86 BULLETIN AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY

The Professional Meteorologist in Radio

FRANCIS K. DAVIS, JR. Staff Meteorologist, WFIL; Asst. Prof, of Physics, Drexel Institute, Philadelphia

HE BULLETIN presents herewith another in ing last September that we are happy to have Tits series of portraits of professional meteor- captured his words for the benefit of those who ologists at work in the commercial field. Mr. were unable to hear him there. Readers of the Davis spoke so frankly at our Philadelphia Meet- January 1949 BULLETIN will note both differences and similarities between his approach and that of Mr. Partridge of WOR. Mr. Davis brings a serious professional back- ground in physics and meteorology to bear on his job. After undergraduate training in physics and mathematics he entered M.I.T. in 1942 as an avia- tion cadet in meteorology, obtained an Air Corps commission and a M.S. degree, worked on upper- air analysis projects in the AAF and returned to civilian life in 1946. Results of one of his war- time studies on upper-air charts appeared in the BULLETIN for May 1945. In addition to his radio work, he has been taking graduate studies in physics at University of Pennsylvania and teach- ing physics at Drexel Institute. Mr. Davis is a Professional Member of the A.M.S., and member of the American Physical Society, American Assoc. of Physics Teachers, American Geophysi- cal Union and Sigma Xi. A recent letter informs FRANCIS K. DAVIS, JR., Broadcasting Over WFIL, us that he now also puts on a weather telecast Philadelphia. over WFIL-TV at 6:45 p.m. weekdays.—R. G. S.

HE work of the professional meteorolo- it to his advantage occasionally to tie the spon- gist in radio might be summed up by the sor's product in with the weather incidents de- Tword "compromise." Because of the fact scribed in the body of his own script, contrary as that radio broadcasting stations operate primarily it may be to his professional principles. for the field of entertainment, they want their In view of the nature of the radio broadcasting weather presented in an entertaining fashion, business, the professional meteorologist can do without the technical language or approach which radio weather work in two ways. First of all the professional meteorologist is accustomed to he can sell his services directly to some sponsor using, but with technical accuracy maintained who will contract for radio time for the program. (if possible). What seems a more satisfactory and comprehen- The entertainment field is, of course, a busi- sive field for the professional, however, comes ness and despite the constant reference to "public through associating himself directly with the sta- service presentations" on the air, the primary object of radio stations is to make money. This tion as a staff meteorologist. In this capacity he results from inducing various commercial enter- can put across complete and continuous weather prises to sponsor programs. Thus the profes- information to all types of listeners. sional meteorologist in radio must be reconciled The overall arrangement we have worked out to having the virtues of various products ex- here in Philadelphia at station WFIL will serve tolled before and after his weather broadcast, as an example. We broadcast weather programs and sometimes in the middle. And he will find five minutes in length three times daily except

