7

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

OCTOBER 1960 VOL. IX NO. 4

For all m.odern meteorological stations :

Modern design with panoramic mirror so that the whole recorded curve can be seen without removing the cover. Special protection for use at sea. More accurate measuring elements.

and measuring instruments of traditional quality :

Portable and distant­reading ·anemometers

- available with' dials or as recording instruments.

Distant-reading, dial and recording wind-vanes.

Sunshine recorders. Psychrometers.

Raingauges and recording raingauges.

Distant-reading thermo-hygrometers. Thermo-ba ro-hyg rog ra phs.

* 0 D 3 0

!;

OFFICERS OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION President: Mr. A. VrAuT

First Vice-President: Mr. L. DE AzcARRAGA Second Vice-President: Mr. M. F. TAHA

Mr. A. VrAUT Mr. L. DE AzcARRAGA Mr. M. F. TAHA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dr. F. W. REICHELDERFER Mr. L. J. DwYER

Dr. J. LAMBOR Mr.P.D.McTAGGART-CowAN Sir GRAHAM SUTTON Dr. A. NYBERG

Mr. J. RAVET Dr. Po E Mr. J. L. V, MALDONADO

Dr. M. A. F. BARNETT Mr. F. L. FERNANDEZ Gen. F. GIANSANTI

Dr. KIYOO WADATI Mr. A. A. WAHAB Mr. A. A. ZoLOTUHIN

TECHNICAL COMMISSION PRESIDENTS Aerology: Dr. R. C. SUTCLIFFE Aeronautical Meteorology:

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS Africa (I) : Mr. J. RA VET Asia (II) : Dr. Po E

Mr. A. SrLVA DE SousA Agricultural Meteorology: Mr. P.M.A. BouRKE

South America (III) : Mr. J. L.V. MALDONADO

Climatology: Mr. R. G. VERYARD Hydrological Meteorology : Mr. M. A. KoHLER Instruments and Methods of Observation :

North and Central America (IV): · Dr. F. W. REICHELDERFER

South-West Pacific (V) : Mr. A. PERLAT

Maritime Meteorology: Mr. J. A. VAN Mr. L.J. DWYER

Europe (VI): Dr. A. NYBERG DUIJNEN MoNTIJN

Synoptic Meteorology: Mr. P. H. KUTSCHENREUTER

SECRETARIAT Secretary-General: Mr. D. A. DAVIES Technical Division- Chief :Dr. K. LANGLO

Investigations Section : Mr. 0. M. AsHFORD Operations Section: Mr. N. L.VERANNEMAN Hydrological Meteorology Section :

Dr. P. I. MILJUKOV

Deputy Secretary-General: Mr. J .R. RIVET Conference, Documents and Publications

Division- Chief : Mr. J. M. RUBIATO Technical Assistance Unit-

Chief : Dr. H. SEBASTIAN Deputy Chief : Mr. P. R. DROUILHET

THE PURPOSES OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

"(a) To facilitate world-wide co-operation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of meteorologi­ea! observations or other geophysical observations related to meteorology and to promote the establishment and maintenance of meteorological centres charged with the provision of meteoro­logical services ;

(b) To promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of weather information ;

(c) To promote standardization of mete­orological observations and to ensure the uniform publication of observa­tions and statistics ;

(d) To further the application of meteoro­logy to aviation, shipping, agricul­ture, and other human activities ; and

(e) To encourage research and training in meteorology and to assist in co­ordinating the international aspects of such research and training."

From the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization, Article 2.

THE CONSTITUENT BODIES OF THE ORGANIZATION (a) The World Meteorological Congress

which meets at least once every four years;

(b) The Executive Committee, which meets at least once annually ;

(c) Regional Associations made up of Members of the Organization the networks of which lie in or extend into

one of the six meteorological Regions of the world. They meet as often as necessary to ensure compliance with the policies of the Organization.

(d) Technical Commissions composed of experts in the various meteorological fields which meet at least once every four years.

THE SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat of the Organization is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

W 0 R L D METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

~~00 ~~~~~i~~ OCTOBER 1960

THE PICTURE ON THE COVER

In the short time which has elapsed since the WMO Secretariat moved into its new headquarters featured on the cover of this issue of the Bulletin, the building has already served as the seat of the twelfth -session of the WMO Executive Committee (see p. I93) and 'of sessions of two of the working groups of WMO Technical Commissions (seep. zrs). For the first time in the long history of international meteorology, WMO now has the facilities for holding such meetings under its own roof. This surely symbolizes both the growing stature of meteorology among the physical sciences and the growing recognition of WMO as the natural channel for handling all the international questions the solution of which is so vital for the successful operation of national meteoro­logical services and for the rational applica­tion of meteorology to the manifold activities of the United Nations and the other specia­lized agencies.

There can be no doubt that members of the Secretariat have already derived inspira­tion from working in such congenial sur­roundings and it is hoped that all meteoro­logists who visit Geneva will call at WMO to see for themselves the magnificent gifts of WMO Members which, in the Secretary­General's words, have helped to "give the building a truly international atmosphere, and will be a constant reminder to those of us who work in it that we are here to serve the Member-countries from all parts of the globe".

(Photo G. Klemm- Geneva)

VOL. IX NO. 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pago

Tenth anniversary celebrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Twelfth session of the Executive Committee 193

Third session of the Commission for Maritime Meteorology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

International Union of Geodesy and Geo­physics- Twelfth general assembly, Helsinki 1960 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 201

A note on TIROS I and cloud systems . . . . 205

Technical Assistance Programme . . . . . . . . . . 207

Special Fund Activities ........... 00. 00 •• oo 210

Activities of Technical Commissions . . . . . . . 213

Royal Society Tercentenary, 1660-1960 . . . . . . 217

Agricultural meteorology in the humid tropics 218

Collaboration with other international organi-zations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Activities of Regional Associations . . . . . . . . 225

News and Notes . . . . • .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 226

News from the WMO Secretariat . . . . . . . . . . • 229

Reviews 234-

Selected list of publications of the WMO . . 237'

Calendar of coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

The purpose of the WMO Bulletin is to provide a summary of the work of the World 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, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Permission to publish extracts from the WMO Bulletin is granted, provided the customary acknowledgment is made.

Sigmd contributions do not necessarily represent the views of the. Organization.

189

WMO Bulletin October 1960

TENTH ANNIV.ERSARY CELEBRATIONS

0 NE of the most important events in the life of WMO to date took

place on I2 July Ig6o when the official inauguration of the new WMO building was held in conjunction with the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Organization. Readers of the Bulletin will recall (see Vol. IX, No. z, p. nz) that WMO succeeded the International Meteorological Organiza­tion on 23 March I950, the day on which the 30th ratification of the WMO Convention was deposited with the United States State Department in Washington. In view of the approach­ing opening of the new headquarters, it was decided not to hold the celebra­tion on the day of th~ tenth anniversary but to combine it with the formal inauguration of the building later in the year. It was also felt to be appropriate that these celebrations should be held on an occasion when the members of the WMO Executive Committee could be present and the date was therefore selected to fall during the twelfth ses­sion of this body.

The main feature of the celebrations was the morning ceremony at which many eminent personalities gathered in the main conference hall to take part in the formal opening of the new building. Amongst those present were Mr. P. P. Spinelli, Director of the Euro­pean Office of the United Nations, representing the Secretary-General, Mr. Dag Hammarskji:ild, who had been recalled to New York a few hours earlier, and Mr. W. Spiihler, Minister of Posts and Railways, on behalf of the Swiss Federal authorities ; the Geneva authorities were represented by the President of the Conseil d'Etat, Mr. J. Treina, the Mayor of Geneva, Mr. F. Cottier, and the President of the

190

Grand Conseil, Mr. J. Babel. The I8 members of the WMO Executive Com­mittee and the representatives of many of the diplomatic missions in Switzer­land, both in Geneva and Berne, other specialized agencies and the press were also seated in the hall.

The ceremony was opened by the Secretary-General of WMO, Mr. D. A. Davies, who welcomed the large and distinguished gathering to the new building. After remarking that their presence demonstrated their interest in and support for the Organization, he expressed his warm appreciation of the generous assistance that WMO had received from both the Swiss and Genevese authorities and which had contributed so much to the effective­ness of the Organization. He mention­ed, in particular, the help received from all those who had been responsible for the design and construction of the building and for ensuring that it was so well-suited to the needs of the Organization. He reminded his listen­ers that it had been constructed to se~ve all the Member-countries of WMO and that the many gifts from these Members scattered throughout the world gave it an international atmosphere.

The Secretary-General also mention­ed the significance of the tenth anni­versary of WMO and the progress which the Organization had made in ensuring that the many applications of the science of meteorology to human activities were fully explored and utilized. Looking to the future, he hoped that the new building might be a permanent symbol of the will of the peoples of the world that, through WMO, international co-operation in

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. meteorology should continue to develop for the benefit of all mankind.

Mr. Spinelli then spoke briefly, conveying Mr. HammarskjOld's regret that he was unable to be present and his wish that the new building would prove to be a worthy setting for the valuable work done by WMO. In adding his own good wishes, Mr. Spi­nelli remarked that although the new

Inauguration ceremony in the conference hall of the Secretariat on lZ July lg6o. Note the furniture, made from teak given by Burma, interpretation equipment given by the Federal Re­public of Germany and wall panelling by the U.S.A.

WMO building was certainly modern and elegant, it did not clash with the traditional Genevese surroundings.

