaka ... . S w. fr. 7.- No. 19 Opera tional charac­ teristics of the jet stream (Report of a w orki ng group of Etabl. CERF the Commission for A erology) Sw. fr. 9.- 20 , Quai de la Megisserie

Les diagrammes aerologi­ PARIS ques (Report of a (France) working group of the Commission for Aerology) . . . . . Sw. fr. 10 .-

ON SALE FROM WMO AVENUE DE LA PAIX, GENEVA

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS World Meteorological Organization I958 15- 20 September rst session of \ Vorking Group on Hydrology of Regional Asso­ ciation VI, \ Varsaw, Poland 29 September 2nd session of the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology, (approx. 3 weeks) Warsaw, Poland Autumn 2nd session of Regional Association II (Asia) (place and dat e of meeting to be decided later) December 2nd session of Regional Association IV (North and Central America), Havana, Cuba (exact date to be decided later) I959 r-28 April 3rd ·world Meteorological Congress, Geneva, Switzerland Other l nternational O rganizations I958 30 J uly- 9 August sth session of the Special Committee for the IGY (CSAGI), Moscow, U .S.S.R. · 24-29 August International Symposium on Atmospheric Diffusion and Air Pollution, Oxford, England r-13 September 2nd International Conference of the United Nations on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic E nergy, Geneva, Switzerland 7-9 and r6 October qth session of the UNESCO Advisory Committee on Arid Zone Research, Tehran, Iran

146 ORDER FORM To WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Campagne Rigot, Avenue de la Paix GENEVA, Switzerland.

I wish to receive : ...... copies "WMO BULLETIN" for one year (4 issues) . "th th . f . *English Price commencmg WI e Issue or ...... m *French (Annual subscription Swiss francs 4.00) ......

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WMO Bankers - Lloyds Bank (Foreign) Ltd., Geneva and Compte de cheques postaux I. 126 94, Geneva

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Date ...... 1958 ANNOUNCES The new Bellort precision Microbarograph

Featuring

Four times more accuracy

Four t imes more se nsitivity

No liquid damping

Inherently balanced components

A djustable damping

A irtight or Standard instrument case

Operates on land, sea or in t he air.

STANDARD MODEL CAT. # 5-800 Airtight case (not illustrated) is practical, rugged an d less of a showpiece.

OVER 600 INSTRUMENTS ON ORDER FOR MERCHANT MARINE ALONE Originally developed for the U. S. Weather Bureau for use in all U. S. merchant vessels, this instrument so greatly exceeded performance specifications (U.S,W.B. # 450 .7223) that THE INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION discontinued manufacture of t heir standard fl uid dash­ pot Microbarograph entirely in favor of this superior instrument for all applicatio ns. Standard calibration 0.005 in. (0.15 mb)- Dual pressure bellows Fully jewelled and motion-balanced clock - Anti-backlash gears Pen traverse 2.5 in. (65 mm) each 1 in. mercury (34mb) change in pressure. FOUR MODELS AVAILABLE Cat. # 5-BOOM-1 AIRTIGHT CASE - SUPERBALANCED CLOCK (Marine) Cat. # 5-BOOM AIRTIGHT CASE - STANDARD CLOCK (Air conditioned spaces etc.) Cat. # 5-800-1 STANDARD CASE- SUPERBALANCED CLOCK (Portable use) Cat.# 5-800 STANDARD CASE -STANDARD CLOCK (Normal use) Adaptable to installation conditions ranging from considerable motion, vibration and local air pressure build-up (marine) to those of no vibration or false air pressure (weather stations, etc.) EXCLUSIVE EXPORT DISTRIBUTORS

1744 G Street, Northwest Washington 6, D.C. AIR CARRIER SERVICE CORPORATION AIR CAR Cables "Aircar" Telephone EXecutive 3-5350 Offices or representatives in the principal cities of the world MANUFACTURE DE CAOUTCHOUC 7, Rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth - PARIS-3e