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Sunday. These come at 6 :55 a.m., 6 :55 p.m., and veniently divided and the job is highly confining 11 :10 p.m. In addition to these complete sum- in that it requires one's services a full 6 days a maries and forecasts, weather information is sup- week. In compensation the salary levels are com- plied for the early morning farm broadcast and paratively high, especially if these programs can to the disc-jockey show which runs from 7 a.m. be worked out on a commercial basis. till 8:45 a.m. A brief weather summary and After a sampling of listener reaction, we find outlook, with special emphasis on newsworthy it most satisfactory to include on the main pro- weather, is supplied for use on the 15 minute grams a general picture of the weather in the news broadcasts at 7 :30 a.m. and 8 :45 a.m. An- immediate area, and if the implications make it other forecast is furnished the newsroom for their desirable, in other parts of the nation or over evening newscasts. In addition to these regular oceans. Included in these summaries are any daily tasks, the station meteorologist is called on unusual and interesting weather details such as to answer a great many questions by mail and by extremes in temperature, heavy rain or snow, phone—we shall have more to say of them later. tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, floods, etc. When One may ask, what demands does this sort of these special phenomena show up, often the greater schedule make on the weatherman who follows part of a program is devoted to a simplified ex- it conscientiously ? The bulk of the synoptic planation of their origin and history. Record weather information must be obtained through and near-record local weather reports are always U. S. Weather Bureau offices since the average included. The general synoptic picture is then radio station is in no position to maintain a interpreted as far as its effects on local weather weather staff capable of plotting and analyzing are concerned, and a detailed forecast is given daily maps. Here in Philadelphia we get com- including such things as degree of cloudiness, plete cooperation from both the downtown office temperatures, winds, times of beginning and end- and the airport station of the Weather Bureau. ing of expected precipitation, estimated amounts It cannot be overemphasized that unless there is of rain or snow, etc. wholehearted and complete cooperation and un- With an eye on the particular type of audience derstanding between the radio weatherman and being served, each of the programs also embraces local Weather Bureau personnel, a program such some special applications as well as the foregoing as we outlined above would be impossible to general picture. For example, the early morning work out satisfactorily. broadcast emphasizes a detailed outlook for the To return to an analysis of the radio weather coming day and its implications for the public's schedule, one who wants to assemble complete pleasure, business, and agriculture. We find that weather data and put them in appealing form for one of the main concerns of area farmers is a broadcast at 6:55 a.m. must necessarily begin general outlook for at least three days in ad- his labors at the Weather Bureau office some vance so that they can adequately plan operations one and a half to two hours earlier, an event such as plowing, planting, and haying. To satisfy that requires rolling out of bed rather early every this demand we always issue a forecast on the morning. With another program scheduled for morning program covering three days. Crop in- 11 :10 p.m., it is evident that some compromise formation, where related to the weather, is also must be worked out for the convenience of the given when available and of interest. In Phila- radio weatherman. We have found the most delphia and immediate vicinity there are 18 op- successful solution is to prepare a transcription of erating airfields, and perhaps three times that the late evening broadcast in advance. This we many within the listening area of WFIL. Be- do as soon as possible in a given weather situa- cause of them we have found a demand for some tion. For the most part it can be safely and flying information in the early morning which adequately completed by 8 p.m. would include such items as cloud types and Since the morning work is usually over by 8 heights, visibility restrictions, winds aloft, and a.m., the meteorologist is free from that time until stability conditions. he begins his preparation for the evening pro- The early evening program, coming as it does grams, usually about 4 p.m., although occasionally immediately following the dinner hour, apparently some of the intervening time must be used in attracts the most varied group of listeners. For research and correspondence in response to listen- this audience simplified explanations and descrip- ers' questions. The overall working time will tions are given as far as possible. The emphasis amount then, on the average, to perhaps 45 hours on detailed weather information is shifted to that a week, but these hours are still rather incon- of the coming evening with relation to special

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/27/21 06:52 AM UTC 88 BULLETIN AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY activities in and around the area. This might "... What are the weather prospects for include details about temperatures, winds, etc., as Friday, May 28? The graduating class is taking they influence choice of clothing. a trip up the Hudson to Bear Mountain Park The 11 :10 p.m. program follows 10 minutes and we hope to do some swimming. . . of news, and is similar in makeup to the 6 :55 p.m. ". . . Can you advise what the weather condi- "show," except that emphasis on detailed weather tions will be in the Poconos from January 1 to is shifted from that evening's to the following January 4 ? Will there be enough snow for day's, and a summary of the day's local weather skiing? . . ." is included. "... The part I appreciate most is your in- In addition to these regular program formats, terest in one of the housewives' worries—a good we find it desirable to make some seasonal appli- drying day on Monday. . . ." cations. For example, with so many automobiles ". . . Next year I expect to go to college and on the road we appear to be serving a large I expect to study meteorology. I would appre- audience during much of the mid-winter season ciate it very much if you could recommend a by broadcasting the driving conditions (in coop- good school for me. . . ." eration with the A.A.A. office in this city), and ". . . We are from the San Francisco, Cali- amending these with forecasts of expected weather fornia, area and are therefore not used to the over various routes. During the winter season, humid eastern summers. Will you kindly explain too, skiing conditions actual and expected in the humidity to us. . . ." nearby resorts are offered as far in advance of ". . . Now I feel a study of the weather would the week-end as possible. be a most profitable hobby. What books, what During the summer season, on the other hand, instruments, etc., should one buy in order to special services include resort weather, particu- study it? . . larly along the Jersey coast and in the Poconos. ". . . Due to a susceptibility to streptococcal Included are winds and warnings which would be infections of the throat, my doctor has advised useful to those interested in fishing or boating, me to move to the southwest where the winters and beach air and water temperatures for bathers. are mild, temperature changes are relatively The work of the radio meteorologist doesn't slight, and the humidity is low. I would appre- end with the preparation and delivery of these ciate having data on the average winter tempera- broadcasts, for many requests and questions come ture, the rapidity of wintertime changes, and the in by mail. It will perhaps serve the purpose of average winter humidity in the following cities. if illustrating what an inclusive type of audience the radio weatherman is dealing with if we make ref- ". . . I am contemplating an ocean cruise in erence to just a few of these letters we've re- the Caribbean area. I am anxious to learn some- ceived at WFIL. One farmer from the Mary- thing of the weather conditions on both land and land Eastern Shore wrote last December asking sea in this area during the month of Septem- for the temperature, rain, and cloud outlook as ber. . . referred to normal for the first six months of "... To settle an argument will you kindly the coming year as an aid in deciding what type give me a weather report for Feb. 10 and 11 of crops to plant. The editor of a racing pigeon of this year. I claim Feb. 10 clear and cold. bulletin wrote in the spring requesting weather The 11th snow and freezing rain. Am I right? if forecasts for the balance of the year as well as times of sunrise and sunset on every day. During "... We are trying to get information on the the oil shortage of last winter many requests came weather in Arizona. Their chamber of commerce in for degree-day information, and a daily running sends out lots of nice reports, but they don't total of accumulated degree days was included on include the bad ones. ... As Mrs. H. is afraid the programs. The following are short quota- of electrical storms we are mainly interested in tions from letters which speak for themselves: how many they have and how bad in comparison to Philadelphia. . . ." "... We are planning a trip to Richmond, ". . . In the first few moments of a light Indiana, Tuesday, December 23rd via Pennsyl- shower one may notice an odor (probably not vania turnpike then highway 40. We will appre- ozone). Is this due to dust lifted by falling ciate advance information covering that portion drops, odors released by absorbed water, or per- of the country on your Tuesday 6 :55 a.m. broad- haps a chemical phenomena of the voltage gra- cast. . . " dient present? . . ."