Federal. Councillor Spiihler next ex­plained the sequence of events leading up to the decision to site the head­quarters of WMO in Geneva and the construction of the magnificent build­ing which was then being inaugurated. " I would now like ", continued Mr. Spiihler, "to bring to your notice the importance of the World Meteoro­logical Organization and its Secreta­riat. It is from this Organization that are sent out, all over the world, numerous instruction manuals, codes, atlases, data for meteorological obser­vations, the co-ordination of telecom­munication networks and for all sorts of exchanges which are the technical

October 1960

and scientific basis essential for the meteorological safety of aircraft and maritime navigation, synoptic weather forecasts, the solution of climatic prob­lems and agriculture, etc.

"Meteorology touches on many as­pects of human activity. The explora­tion of the atmosphere has become extremely important in the course of the last decade and by providing the

World Meteorological Organization with suitable premises we are furthering truly universal collaboration."

191

WMO, said Mr. Spiihler, was in full development, going ahead with new tasks and serving impartially the inter­ests of all the inhabitants of the globe. The International Geophysical Year was a striking example of this fact and he thought that the fruits of this gigantic undertaking would shortly affect not only our knowledge of the general circulation and other problems but also, he hoped, both short- and long­range weather forecasting.

Mentioning that the scope of the technical and scientific work co-ordi­nated by WMO with the invaluable help of its Secretariat in Geneva should

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not be underestimated, Mr. Spuhler concluded with these words :

"The people of Switzerland are proud and happy to be able to welcome on their soil an intergovernmental organization working in the interests of all, such as the one responsible for our

October 1960

riat would be able to pursue their duties and meet the increased work­load facing the Organization. Remark­ing on the fraternal feelings of meteoro­logists throughout the world for their colleagues, Mr. Viaut explained how this spirit had been responsible for much progress in past years and

WMO Secretariat : the President's office. The carved wall map, furniture and decorations were given by Canada, the carpet by Ireland and the

Sevres vase by France

meeting in Geneva today on this historic occasion. On behalf of the Swiss Federal Council, I wish to express my warmest good wishes to the World Meteorological Organization, and may it prosper in peace, for the good of all mankind, sheltered from in­clemency in the building we are inaugurating today !"

The short ceremony was closed by the President of the World Meteoro­logical Organization, Mr. A. Viaut, who spoke of the great pride he felt now that the efforts of many years to house the Organization suitably had been crowned with success. In doing so he paid tribute to all those who had made possible the favourable condi­tions in which the staff of the Secreta-

expressed the hope that in the future not only meteorology but all human activity would be fully and peacefully co-ordinated with the free consent of all the peoples of the world.

Following this ceremony the parti­cipants were invited to tour the new building to see both the practical arrangements and the many gifts of furniture and works of art presented by Members (see also p. 229 of this issue).

The celebrations continued with a luncheon given by the Secretary­General in the restaurant of the Palais des Nations and were brought to a close by an official evening reception held in the foyer of the new building and on the adjacent terrace.

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WMO Bulletin Octobel' 1960

TWELFTH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

D URING June Ig6o the various outlying offices of the WMO

Secretariat in Geneva were at last gathered together under one roof in the new headquarters building, and it was thus possible for the Executive Com­mittee's twelfth session, from 27 June to IS July Ig6o, to be held in the new conference hall with its adjoining committee rooms and on-the-spot fa­cilities for the translation and duplica­tion of documents.

The session, under the chairman­ship of Mr. A. Viaut, President of the Organization, was attended by the I7 members of the Committee and their advisers. They were joined on 8 July by Mr. P. D. McTaggart-Cowan, director of the Canadian Meteorological Service, who was designated as acting member in replacement of Dr. A. Thomson. Mr. A. Silva de Sousa, president of the Commission for Aero­nautical Meteorology, was present for the discussion of the report of his commission. Ofiicial representatives of the United Nations and of UNESCO, WHO, ILO, IAEA, ICSU and IUGG were present at some of the meetings.

As is reported elsewhere (see p. Igo) the opportunity was taken to arrange the official opening of the new building in conjunction with a ceremony to mark the tenth anniversary of the Organization during the twelfth session of the Executive Committee. This took place towards the end of the session, on I2 July Ig6o, and the invited representatives of other organ­izations and of the Swiss and Genevese

Organization of the session

The work of the session was as usual divided between two committees -on administrative and financial ques­tions (chairman : Mr. L. de Azcarraga) and on technical questions (chairman : Mr. M. F. Taha) - which prepared reports for decision in plenary meet­ings on the agenda items. Over 6o items were discussed during the session and it is impossible to mention more than a few of these in the follow­ing paragraphs. The provisional abridged report was distributed to Committee members at the close of the session. The final abridged report with the texts of the 36 resolutions adopted will shortly be available in English and French.

Sessions of constituent bodies

Two constituent bodies had held their second sessions in the interval between the eleventh and twelfth ses­sions of the Committee. These were Regional Association II (Asia) and the Commission for Aeronautical Meteoro­logy, which held its second session in conjunction with the fifth session of the Meteorology Division of ICAO. Reports on these sessions were included in an earlier issue of the Bulletin (see Vol. IX, No. I, pp. 8 and 24).

The proposed basic synoptic network for Region II was noted with approval and the president of the association was requested to take the necessary steps for its implementation. It was decided that the abridged final report of the second session should be publish­ed in English, French and Russian.

authorities were able to inspect and The reports of the second session appreciate the many admirable fea- · of the Commission for Aeronautical tures of the new building. Meteorology were considered in detail

193

WMO 'Bulletin

and: decisions on the recommendations of the separate session of CAeM and of the simultaneous session held jointly with the Meteorology Division of ICAO are contained in three resolu­tions of the Executive Committee. Following discussions on the report of the president of the commission, the Committee requested him to prepare a vocabulary of indications and abbrevia­tions currently used in aeronautical meteorology.

Relations with other international organizations

In view of the need for full co­operation with the International Coun­cil of Scientific Unions (ICSU) in the broad field of interest common to both organizations, draft working arrange­ments between the two organizations had been submitted for consideration by the Committee; these were approv­ed with only minor amendments. Some modifications to the existing working arrangements with the Inter­national Union of Geodesy and Geo­physics were also proposed, including a protocol by which it is agreed that the working arrangements shall apply mu­tatis mutandis to activities which involve meteorological considerations in the field of hydrology and other geophysical disciplines which are within the competence of the WMO.

As a result of discussions on the rela­tions of WMO with the International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and with the Munitalp Founda­tion, the Committee decided to grant consultative status to the ICID and considered that at this stage an exchange of letters between the Secre­tary-General and the president of the Munitalp Foundation, including the general principles concerning the co­ordination and co-operation between the two organizations, would be appro- · priate to the particular relationship of

Octobel' 1960

WMO with the Foundation. A mu­tually satisfactory exchange of letters has since taken place.

Technical assistance and the Special Fund

Following detailed discussion of the current WMO technical assistance acti­vities, the Committee expressed its satisfaction in the progress made since its eleventh session in the amount of technical assistance rendered by WMO under the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance (EPT A) and also in the fact that four large projects had been approved by the United Nations Special Fund for execution by WMO. In particular the Committee noted the increasingly active part being taken by WMO in the field of water resources under these programmes and felt that the Organization should make an effort to expand into this field as far as its terms of reference permit. The hope was expressed that the utilization

· of the increased funds available under the EPT A would make possible further progress in the fields of meteorology and hydrometeorology in the less developed countries.

Establishment of. working groups and panels

The Committee decided to set up six new working groups or panels and to re-establish four former ones. Con­sidering the difficulty of establishing a scale of proportional contributions which is satisfactory to all Members, a study is to be made of the problem in all its aspects by a working group which will report to the next session of the Executive Committee. Another working group is required to present to the next session a review of the Convention as a whole and its con­sidered views regarding any suggestions for amendments which may seem desirable. The working group which is making a study of the status and

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WMO Bulletin

salaries of the staf-f of the Secretariat was re-established with the same membership as before.

-It was decided not to re-establish the Panel of Experts on Bibliography and Publications: but in view of the urgent need to publish the first official edition of the International Meteorological V o­cabulary, a working group was set up

October 1960

closed. While agreeing that meteoro­logical data should be made available in a convenient form for research workers, members of the Committee expressed doubts as to whether the proposed permanent service would make a substantial contribution to­wards solving the problem. In view of the uncertainty as to what the future requirements of research workers

WMO Secretariat : the Secretary-General's office, for which the furniture was given by the U.S.S.R.

to study the comments received on the provisional edition and to prepare the final edition for publication by the end of rg6r.

Several recommendations adopted by the International Geophysical Com­mittee of the ICSU at its second session in Paris (March-April rg6o) were examined by the Executive Committee, and particular attention was given to the proposal that a permanent service in meteorology should be set up in the WMO headquarters building under the Federation of Astronomical and Geo­physical Permanent Services to take over the work of the IGY Meteoro­logical Data Centre when the centre is

195

would be and also of the fact that the final· results of a Secretariat inquiry concerning meteorological data for research were not yet to hand, the Committee decided to set up a working group to review the whole question and to make recommendations for further action by WMO. The Working Group on the International Geophysical Year, which had been charged with the preparation of proposals for co-ordinat­ing research projects based on IGY data, was re-established with the same membership.

The results of inquiries made by the Secretary-General concerning the fu­ture action of WMO with regard to

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research institutes for tropical meteoro­logy were considered by the Com­mittee, which decided to set up a panel of experts to act in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee on this matter. It was also considered that the Secretariat might play a useful co-ordinating role by acting as an information centre on research work in tropical meteorology and by giving advice as required on how financial sup­port for research institutes might be obtained from EPTA, the Special Fund, or some other source.