Specialises depuis 20 ans dans la fabri­ cation des Salfons Meteorologiques LIVRAISONS DIREOES DANS LE MONDE ENTIER

Specialists in Meteorological Balloons Twenty years experience behind DIREa EXPORT ALL OVER THE WORLD •

SOUNDING AND PILOT BALLOONS TilE FINEST AJTAILABLE

Manufactured by the Guide Bridge Rubber Company ofVulcan Mill, Bury, these are the finest sounding and pilot balloons avail­ . able and are in world-wide use. ·

FOREIGN 5AL£5 Phillips' Patents Limited lSO Western A venue, Acton, London, W3

HOME 5AL£5 Guide Bridge Rubber Co. l.td Vulcan Mill, Butcher Lane, Bury, Lancs.

Fabriques par la Guide Bridge Rub~er Company a Vulcan Mill, Bury,ces ballons sondes et ballons pilotes sont les meilleurs dont on puisse disposer et ils s'emploient dans le monde en tier.

Ventes pou,'Euonge" PHILLIPS' PATENTS LTD • 250 WESTERN AVENUE· ACTON • LONDRES • W3 \'entesenGrondeB

Argentine Servicio Meteoro16gico Nacional, Ministerio De Marina

Austria Zentralanstalt fUr Meteorologie Und Geodynamik

Belgium lnstitut Royal Meteorologique de Belgique

Belgian Congo Service Meteorologique

Canada Meteorological Division, Department of Transport

Egypt Meteorological Department

France Office Meteorologue Nationale

Lebanon Ministere Des Travaux Publics

Mauritius Royal Alfred Observatory

United Kingdom Royal Society International Geophysical Year Expedition, Halley Bay, Antarctica

Meteorological Office, Air Ministry

Venezuela Venezuela Air Force-Ministry of Defence

The Decca W.F.I. is a primary radar windfinding equipment; the set is con­ structed specially for the measurement of winds at high altitudes and meets "the need expressed by met.eorologists for .an accurate, cheap and robust radar which is easy to operate and requires little maintenance. A simple equipment of this type with low day to day operating costs is especially suitable for the establishment of upper wind networks. Full details of the equipment will be supplied on request.

DECCA RADAR DECCA RADAR LIMITED, LONDON, ENGLAND ~ DRS~ UMBBAWIN CORNER REFLECTORS FOR RADAR ·WIND-FINDING

Incomparably the best First choice when highest performance standards required UMBRAWIN Reflectors comprise 86.3% of all corner reflecto·rs suppl ied to the British Meteorological Office

For full ·details write : CHEMRING LIMITED Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey Phone THOrnton Heath 8272 Cable Rawin, Croydon CONTRACTORS TO METEOROLOGICAL AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD For Your Upper Air Sounding

USE TH E NEW POWERFUL HYDROGEN GENERA TOR

Much more economical than aluminium or calcium hydride (hydro­ lith). Large gas production [up to 450 cu. ft (12 to 13 cu. m) per charge) . Avai lable in different models, producing pure hydrogen under pressure, by patented ready-for-use refills (excess pro- duction impossible) . · Used by the French in Adelie La nd, by the British in Greenland, and by most of the special exped itions fo r the International Geo ­ phys ica l Year which are equipped with the G. I.P. hyd rogen generator. LA G. I. P. SOCIETE DES GAZ INDUSTRIELS DE PROVINCE 155, Bou levard Malesherb es , PARIS. Telephone WAG ram 22-96 USIN E A SAINT-lOT IENNE (LOIRE), RUE SCH EURER-KESTNER ' '

MUFAX and the CANADIAN WEATHERFAX NETWORK score yet another 'First'

Using Mufax equipment, the Canadian Weatherfax Network- first fully automatic facsimile weather chart system in the world- has, over the past year, been operating at a speed not equalled by any other network of this magnitude.