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. . I had decided to take up meteorology, in radio as they do in other private fields for but was informed that it involved all kinds of teletype licenses. Thus far the U. S. Weather physics and math, my weakest subjects. Would Bureau has been unable to go along with this. you please advise me as to what I should do? If the professional meteorologist is going to do an efficient job of dispensing weather information by . . How did the high pressure cells act radio, such facilities should be made available during the very cold winter of 1933-1934? Did to him. the cold air come down from the region of Hud- The wide range of people served by radio son's Bay or did it first come down over the brings to mind another problem which the Ameri- plains states and then sweep east? . . can Meteorological Society and the professional . . I have purchased a barometer. Will you meteorologist might be able to stress to advantage kindly advise me where I can obtain some publi- in future contacts with radio stations. The vast cation dealing with the above subject written for majority of the listeners have no real scientific the amateur and easily understood. . . ." background, and regard anything in the field of "... Before your talk this evening I was science in the same category as magic. They hoping you would say something about today's have no understanding or appreciation of the beautiful clouds. You evidently got my thought present limitations in the field of practical fore- message. I am interested in the clouds for their casting, and it takes one trained in the field of beauty, but know nothing of their significance. meteorology to treat all phases of a given synoptic I should like to send for the pamphlet you men- situation and its possible consequences as far as tioned. . . ." local weather is concerning. The radio meteorol- . . Every time we had a cold wave in the ogist often finds it wise to be a little less positive winter it was accompanied by high pressure. I about the forecast than the Weather Bureau and was wondering if a cold wave is ever accom- the Armed Services would like their forecasters panied by low pressure. . . ." to be. Just a blanket statement on Saturday, . . Will you give as soon as possible an for example, that Sunday will be sunny and warm without delving into any other possibilities in a extended weather forecast. We are having a 4 particular set-up may induce people to lay ex- o'clock wedding this Saturday afternoon, so it is haustive plans and secure costly supplies in antici- very important. . . ." pation of setting out for the beaches or the parks In spite of the many special groups and inter- early next morning. Should they wake up in a ests which must be served by the meteorologist downpour which lasts all day it can have serious in radio, the final objective is to get the best repercussions, for while they would just take weather forecast to the public based on the latest things for granted if the sun shone, they are now available data. One of the biggest advantages of prone to write vehement protests to the station, dispensing weather information by means of and, even worse, to the sponsor, "swearing off" radio is the fact that such information is in the his product forever. This situation could be hands of the public immediately. For up-to-date cited to advantage for placing trained meteorolo- information, the meteorologist naturally turns to gists in radio jobs, and for inducing those already the hourly sequence reports which come in over there to make sure that the public is kept in- the teletype, and here is a problem for the meteor- formed of just where meteorology stands as a ologist in radio which has yet to be worked out, science. As it is they jump to a logical conclu- for so far he finds it impossible or very difficult sion. Science as such is infallible, so any mis- to be licensed for teletype facilities. "One sug- takes in weather forecasting must be due solely gested solution is to have the American Meteoro- to the shortcomings of the man using that science logical Society certify professional meteorologists as his tool.

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