A request received from the UN Economic and Social Council that WMO should participate with other organizations in the study of seismic sea-waves (tsunami) was studied in the light of the need for a world-wide warning service of such phenome:p.a and the long experience of WMO in setting up networks and warning systems. A panel of experts was set up to study possible action by WMO in this respect and to prepare detailed plans for a warning service. The chief international organizations concerned will be invited to designate representa­tives to serve on the panel.

Two former panels of experts were re-established with revised terms of reference. They are responsible for studying and advising on the meteoro­logical aspects of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, and on the use of artificial satellites in the study of the atmosphere and atmospheric pheno­mena.

Other technical questions

The assistance of WMO has been requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency in connexion with the initiation of a programme to determine the world-wide distribution of hydro­gen and oxygen isotopes in water. The

October 1960

Secretary-General was instructed to take appropriate action to meet this request.

In view of WMO's interest in meteorological activities in the Antarc­tic and in the related communications facilities, the Secretary-General was directed to follow closely develop­ments arising from the Antarctic Treaty signed on I December I959 by representatives of States operating in the Antarctic. Modifications to codes for use in the Antarctic were approved and will come into force on I January rg6r.

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Three resolutions were adopted by the Committee with relation to WMO's activities in the field of atmospheric ozone. Regional associations are being invited to set up working groups on atmospheric ozone in order to encour­age and co-ordinate regional activities in that field. Meteorological servi ~es are urged to maintain in operation as many ozone stations as possible and to arrange their ozone-sonde programme by regional agreement. Members with adequate facilities are invited to carry out studies in improved techniques for intercomparison of ozone spectrophoto­meters.

Discussions on the development of the world-wide network of meteoro­logical stations were based on proposals submitted by the president of the Commission for Synoptic Meteorology and by the Secretary-General. As a first step Members are urged to assist in assuring the establishment of a basic list of stations selected by the president of CSM from among those included in the basic synoptic net­works adopted by the regional asso­ciations. It was recognized that in some cases the Member concerned might be unable to bear the whole financial load and it was therefore suggested that help might be given

WMO Bulletin

through joint support schemes or by assistance from other international bodies.

Other questions

The Committee decided to award the fifth IMO Prize to Professor J. M. Van Mieghem in recognition of his outstanding contributions to interna­tional meteorology. A report on this award will be given in a future issue of the Bulletin.

October 1960

The proposal to establish a World Meteorological Day was approved ; the date chosen for this annual event was 23 March.

The Executive Committee decided in principle that the opening date of its annual sessions would be the last Tuesday in May ; it was therefore pro­visionally announced that the thir­teenth session would be held in the Secretariat, Geneva, from 30 May to 17 June rg6r.

THIRD SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

FOR MARITIME METEOROLOGY

A session is a relatively rare occa­sion in the life of a technical

commission. After four years of cor­respondence it is not surprising that the members of the commission look forward to meeting old friends again and to making the personal acquaint­ance of new members whom they have only learned to know "in writing". Maritime meteorology has long tradi­tions in the Netherlands ; not only has the Commission for Maritime Meteoro­logy met four times in the Netherlands since rgog, but that country has made an important contribution to the international scheme of obtaining me­teorological observations from volun­tary merchant ships.

The third session of the commission was held in Utrecht University and seldom can the representatives of 30 Members and 9 international organi­zations have met in more picturesque surroundings. The local secretariat was headed by Dr. C. G. C. Schiitte of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological

Institute and assistance from the WMO Secretariat was provided by Dr. K. Langlo, Mr. R. Cremet and Mr. R. Mathieu.

Organization

Two working committees were estab­lished and the study of about 50 tech­nical items on the agenda was divided between them, mainly according to whether the question was of an opera­tional or technical nature. Each com­mittee presented its reports on each item to plenary in its final form, including the proposed text for inser­tion in the general summary of the work of the session, thus avoiding the additional machinery of a separate drafting committee. The commission adopted in all nine resolutions, seven of which referred to the establishment of working groups, and 32 recommen­dations covering a wide variety of questions, of which only a few can be mentioned in this brief account. The following list of subjects to be dealt

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WMO Bulletin

with by the new working groups gives an idea of some of the long-term pro­blems with which the commission is faced:

Weather advice for fishing operations Study of a world-wide network of surface

and upper-air sea observations Handbook on the preparation and use of

weather maps by mariners Collection of ships' weather reports and

the provision of shipping forecasts Sea ice Technical problems Marine climatology.

Networks of observations at sea

With regard to the work of the second of these groups, arising from a request by the Executive Committee

The Netherlands ocean weather ship Cirrus seen at Rotterdam during a CMM­

III excursion

at its twelfth session, the comm1sswn considered that there was need for a detailed study of the potentialities of the various proposals for filling the major gaps in the network of sea stations. In addition to the use of the rather expensive ocean weather ships, the commission considered the two other main possible means of obtaining upper-air observations from the oceans. The first would be to organize a scheme of regular upper-air observa­tions from mobile ship stations, such as merchant ships, research vessels and fishery and other supply vessels, on the basis of the successful results

October 1960

of the use of portable equipment developed by the United States. The other possibility would be to fill one or more of the larger gaps in the ocean network by chartering one or more tankers from the surplus tonnage, bearing in mind the very long time such ships may be able to remain on station and that the crew and meteoro­logical staff may be kept to a minimum. The working group will report to the president of CMM on the merits of the above projects as soon as possible. The commission also paid considerable at­tention to the problem of getting more surface observations from sparse areas by improving and extending the volun­tary observing ships' scheme. In this

connexion the importance of personal contact between ships and port meteo­rological liaison officers was particularly emphasized and the commission con­sidered that WMO could assist Mem­bers by providing copies of sparse area charts free of charge for issue to. ships.

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Collection and transmission of ships' reports

Another major problem was to find remedies for certain deficiencies in the collection and retransmission of ships' reports. It was noted that there exist some areas in which ships encounter difficulties in transmitting their weather

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reports to coastal stations and that in other cases the . ships' reports do not always find their way to the weather maps because the ships' messages are not fully retransmitted by territorial or subcontinental broadcast centres.

The problem of collecting ships' weather reports was referred to a new working group which will also study the present system of areas of res­ponsibility for shipping forecasts. This

The new vice-president of CMM, Vice­Admiral C. V. Bunnag (left) and Mr. H.

Thomsen, retiring president

working group will not, however,· be concerned with individual requests for changes in areas of responsibility for collecting ships' reports and issuing weather forecasts. Action on such individual requests will be taken by the presidents of CMM after the presi­dent of the regional associations and Members directly concerned have had an opportunity to comment on the proposed amendment.

With regard to the problem of dis­seminating ships' reports, the com­mission adopted a recommendation containing a strong plea for the inclu­sion in territorial broadcasts of all meteorological reports received directly from ships and from other ships' col­lecting centres in the area covered by the territorial broadcast.

October 1960

Weather services for fishing operations

The commission paid considerable attention to the need for improving weather services for fishing interests and on the other hand to the pos­sibilities of obtaining valuable meteo­rological reports from fishing vessels. The Working Group on Weather Advice for Fishing Operations will study, among other things, the diffi­culties encountered by fishing vessels in making and reporting weather observations and the means of resolving these problems, and in a comprehensive recommendation Members concerned were invited to take various steps with regard to the recruitment of fishing vessels and providing them with ap­propriate instructions.

Indian Ocean oceanographic expeditions

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A request had been received from the Special Committee for Oceanic Research (SCOR) for assistance in providing various meteorological ser­vices in connexion with the Ig6o-Ig64 oceanographical expeditions during which it is planned to study system­atically the following elements of the whole of the Indian Ocean : physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, meteorology, marine biology, marine geology and marine geophysics. The commission recommended that Mem­bers concerned should give as much assistance as possible to the project by extending the coverage of their weather forecasts, by studying the possibility of issuing weather charts by facsimile broadcast, by endeavouring to make available daily weather maps of the area, by carrying out a specified pro­gramme of observations and measure­ments on their participating research vessels and by encouraging the making and disseminating of as many ship reports as possible during the period in question.

Since the planning of the various expeditions is well under way, the

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commission considered that this recom­mendation should be implemented as a matter of urgency.

Ice observations

A working group of the commission had made great efforts towards devel­oping a new set of codes for reporting ice observations from aircraft, ships, and shore stations for the purpose of international exchange. The commis­sion recommended the adoption of two ice reporting codes : ( r) a unified code for reporting individual observations from aircraft, ships and shore stations, and (2) a special code for converting aerial ice reconnaissance messages in plain language to numerical form. It was also recommended that WMO should publish an illustrated version of the International Ice Nomenclature in loose-leaf form. A new Working Group ·On Sea Ice has been requested inter alia to design a set of ice symbols for use in the international exchange of ice data by chart and facsimile.

Marine climatology

The commission examined a com­prehensive report prepared by its Working Group on Marine Climatology and adopted several important recom­mendations arising therefrom. In par­ticular, it was considered that for oceans and seas outside territorial waters, for which no specific nation bears responsibility, it is essential that individual Members of WMO be invited to accept responsibility for specific areas of the oceans with a view to preparing the marine section of a World Climatic Atlas and to publishing climatological summaries.

The commission proposed that this responsibility should be divided be­tween seven of the main maritime countries of the world (Federal Repu­blic of Germany, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Union of South Africa, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.) and

October 1960

recommended that Members operating observing ships and fixed ship stations should make available on punch-cards, at half-yearly intervals, checked ob­servations from all their ships and

Construction of the main barrage of the Haringvliet (Rhine delta), under the Neth­erlands Detta Plan for tidal and flood control, visited by delegates to CMM-III

send the relevant punch-cards, sorted by areas, to the Member responsible for the area.