Mufax Weatherchart Equipment is fully described in Publications 8696, 8691, 8749. ·

From time to time articles on Mufax appear in 'Technique', our quarterly journal of instrument engineering. The journal is for the engineer, scientist, research worker and technician, and keeps them informed on recent applications and developments of Muirhead products. Ask to be placed on our 'Technique' mailing list.

MUIRHEAD & CO. LIMITED, Beckenham, Kent, England MUIRHEAD INSTRUMENTS INC., 677 Fifth Avenue, New York 22, N.Y., U.S.A. MUIRHEAD INSTRUMENTS LIMITED, Stratford, Ontario, Canada ------332 Characteristics of four of the specialized DAREX balloons scheduled to take an important part in the International Geophysical Year are:

Average Volume Altitude Gram at burst (with Model Weight (m') radiosonde load)

J9-15- 500 500 73 27 km J9-18- 800 800 150 28 km J-924-1750 1750 206 31 km J9-28-2400 2400 362 33 km

(also available p ilot and ceiling balloons).

If you are planning atmospheric studies during the International Geophysical Year, let us know your requirements. Our engineering staff is we ll qualified to help you.

DEWEYandALMY,astheworld's OFFICES largest manufacturer of meteoro­ AND SUBSIDIARIES: logical balloons. plays an impor­ in aerological studies. Argentine England tant part France DAREX balloons have been Australia Brazil .Germany developed to meet the special Italy requirements of the many phases Canada Denmark Switzerland of atmospheric research. Avail­ Uruguay able are sounding balloons for recording weather data up to 33 km - nightftight balloons to 30 km-tandem rigged balloons • for carrying aloft loads of 35 kilos or more - Kytoon (captive) balloons for lower altitude re­ search.

DAREX neoprene sounding balloons provide a means of reaching maximum altitude at minimum cost because of: (1) high degree of extensibility, especially in ozone area, (2) strong resistance to abrasion (3) long shelf life (4) no special preparation before launching unless balloons are stored for a long period of time.

DEWEY AND ALMY OVERSEAS COMPANY Division W . R. Grace and Co. Cambridge 40, Massachusetts/USA New BimetaiUc Actinograph

Based on the well known Robitzsch type design, which has proven itself in meteorology and cljmatology for years, this new instrument records the radiation received from the sun and sky on a horizontal surface.The measur­ ing element consists of three blackened bimetallic strips exposed to radiation and three shaded strips. The strips are interconnected with each other to compensate for the influence of temperature . The chart, which is 80 mm in height and has linear graduations in cal/cm' . min, allows for planimetric evaluation in order to obtain the total value of insolation in cal/cm', for any period required .

R . F U E SS (Founded in 1865) Meteorological Instrument Manufacturers, Berlin-Steglitz, DOntherstrasse 8. (American Sector)

((Totexn METEOROLOGICAL BALLOON

Sounding Balloon Ceiling Balloon Pilot Balloon

TOA GOMU KOGYO K. K.

731 Kamihirai-cho Katsushika-ku TOKYO (Japan) Tel. (69) 1253.3880 ... _

Marconi in Radar

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29 Countries use Marconi Radar

COMPLETE CIVIL AND MILITARY MARCONI RADAR INSTALLATIONS

MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH COMPANY LIMITED, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX, ENGLAND M.6. NEW INSTRUMENTS

Electrical generating anemograph VT 140

Electro-mechanical anemograph for mountain stations VT 129

Automatic electric rain-recorder for mountain stations (operating for six months) UM 95

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Instruments for meteorology

Via G. Massarenti 412- Bologna- ITALIA COMPLETE SERVICE .for WEATHER FORECASTING EQUIPMENT

. I

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for observing the -:. upper air pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed

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Technical assistance available Training courses arranged

For further information write to : VAISALA OY Box 2191, Helsinki-ToOlo, Finland