The commission also recommended certain changes in the international maritime meteorological punch-card which is recommended to be used for the above purposes.

Conclusion

At the end of the session Mr. J. A. van Duijnen Montijn (Netherlands) was elected president of the commis­sion and Vice-Admiral C. V. Bunnag (Thailand), vice-president.

Acknowledgment must be made to the authorities of the host country for the liberal hospitality offered to dele­gates during their stay in the Nether­lands. Several interesting excursions 'were arranged and outstanding in the memories of many will be the cere­monious occasion of the reception given by the Lord Mayor of Rotterdam.

K.L.

200

WMO Bulletin October 1960

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS TWELFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HELSINKI 1960

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF METEOROLOGY AND ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS

THE general assemblies of the In­ternational Union of Geodesy and

Geophysics, taking place each third year and including as they do the general assemblies of each of the Union's seven constituent associa­tions, are remarkable events much enjoyed by those who have known them on several occasions and arousing astonishment and even bewilderment amongst the younger newcomers. One may think of a scientific festival, as one inay think of a music or cultural festival, a sort of eisteddfod, with numerous different events taking place simultaneously, with some zooo parti­cipants, including many spouses frank­ly on holiday, and a minority of actual competitors who will have the glory of delivering one scientific paper, perhaps for ten minutes, exceptionally for thirty minutes, sometime during the course of the two weeks. What the competitor does outside his few mi­nutes of glorious life is a matter be­tween himself, his conscience, and often his wife. Some are to be found patiently sitting through every session in their association and worried only when the occurrence of two sessions simultaneously raises a mental conflict. Some, not excluding the most eminent, are curiously elusive and pursue an eclectic system which is evidently highly individualistic. Then there are, ignored entirely by the body of parti­cipants, a number of presidents, secre­taries, officials, committee members, national delegates, politicians and in­triguers who are fixing the future, increasing subscriptions, nominating new officials, drafting resolutions and

arranging future committees and sym­posia where they can meet again and continue the kind of activity which they so much enjoy. For the wheels of a Union will not turn without adminis­tration and we are fortunate that there is always someone able and willing to do the work for the glory of it.

Administrative decisions

In meteorology the main outcome of the administrative meetings was to create two new Commissions, on dy­namical meteorology and on the upper atmosphere, to add to the three existing commissions on radiation, on ozone, and on atmospheric chemistry and radioactivity. These commissions of IAMAP are essentially groups of true experts who find the machinery useful for the exchange of specialist informa­tion and for arranging from time to time strictly specialist symposia. I am sure that much good has come from such activity, with the very minimum of administrative committee work, and that the new commissions will soon make their presence felt. Here we may also refer to the new Executive Com­mittee of the Association, with one exception a complete change : Presi­dent, Professor H. R. Byers (U.S.A.) ; Vice-Presidents, Professor A. M. Obou­khov (U.S.S.R.) and Dr. R. C. Sut­cliffe (U.K.) ; Secretary, Dr. W. L. Godson (Canada) ; with three addi­tional members, Dr. R. V. Garcia (Argentina), Dr. S. Syono (Japan) and Dr. N. Koncek (Czechoslovakia).

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Scienti fie discussions

The scientific meetings of the asso­ciation covered a total of seven full days, occasionally with simultaneous meetings on different topics. The time available was thus well filled although in the effort to avoid overcrowding a large number of papers, especially those submitted late, had necessarily been declined. Some of the papers on climatology and on the structure of the

atmosphere were on well-established lines, filling in gaps to our descriptive knowledge of weather and climate, but the keynote of the meetings was certainly novelty in subject matter and in techniques. Two days of Dynamical processes in the atmosphere emphasized once more that the complex behaviour of the general circulation and of synoptic systems is gradually being clarified by the application of the principles of :fluid dynamics to the specifically meteorological circum­stances. Non-adiabatic effects are being studied and electronic computing is almost a commonplace. Amongst all the dynamics of continuous baroclinic fluids on the large scale it was refreshing to have two studies of fronts about

October 1960

which much more must be heard before the mechanisms of weather are entirely clear.

Another two-day meeting, accorded the dignity of the title Symposium, was on Atmospheric chemistry and radio­activity and revealed a field of meteoro­logical study hitherto almost ignored. Perhaps the most striking lesson to be learnt was that these studies of minor constituents are not merely specialities

Thunderstorm over Helsinki on the eve of the opening of the general assembly of the IUGG

of atmospheric physics absorbingly interesting in their own right but throw new and valuable light on the central integrating problem of meteoro­logy, the general circulation of the atmosphere. To account for the distri­bution of anything borne in the atmosphere is a matter of sources, sinks and transport ; the symposium kept this principle well to the front, so ensuring the deep interest of a wide audience. Most of us are tolerably familiar with the remarkable results deriving from studies of atmospheric ozone and these formed an admirable introduction to a symposium concerned with less familiar topics, artificial radioactivity, isotopes produced by cosmic rays, QIBjQI6 ratios, deuterium,

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WMO Bulletin

tritium, iodine and Pb2 ro as well as the non-radioactive trace chemicals in air and rain-water.

One half-day devoted to rockets and satellites and another whole day to the high atmosphere were an acknowledg­ment of a recent trend towards space research. To most people the occasion must have provided the first introduc­tion to the results, in the form of tele­metered cloud photographs, obtained in the U.S.A. from the meteorological satellite TIROS I. The potential value in forecasting is obvious, although there are economic aspects which it would be foolish to brush aside, and an enhanced understanding of dynamical systems, stemming from the ability to look at the phenomenon as a whole, may be predicted with assurance. The coherence and the structural pattern of large-scale cloud systems are no doubt well visualized by the few who are able to integrate their experience as observers or synoptic analysts but to most meteorologists the snapshot from the satellite is the first convincing picture ever received of the cloud pattern of a depression. What new practical skill may emerge from ex­pertise in this new medium it is difficult to imagine but something unexpected may, as the paradox has it, be expected with certainty. The sym­posium on the high atmosphere was essentially dynamical or kinematical, concerned with the motions in the stratosphere and mesosphere as reveal­ed by different techniques. The picture is certainly taking shape rapidly and quantitative dynamical models for these regions of the atmosphere must shortly emerge ; indeed, one quanti­tative calculation of an annualc world circulation was in fact put forward.

I have not attempted to mention all the different items of the Helsinki meteorological fare, several shared with other associations, but have chosen

October 1960

what seemed to me to be most stimu­lating. A curious thing, especially to one who had the benefit of seeing the programme take shape in the months prior to the meetings, was the way in which so many different lines of inquiry, not chosen as having much relation one with another but selected more for their diversity, seemed to feed discussion on the theme of large-scale circulations. The assembly, with over three hundred registered participants in meteorology and over one hundred separate papers, could not be wholly rewarding to everyone but there were many good things and I am sure that few other occasions available to us in the world afford a comparable oppor­tunity to learn where modern meteoro­logy is going and to learn it in such pleasant social circumstances.

The proceedings of the meteorological meetings, including the administrative discussions and summaries of the scien­tific papers, will be published and widely circulated as soon as possible. Extra copies will be available at the cost of a few shillings and anyone interested may obtain one by writing to the Secretary.

Forthcoming symposia

Future functions which were notified at Helsinki and which will interest many specialists are four symposia : on radiation (Vienna, rg6r), on ozone (Arosa, rg6r), on basic problems in turbulence and their relation to geo­physics (rg6r, probably somewhere in France), and on climatic variations (Rome, rg6r). Doubtless later years will provide for other subjects. An interesting decision was to collaborate as actively as possible in the Interna­tional Indian Ocean Expeditions, rg6r­rg64, sponsored by the Special Com­mittee for Oceanic Research (SCOR), and there was fruitful discussion on meteorological data requirements for

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research leading to proposals which will be the basis of further discussion with WMO. The representative of the WMO Secretariat was a welcome par­ticipant in the business meetings and good relations between the two interna-

October 1960

tional bodies, so necessary for efficient working, seem completely assured.

R. C. SuTCLIFFE

Retiring Secretary IAMAP and IUGG Liaison Officer with WMO

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTIFIC HYDROLOGY

t\ T the meeting of the International .1\.. Association of Scientific Hydro­logy, also held during the twelfth general assembly of the IUGG, Mr. M. A. Kohler, president of the Commission for Hydrological Meteorology, repre­sented WMO.

Following the formal address by the President of lASH, Dr. H. G. Welm, and the report of the General Secre­tary, Professor L. J. Tison, the scien­tific sessions were opened with a sym­posium on drought ~pd low discharges. This three-session symposium (held in conjunction with the International Association of Meteorology and At­mospheric Physics) was accorded the undivided attention of all those attend­ing the meetings of the IASH, since there were no other concurrent discus­sions on hydrology. Because of the large number of papers submitted for the meeting, it was necessary to hold simultaneous discussions on several subjects throughout the remainder of the period.

Three other multi-session symposia were held during the course of the lASH meeting : one on tidal rivers, in conjunction with the International Association of Physical Oceanography; one on hydrogeological maps ; and one on the Antarctic, in conjunction with the Special Committee for Antarctic Research. Other sessions sponsored by the several commissions and com­mittees included the following : Snow and sea and lake ice ; Snow accumula­tion and ablation ; General glacier studies and glacio-meteorology ; Re­sponse of glaciers to climate ; Glacier

surveying ; Glacier flow ; Runoff re­sulting from snow cover ; General hydrology of surface runoff ; Land erosion ; Saline infiltration ; Methods of evaluating ground water resources ; Radioactive tracers in hydrology ; Hydrology of radioactive wastes ; Pre­cipitation studies ; Evaporation stu­dies; Hydrologic instruments; Dis­solved solids in streamflow.

It will be seen from the list of subjects treated that the scope of the Helsinki meeting was extremely broad. Although some papers were given only by title, almost three hundred papers were submitted. Those papers which were presented, along with the discus­sions they induced, constituted a full and interesting programme for each of the thirty odd sessions of the meeting.

It is the general practice of the IASH to preprint the papers so that they will be available to those in attendance at the meetings. While it was not possible to do so for all papers presented at the Helsinki meeting, those sponsored by the Commission of Surface Water were available and it is expected that the remaining papers will be published shortly. A detailed programme of the meeting, including the titles and authors of all papers submitted, is included in the June rg6o issue (No. r8), of the Bulletin of the Association of Scientific Hydrology. These and other lASH publications can be obtained from Professor L. J. Tison, Braamstraat 6r (Rue des Ronces), Gentbrugge, Belgium.

M. A. KoHLER President of CHM

204

WMO Bulletin October 1960

A NOTE ON TIROS I AND CLOUD SYSTEMS

MENTION was made in the last issue of the WMO Bulletin (Vol. IX,

No. 3, p. 174) of the meteorological satellite TIROS I launched on r April rg6o. TIROS I circles the earth in 99 minutes 24 seconds or almost roo minutes (apogee 740 km, perigee 700 km, angle of inclination 48° 4). Carrying two television cameras, it began to take photographs of cloud formations at a distance of 700 to 740 km from the earth; by 22 April rg6o, it had completed 300 orbits and its cameras had taken approximately 6ooo pictures of different cloud forma­tions.

These pictures are recorded on magnetic tape so that they can be transmitted to earth when the appa­ratus comes within range of the track~ ing station (r2 minutes only in each hour). The time needed for transmis­sion is approximately 4 minutes for 32 photographs. Photographs taken in the operating range of the receiving station can be transmitted directly to the ground.

This series of photographs opens up a new method of synoptic determina­tion of the cloud cover of the globe ; the American reports present, as a direct result of the observations of TIROS I, a cloud structure of cyclonic disturbances in generally clear-cut spiral bands, not only in the case of tropical disturbances but also in well­defined extra-tropical disturbances.

It is worthy of note that the con­clusions drawn from these actual views of the Earth, taken at altitudes between 700 and 7 40 km, coincide almost feature for feature with studies

205

made earlier from the ground and concepts which go back more than 35 years. I refer to the French concept of cloud systems and to the comments which, as soon as the ideas of the Norwegian school began to be used, I was led to make on the basis of a daily analysis of the synoptic maps for the years 1922 and 1923.

The following extract is the text of a study I submitted to the director of the French National Meteorological Office in the form of a report dated 26 August 1923, which was forwarded to the Academy of Sciences at the beginning of the following month and recorded on 4 September 1923.

All cyclones are elongated towards the south or south-west in the form of a trough, often very deep. This applies (contrary to the Norwegian theory) not only to cyclones in the occlusion stage but also to the most active ones ; indeed, in these latter the trough is all the more marked in proportion to their strength (the most notable cases were on 15 January rgzz and 24 August 1923).

The rain belts are shaped like a comma, with the arc usually following the centre line of the trough. Mixed rain and showers are usual at the southernmost tip of the trough or, if the trough is very shallow, there is a zone of low cloud and mist.

On the passage of a disturbance (Nor­wegian cyclone), except for secondary fronts, the nature of the precipitation varies according to the position of the observing station in relation to the path of the centre of the disturbance.

The so-called warm sector rise in tem­perature may occur :

(a) both near the centre and at the· southernmost tip of the disturbance ;:

(b) both in an occluding disturbance and in a normal and active one ;

(c) invariably in coincidence with the'

WMO Bulletin

arrival of the southerly air stream (SE to SW) which occurs ahead of the disturbance.

Taking these elements into account, the following diagram may be obtained:

October 1960

We may well wonder what new developments will arise from photo­graphic information transmitted by satellites. As I have already had occasion to indicate, orally at least,

~~~/-. "1 AooocddeLt:mocgeoocd 1/ /'/. / ~ N. of L1; north latert~l sky

u==:r ?>"~ 9>::\-::: '); ~r~:i.·~:~~tfoun centre de Path of centre of disturbance

Au sud deL: merge sud 5. of L: south lateral sky

Llalsonzone: misty Stand Se

PI"'" I"''" r~ Fmot I :::8 ~~~~~j~, a~h~~:r! ~~djs I ~

Cirrus avanl·coureurs et de marge Advance and lateral Cirrus

Diagram of cloud system proposed by Mr. A. Viaut on z6 August 1923 (Photographic archives of the Meteorologie Nationale)

The details of this first outline of the structure of a disturbance will have to be filled in after studying a larger number of cases. But I thought it as well to set down, at the present stage, the notes I have already been able to make on the subject.

An even more notable fact is that one of the photographs taken by TIROS I of an extra-tropical disturbance in the state in which such disturbances generally appear in Europe * resembles fairly closely my diagram (1923) of an extra-tropical disturbance. The elon­gation of the central zone of the system in the shape of a comma may be seen, and also the eddying wind movement around the centre of the disturbance.

* Editor's note : The photograph referred to was reproduced in the last issue of the Bulletin, together with the corresponding synoptic chart (Vol. IX, No. 3, pp. 174 and 1 75)·

when these documents are disseminated throughout the world they will make it possible to complete our traditional weather maps, to locate more accu­rately the position of cloud systems and perhaps their evolution, and to fill in the serious gaps corresponding to sea areas or sparsely inhabited or desert regions. Thus, map analysis can become a more accurate operation since the basic information will be more complete. On the other hand, contrary to what may have been imagined in press circles, the data obtained by satellites are not going to solve all the problems of meteoro­logists. I am thinking in particular of such questions as the dynamic evolu­tion of disturbances or weather fore­casting, whether for 36 hours in advance or for longer periods. Yet satellite information will certainly help

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us to understand these problems better. That is why, in spite of the reserva­tions expressed above,. we must rejoice in the boldness of our American col­leagues who have succeeded in provid­ing meteorology with a magnificent tool of observation, with obvious advantages which may become even more valuable if other data (radiation

EMERGENCY AID TO THE CONGO

ON 25 July rg6o the Secretary­General of WMO received a cable

from the special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Na­tions in the newly independent Re­public of Congo requesting assistance from WMO in the field of meteorology. In order to determine the needs for assistance under the special circum­stances prevailing in the Congo, the chief of the Technical Assistance Unit, Dr. H. Sebastian, was sent to Leopold­ville immediately after receipt of this request. He spent one week there which coincided with the first visit to the Congo of Mr. Dag Hammarskj6ld, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This provided the possibility of participating in several meetings with Mr. Hammarskjold and repre­sentatives of various organizations during which the basic principles for a concerted technical assistance pro­gramme were developed. In addition Dr. Sebastian had negotiations with appropriate Congolese authorities, in particular with the Minister of Com­munications under whose authority the Meteorological and Geophysical Service is now placed.

On r August the Minister of Com­munications of the Congo Republic

October 1960

data in particular), can later be obtained by its means.

In concluding, I wish to thank very sincerely Dr. F. W. Reichelderfer, director of the U.S. Weather Bureau, for his friendly gesture in supplying me with information on TIROS I.

A. VIAUT

nominated a Congolese national, Mr. Clerebaut, as administrative di­rector of the Meteorological and Geo­physical Service and WMO was asked to provide a technical adviser. To assume this function, Mr. R. du Chaxel (France) was appointed as adviser to the Congolese authorities and chief of the WMO technical assistance mission. He took up his duties on 3 August rg6o.

Subsequently, four other French experts were sent to the Congo on a temporary basis to assume functions as forecasters on the airports of Leopold­ville and Stanleyville. All expert nominations had to be approved in­dividually by the Minister of Commu­nications ; the whole operation was financed by special funds of the United Nations.

207

Since it is expected that the emer­gency steps which had to be taken immediately will, ultimately, have to be replaced by a normal technical assistance programme in the Congo Republic, the Secretary-General of WMO notified the permanent repre­sentatives of Members of the Organiza­tion that experts might be needed and invited nominations of suitably quali-

WMO Bulletin

fied persons who would be willing to serve on technical assistance missions if the Government of the Congo so desires.

In addition to the need for meteoro­logical experts to replace the meteoro­logists who have recently left the Congo, there is need to provide training facilities for Congolese nationals and this problem is also receiving attention.

CURRENT PROGRAMME

In the following paragraphs some recent developments in the current technical assistance programme are described.

! ~ Iceland

Assistance has been given to the Meteorological Service of Iceland for the purpose of building up an instru­ments laboratory and workshop. In order to make the best possible use of the restricted funds available it was agreed that the same expert should pay several visits to Iceland. In August rg6o Mr. G. A. Clift (United Kingdom) returned to Iceland for the third time for a short mission of six weeks in order to assist in the installation of new equipment which has been delivered in the meantime. This visit will conclude the assistance given by WMO for this purpose, as a suitable member of the Icelandic Meteorological Service is now available to continue the work when the expert leaves.

Iran

In July rg6o Dr. M. Hinzpeter (Federal Republic of Germany) com­pleted a two months' mission to Iran, during which he studied the require­ments for upper-air observations in Iran in the light of pertinent resolu­tions of Regional Association II (Asia). As a result of this study he made recommendations to the government

October 1960

for the most suitable equipment to be acquired and for the organization and operation of the Iranian upper-air network. After the Iranian Govern­ment has purchased the necessary equipment it is intended to send another upper-air expert to Iran in order to assist the government in the implementation of these recommen­dations.

Jordan An important event took place in /

Jordan recently when the Prime Mi- I' nister agreed on the unification and centralization of the country's clima­tological activities within the Jordan Meteorological Service and on the establishment of additional reporting stations throughout the country. The success of this unification and central­ization, which had been recommended by the WMO expert, Dr. M. Hoffmann (Federal Republic of Germany), will be greatly facilitated by the ready co-1 operation of the Minister of Agriculture and the Head of the Irrigation Depart­ment. As a direct result, the meteoro­logical service faces many new de­mands, to meet some of which the meteorological observations obtained by the enlarged network will be col­lected, evaluated and incorporated in a monthly climatological summary which will be published and distributed throughout the country. The service will also now be called upon to issue special bulletins to farmers so that necessary protective measures can be taken - this is especially important during the spring and winter seasons. Special reports will also be made to the Minister of Agriculture with such forecasts as may be pertinent in order that farmers and horticulturists may be warned in time to take measures against insects and disease.

208

Libya For a number of years Dr. C. A. Lea

(United Kingdom) has been actively

WMO Bulletin

engaged as a WMO technical assistance expert in Libya. One of the problems to which he has been devoting his attention recently is the improvement of the arrangements for collecting meteorological observations from Li­bya. With the help of some telecom­munications equipment which was delivered under the WMO technical assistance programme, it has been possible to reduce the time for the internal collection of the Libyan re­ports from 6o to 45 'minutes. Efforts are being made towards further im­provement. In connexion with this work the expert made a round trip of 5,8oo km in April 196o to inspect the synoptic reporting stations in Cyre­naica, including oases in the Sahara Desert.

Paraguay In September 1959 an expert in

agricultural meteorology, Mr. F. Albani (Argentina), commenced his mission to Paraguay, which in the first instance is limited to an eight months' period. Among other things he was asked to start a course of lectures on agricultural meteorology at the University of Asunci6n. It is now evident that there is substantial interest in this course and the attendance is comparable to that of other popular courses. Mr. Al­bani was also requested to give a lecture on Climate and agriculture to some agricultural leaders in co-opera­tion with the Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, the Association of Fruit­growers is planning an elementary course of agricultural meteorology to be given by the expert to agronomists, as a result of which it will be possible to make phenological observations on crops in different zones. In May 1960 the expert was called upon by the Ministry of Agriculture to visit a large coffee-growing area where serious damage has been caused by frost. The Coffee Growers Association requested the expert to study the whole problem

October 1960

of frost in the region in question, and to advise on measures to prevent damage by frost. The deputy chief of the WMO Technical Assistance Unit, upon his return after an official visit to Paraguay, reported that he found a deep interest in the WMO technical assistance mission. In view of the very promising beginning to this mission, the government authorities and the University of Asunci6n have requested the continuation of the expert's assign­ment and arrangements to this end are being made.

United Arab Republic

During the last few years the meteorological department has built up systematically its scientific instru­ments workshop with the help of WMO technical assistance. Following re­commendations given by a WMO expert in 1956, the government pur­chased the necessary equipment and instruments and constructed a building for the workshop. In 1959 a second WMO expert assisted in putting the workshop into operation. The need has now arisen for the further develop­ment of the electronics section of the scientific workshop and also for advice on the maintenance and calibration of electronic instruments used in upper­air observations. Upon request of the government a third expert has now been appointed for this purpose ; Mr. G. Fredericks (United States) took up his duties in Cairo in July 1960 and his mission is expected to continue throughout rg6r.

209

FELLOWSHIPS

A fellowship was awarded to Mr. M. Y ousif of Saudi Arabia to study general meteorology in the United Kingdom. Mr. Yousif commenced his twelve months' study course in September rg6o.

WMO Bulletin

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (OPEX SCHEME)

In previous issues of the Bulletin mention was made of a new scheme of technical assistance introduced by the United Nations. Whereas the activities of experts under the EPTA are nor­mally restricted to advisory functions, under the new scheme experts may be provided to :fill temporarily posts of an operational or executive character; this type of -assistance is therefore known as the OPEX Scheme. The

PROJECTS TO BE EXECUTED BY WMO

J\s readers will recall, four large fi projects for which WMO has been designated as executing agency have been approved so far by the Governing Council of the Special Fund. Information about these projects was given in previous issues of the Bulletin. In the following paragraphs some recent developments are described.

Chile . In view of the destruction caused by

the recent earthquake in Chile the Government of Chile appealed to the United Nations and the specialized agencies to give all possible help ; this included an early start on the WMO project. The managing director of the Special Fund, in recognition of this urgent need, gave approval on I4 July rg6o for the commencement of the project although all the usual prelimi­naries had not yet been completed.

As a :first step towards execution of the project, orders were placed for the procurement of an initial list of the equipment required. With the concur­rence of the Government of Chile,

210

October 1960

OPEX Scheme is operated under the sole responsibility of the United Na­tions but specialized agencies are consulted if their :field of activity is involved.

After WMO had been consulted in this way, the United Nations appointed Dr. L. S. Mathur (India) and Mr. M. R. Dasgupta (India) as electronics officer and assistant electronics officer respec­tively for the Sudan Meteorological Service. Both experts arrived in Khar­toum on JI May rg6o.

Dr. C. S. Gilman (United States) was selected to serve as chief of the WMO mission for this project and took up his duties there during October rg6o.

Ecuador The plan of operation for this project

was signed by the Government of Ecuador, the Special Fund and the Secretary-General of WMO in June rg6o, and the formal authorization for the commencement of the project was given by the managing director of the Special Fund in July.

As already mentioned in the Bulletin, Dr. R. Schri:ider (Federal Republic of Germany) has been appointed as chief of the WMO mission for this project. He arrived in Ecuador on 30 August rg6o.

Peru Negotiations for the plan of opera­

tion for" this project with the Peruvian authorities were completed by Mr. J. Sweet (United States) as representative of WMO. It is hoped that the revised plan which has thus been developed will be adopted shortly by all parties

WMO Bulletin

concerned so that the operation of the project can commence in January rg6r.

Israel

The first lists of equipment for the Central Meteorological Institute in Israel to be provided under the Special Fund project have been drawn up and action is being taken for their procure­ment. It is reported that the new

Signing the plan of opera­tion for the Special Fund project in Ecuador, 27 June

rg6o

Octobel' 1960

involved was given in an article entitled International collaboration on the Lower Mekong (Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 4, p. 179).

Since then a Survey of four tributa­ries of the M ekong River has been approved as a Special Fund project for which the United Nations serves as executing agency. In agreement with

Seated (left to right) : Mr. A. E. Balinski, UNTAB Resident Representative; Mr. Carlos To bar,

Minister for Foreign Relations; Mr. Gustavo Diez, Minister for National Defence, and Mr. Jorge Crespo, Co-ordinator General for Technical Assistance

Third from right (standing) : Col. Galo Andrade, director of the Meteorological Service of Ecuador

building for the Institute which is being constructed by the Government of Israel has made good progress.

PARTICIPATION OF WMO IN SPECIAL FUND PROJECTS EXECUTED

BY OTHER AGENCIES

In addition to the projects mentioned above there are also some being executed by other agencies in which WMO's collaboration has been invited. Information on three such projects is given below.

Lower Mekong River ·Development

As readers have previously been informed, WMO and other agencies were participating in the Lower Mekong river development project which was operated initially under the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance (EPTA). A full account of the problems

211

the United Nations, the administrative arrangements for the WMO hydromete­orologist, Mr. R. Berthelot (France), have now been transferred to the new Special Fund project but he con­tinues to be technically responsible to WMO.

Hydrometeorology and hydrology play a considerable part in this large project. The first phase of the plan of operation includes hydrological studies and the establishment of meteoro­logical and hydrological stations, while the second phase covers the computa­tion and analysis of hydrological data. The urgent need of basic data and analysis of rainfall and stream data for estimation of the river flow and for the planning of the projected dams on the tributaries of the Mekong has made the hydrometeorological aspect of the project very important.

WMO Bulletin

Mr. Berthelot has been called upon to carry out diverse items of work in this project. He has made field visits for the reconnaissance of the Buttam­bang Basin, arranged for the installa­tion of a number of raingauges in the basin, inspected existing river gauges and also carried out some useful discharge measurements. At the spe­cial request of the Government of Cambodia, Mr. Berthelot gave intensive

Work in progress in July Ig6o on the building for the Central Meteorological Ins-

titute in Israel

training to a number of government technicians in hydrological work. In addition to this field work he has been conducting a number of hydrometeoro­logical and hydrological investigations. One of the more important studies, undertaken at the request of the co­ordinating committee of the four riparian countries, is the estimation of the maximum probable :flood at the Pa Mang dam site. He has also been collaborating with the American engi­neering firm working on this project by assisting in its hydrological and me­teorological activities. During the absence of the executive agent of the United Nations, Mr. Berthelot also serves as his deputy.

FA 0 desert locust project In December 1959 the Governing

Council of the Special Fund approved a locust project for which the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the

October 1960

United Nations was designed as exe­cuting agency. From the early stages of its development WMO has been invited to participate in this project (see Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 4, p. 184 and Vol. IX, No. 3, p. 167), the overall purpose of which is to develop more effective and less expensive control of the desert locust in order to relieve all affected countries of the economic burden at present imposed upon them

by the costs of control operations and the extent of crop damages. This is a regional project in which xg countries participate and . to which the Special Fund is contributing approximately 2.5 million dollars.

Meteorology is involved in many different aspects of this project. In connexion with an ecological survey which forms a major part of the pro­ject, a climatological survey of the selected area is also envisaged and special meteorological observations will be taken during the survey period. The use of meteorological stations for locust reporting will also be investi­gated. Local personnel in the affected areas will be trained in the meteoro­logical aspects of locust control and a strengthening of the Desert Locust Information Service is planned in order to extend its analytical and forecasting services with the help of

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meteorological information. It is hoped that the results of the correlations between locust breeding and move­ments on the one hand and meteoro­logical factors on the other which is being carried out as an EPTA project in British East Africa will provide some knowledge which will be useful for the fight against locusts.

Collaboration with ICAO in meteoro­logical training

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is developing in various parts of the world Civil Avia­tion Training Centres as Special Fund projects. WMO was invited to partici­pate in the meteorological training to be given at these centres to aero­nautical personnel as well as to meteorological personnel.

During its twelfth session, the Exec­utive Committee of WMO approved the following arrangements for the collaboration with ICAO with regard to these training centres. Any courses

AEROLOGY

J\ DVANTAGE was taken of the pre­_n sence in Helsinki at the time of the IUGG General Assembly of several members of working groups of the Commission for Aerology to organize informal sessions of two of these groups and to make personal contact between members of other groups.

The Working Group on Atmospheric Ozone held a session at which all the members were present. The follow-up action on the previous session (see Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 4, p. 204) was first reviewed and it was noted that most of the group's recommendations

October 1960

of instruction in meteorology of-fered by these centres will be reviewed by WMO Q,nd ICAO to ensure that they meet the requirements of the stated level of training. WMO will suggest qualified meteorological instructors for appoint­ment by ICAO and will also ensure through inspection trips that the quality of the training given is in accordance with the agreed curricula of the courses.

So far a training centre in Cair()_and V

one in Bangkok have been approved by the Special Fund.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNIT

Following the termination of the temporary appointment of Mr. I. Font Tullot (Spain), the Secretary-General appointed Mr. K. Parthasarathy (India) as senior technical officer to increase the staf-f of the Technical Assistance Unit in view of the additional work­load caused by WMO's Special Fund activities.

had been incorporated in Executive Committee resolutions.

Suggestions were made about the machinery for carrying out the inspec­tions of ozone spectrophotometers which are included in the Secretariat programme for rg6z. The work should be done by an instruments physicist who has already had considerable experience with the instruments in question ; it may be advisable to organize the work partly on a regional basis.

Members of the group agreed to draft sections for a chapter on ozone

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measurements for the Guide to Inter­national Meteorological Instrument and Observing Practice.

Four of the members of the Working Group on Numerical Methods of Weather Analysis and Forecasting attended informal meetings of the group on 2 and 3 August rg6o. The main item of business was to revise the draft report of the group, which had been prepared as a result of its first session (see Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 2, p. 85). The main additions agreed at the meeting related to Russian work in this field, information about which was provided by two U.S.S.R. experts who attended the meetings.

An important additional appendix was also available for discussion. It had been drafted by Dr. P. D. Thomp­son and dealt with the problem of introducing new codes for the synoptic upper-air messages required for nu­merical methods with a view to speed­ing up the reception of the data at the forecast centres.

As a result of the meeting it seems probable that the final version of the working group's report will be available in the very near future.

AERONAUTICAL METEOROLOGY

THE Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology had decided, at its

second session, to set up a Working Group on the Utilization of Aircraft Meteorological Reports. The group met at WMO headquarters in Geneva from 5 to 9 September rg6o, under the chairmanship of Mr. P. K. Rohan (Ireland), the other members being Dr. H. M .. de Jong (Netherlands), Dr. S. N. Sen (India) and Mr. S. Sim­plicio (United States of America). It prepared the draft of a WMO guide on techniques calculated to secure the maximum possible benefit from the meteorological information furnished by aircraft.

October 1960

The Working Group on the Meteoro­logical Aspects of Area Forecast Sys­tems, also set up by the second session of the commission, has now been for­mally established. It is composed of rg members, under the chairmanship of Mr. A. H. N agle (United States of America).

AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY

THE Working Group on Storage of Fruit, under the chairmanship of

Professor G. D. B. de Villiers, Bloem­fontein (see p. 227), is conducting an inquiry among the members of the Commission for Agricultural Meteoro­logy on studies regarding the influence of weather during the growth period on the keeping quality of fruit. The permanent representatives of WMO in countries not represented on CAgM have also been asked to supply infor­mation for this purpose.

CLIMATOLOGY

THE preparations for the third session of the Commission for

Climatology (London, r-r6 December rg6o) have continued, both in London and in the WMO Secretariat. The provisional agenda for the session has been distributed, together with an explanatory memorandum.

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The membership of the new Working Group on Climatic Atlases is now nearly completed. At the request of the president of the commission, Mr. J. V. Maher (Australia), has agreed to act as convenor and provisional chairman. The possibility of arranging a session of the working group in London immediately prior to the forthcoming session of CCl is now being explored.

The Working Group on the Guide to Climatological Practices held a meeting in the WMO Secretariat from r6 to 24 August rg6o, under the chairman­ship of Dr. H. Landsberg, U.S. Weather

WMO Bulletin

Bureau. The president of the com­mission was also present. After having studied the provisional draft chapters of the Guide, the working group decided to rearrange and re-edit this material and to add several new sections. Thanks to a very determined effort by all the participants, it proved possible to complete most of this work during the meeting. After some further addi­tions and minor editorial amend­ments, the draft will be translated

Committee room in the WMO Secretariat where working group meetings have been held. The wall plaque was given by the United Arab Republic and the furniture by the United Kingdom

from the original English into French ; it is hoped that both an English and a French version of most chapters will be available before the opening of the third session. of CCl.

A report on the national climato­logical activities in Member countries during the period 1953-57 was issued in 1958. In order to obtain a picture of the present situation, the commis­sion asked the Secretariat to prepare a revised version of this report before the opening of the third session of CCl. The Members of WMO have therefore been requested to submit additional information, including the number of climatological stations in their country according to the current system of classifying these stations.

October 1960

HYDROLOGICAL METEOROLOGY

ON the invitation of the Govern­ment of the United States of

America, the Commission for Hydrolo­gical Meteorology will hold its first session in the building of the Depart­ment of State in Washington D.C. from 12 April 1961.

Mr. M. A. Kohler, president of the· commission, visited the Secretariat in

the middle of August and discussed a number of matters pertaining to the commission's programme of work. The final texts of the provisional agenda and the explanatory memorandum for the first session were established. These documents are being sent to all the Members, together with an official invitation to attend the session.

215

Implementation of the decision of the twelfth session of the Executive Committee concerning the inclusion of avalanche warning and forecasts in the programme of work of CHM has begun. As a first step the Secretariat has sent out a questionnaire concerning the following : organization of moun­tain snow and avalanche work; instru­ments, equipment and methods of

WMO Bulletin

observation used to study mountain snow and avalanches; methods of analysing the observations; current research work on mountain snow and avalanches; and methods of avalanche forecasting. A report prepared on the basis of the replies to this question­naire will be submitted to the forth­coming session of the commission.

"INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION

FOUR of the members of the CIMO Working Group on Hydrometeoro­

logical Instruments who were present at the twelfth general assembly of the IUGG in Helsinki in August 1g6o held two informal meetings on this occasion. The president of the commission also attended part of the time.

Discussion was mainly concentrated on the contents of the chapter on hydrometeorological instruments for the Guide to International M eteoro­logical Instrument and Observing Prac­tice. It was agreed that the scope of this chapter should be similar to that of the other chapters and that the field covered should be limited to the main elements of the hydrological cycle. Liberal references will be made to other chapters to avoid unnecessary duplication. It is planned to have the draft of the chapter ready for presenta­tion to the first session of the Com­mission for Hydrological Meteorology (April 1961).

MARITIME METEOROLOGY

1\ CTIVITIES in the field of maritime fi meteorology have been mainly concentrated on the work of the third session of the commission, held at Utrecht (Netherlands.), whose proceed­ings are reported on page 197.

Apart from this, the main focus of interest was WMO's relations with

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October 1960

other international organizations, in particular its representation at the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea (London, May-June rg6o), the annual meeting of the Interna­tional Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (Bergen, June rg6o) and the Intergovernmental Conference on Oceanographic Research (Copen­hagen, July 1g6o) (see pp. 220 and 221).

As for the joint IMCOjiCAOjiTU/ WMO group mentioned in the article on the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea (see p. 221), an exchange of letters has already taken place on the subject of the working programme and it has been recognized that, for the part concerning meteoro­logy, priority should be given to the study of the times of watch aboard ships with a single radio operator, in various zones, in relation to the transmission of weather messages.

SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY

THE CSM Working Group on Net­works has submitted to the

president of the commission a prelimi­nary report based on the results achieved at the first session of the group (Stockholm, October 1959).

The president of the commission presented to the twelfth session of the Executive Committee a report on the world network of weather stations which proposed some new stations to fill some of the gaps in the existing network of surface and upper-air observations, particularly in tropical areas and in the southern hemisphere, until such time as the Working Group on Networks should issue its final report. The plan was approved as a whole by the Executive Committee. A copy of tbe document in question has been sent for information to the members of the commission.

WMO Bulletin October 1960

ROYAL SOCIETY TERCENTENARY, 1660-1960

1\ s many readers of the Bulletin will fi be aware, the Royal Society (or, to give it its full title, the Royal Society of London for the Improve­ment of Natural Knowledge) is the senior scientific body, both in age and status, in the United Kingdom. Its high scientific standing is, moreover, recognized throughout the world. Thus the celebrations of the Tercentenary of the Royal Society mark an occasion of great scientific interest.

These celebrations took place in London from r8 to z6 July rg6o. Distinguished scientists from nearly fifty countries of the world took part and representatives from most uni­versities and scientific institutes in the United Kingdom were also present. In addition four specialized agencies of the United Nations (WMO, FAO, UNESCO and WHO) were represented by senior Secretariat officials, as was also the International Atomic Energy Agency ; WMO was represented by the Secretary-General. Representatives of sixteen non-governmental international organizations were also present; includ­ing Professor W. A. Engelhardt (U.S.S.R.) (representing the Interna­tional Council of Scientific Unions) and Professor K. R. Ramanathan (India) (representing the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics).

The programme of the celebrations included a series of lectures covering a wide range of scientific subjects, each of which was delivered by an acknow­ledged expert in the particular field. While recognizing the vast field of scientific endeavour which falls within the purview of the Royal Society, a meteorologist must inevitably be some­what disappointed to find that no·

provision had been made for at least one lecture on a meteorological topic. The WMO representative thus chose to attend a number of lectures on such subjects as the Study of nuclear inter­action at very great energies and the Investigation of the universe by radio astronomy, etc. as being those nearest to his field of direct interest. Never­theless, when viewed as an opportunity to take part in what might be regarded as a broad stock-taking of the present state of knowledge in the natural sciences rather than as an opportunity to study developments in a particular field, the whole series of lectures was undoubtedly a most stimulating and rewarding feature of the celebrations.

The programme also included visits to universities and scientific institutes in various parts of the country ; these were of great interest to all partici­pants, whatever their specialized scien­tific field. The display entitled Physics of the Earth, Ocean and Atmosphere arranged as part of an exhibition organized by the Royal Society itself was of course of particular interest to the WMO representative.

The international importance of the occasion was marked by the conferring of the degrees of Doctor of Science honoris causa by the Universities of

· Cambridge, London and Oxford on distinguished foreign scientists from Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Netherlands, Sweden, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.

The celebrations were opened by an impressive ceremony attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and termi­nated by a formal dinner at which the

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Prime Minister was the guest of honour. Generous hospitality was extended to those attending the celebrations in the form of many official and unofficial social engagements ; these contributed greatly to the warm and friendly atmosphere which was characteristic of the whole occasion, and also enabled useful discussions to take place, as well as personal contacts to be made be­tween the delegates.

October 1960

A feature of the celebrations was the thoroughness and care with which all arrangements were made. These factors combined with the courteous and painstaking attention afforded to all participants contributed greatly to make this noteworthy scientific occa­sion a most pleasant personal experi­ence to all who were fortunate to be present.

D. A. D.

AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY IN THE HUMID TROPICS

THE need for increased efforts towards improving the services

provided by meteorologists in countries within the humid tropics and for more research in these regions was recog­nized by Third Congress. Acting on a Congress resolution, the WMO Execu­tive Committee decided to request the presidents of the Commissions for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) and Climatology (CCl) to keep themselves informed of developments in both research and applied meteorology in the humid tropics and to present a progress report on the activities of their respective commissions in this field.

The information given in this short article results from the steps taken by the president of CAgM in response to this directive and accords with the Congress request that Members should be kept abreast of developments through the medium of the WMO Bulletin.

Action within CAgM

At present, the work programme of the commission contains no items specifically concerned with the meteo­rology of the humid tropics. Some of the working groups of CAgM are, however, deaFng with problems of

wide application which are of particu­lar interest in tropical areas. The group on agroclimatic classifications and representations has a programme relevant to the preparation of climatic maps delineating the humid tropics and the report of the group on meteoro­logical service for aircraft employed in agriculture and forestry (see p. 231) deals, inter alia, with work on the aerial application of insecticides in Tanga­nyika and elsewhere in tropical Africa.

In order to obtain up-to-date infor­mation on local progress in this field an inquiry was made amongst the members of CAgM in the areas con­cerned. Only a small number of replies was received to this inquiry and some of those stated that they had no progress to report. The main features of the remaining replies are summarized in the paragraphs which follow.

· Recent developments and studies

The reply from India indicated that a good deal of work is in progress in the application of meteorology to agri­cultural problems in those parts of the country having a humid tropical cli­mate. Systematic crop and weather observations are being undertaken at a network of selected experimental farms to obtain standardized data for the

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evaluation of crop-weather relation­ships. In addition, phenological ob­servations are being made at about 300 stations.

Importance is also attached to the development of new instruments and experimental techniques. Recent work includes instruments for measuring plant temperatures, for the estimation of soil moisture and for recording heat losses from the ground. The micro­climates inside various crops, radiation and the thermal balance close to the ground as well as soil moisture and the water balance are also the subjects of detailed investigations now in progress. Other developments have been the pre­paration of special bulletins and out­looks for crop production and it is hoped that new techniques will lead to medium-range forecasts for farmers.

Some similar work is being carried on in East Pakistan where the network of agrometeorological observatories and sub-regional research stations is being considerably augmented. Here too, the relationship between weather and cli­mate and certain crops and the pests and diseases to which they are subject are under close study. Other investiga­tions being actively pursued include the microclimates of fruit and forest trees, the water balance, and ecological and phenological studies of natural and cultivated plant groups.

The remaining information resulting from the inquiry is confined to two countries. News has been received of the development in Indonesia of a warning system for epidemic outbreaks of the blister blight disease of tea, based mainly on the duration of sunshine. Venezuela reports that de­spite the lack of an efficient network of agrometeorological stations, investi­gations are proceeding on environ­mental influences on coffee and cocoa

October 1960

cultivations and on the measurement of soil temperature, soil moisture and evapotranspiration. No publishable results are, however, expected for one or two years.

Possible future action by CAgM

As already mentioned, there has been little active work within CAgM on humid tropics problems so far. This fact reflects the desirability of providing some less-developed coun­tries with expert advice on framing requests for assistance in agricultural meteorology. Meetings such as the Seminar on Tropical Agrometeorology held in Venezuela in September 1960 (see WMO Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. 3, p. r62), on which a report will appear in the next issue of the Bulletin, will undoubtedly help to remove this difficulty.

A major factor is the lack of a basic network of meteorological observing stations adequate to support a super­structure of applied meteorology. This problem, referred to in the report from Venezuela, will be a barrier to local progress in agrometeorology over most of the humid tropics for some time to come. In view of this difficulty, the president of the Commission for Agri­cultural Meteorology has expressed the view that it might be unwise to impose a complex programme of humid tropics research on the technical com­missions until the foundations are sufficiently sound to bear the weight. It would thus seem best to pursue a realistic course of informing the coun­tries within the humid tropics (by local seminars and similar methods) of possible lines of agrometeorological research and to continue to encourage the establishment of the basic observa­tional networks without which genuine progress is impossible.

P. R.

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ICNAF

THE tenth annual meeting of the International Commission for the

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), held at Bergen, Norway, from 30 May to 3 June rg6o, was attended by Mr. Finn Spinnangr, chief of the Bergen meteorological office, as WMO observer.

Discussions at the meeting mainly concerned practical and scientific fish­ery problems, but meteorological co­operation problems were also touched upon. The WMO representative ex­pressed the Organization's willingness to examine thoroughly any meteoro­logical problems referred to it and drew attention to the establishment of a working group of the WMO Com­mission for Maritime Meteorology (CMM) on relations with international fisheries organizations, which would make its first report to the third session of the CMM in August rg6o. He stressed the need for weather observa­tions from fishing vessels operating away from the main shipping lines and the advantage to the fishing industry in thus helping the weather services to provide more reliable and adequate forecasts.

In connexion with environmental studies, it was recommended that a working party consisting of hydro­graphers and biologists should be invited. to investigate among other items the influence on fish of the dis­tribution and movement of low pres­sure areas. It was also recommended

October 1960

that WMO's attention should be drawn to the interest of ICNAF in the effect of climatic factors on changes in hydro­graphic conditions of the Northwest Atlantic area, and thereby on fluctua­tions in the distribution and abundance of commercial fishes.

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ICSU (SCAR)

THE fourth meeting of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

(SCAR) of the International Council of Scientific Unions was held in Cam­bridge, England, from 29 August to 4 September rg6o. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the twelve countries directly interested in Antarctic research and also by several of the international scientific unions. WMO was represented by Dr. K. Langlo, chief of the Technical Division of the Secretariat.

The meeting adopted a number of recommendations concerning the me­teorological activities in the Antarctic which are being referred either directly to members represented on SCAR or to WMO for appropriate action.

Great interest was shown in a state­ment by the United States member of the committee that his government had decided to install an atomic reac­tor at the American base McMurdo at an estimated cost of about four million dollars. The reactor will produce rsoo kW of power and will probably come into operation in rg62. If it

WMO Bulletin

proves satisfactory, similar reactors may be installed at other stations.

The U.S.S.R. delegate mentioned in a press interview that one of the U.S.S.R. stations had observed a new record of low temperature, i.e. -88.4°C.

At the end of the session, Ing. Gen. G. Laclavere was re-elected president for a three-year term and the com­mittee accepted an invitation from New Zealand to hold the next meeting of SCAR in that country in September­October 1961.

ICSU (SCOR)

THE fourth meeting of the Special Committee for Oceanic Research

(SCOR) of the International Council of Scientific Unions was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 23 and 24 July 1960. WMO was represented by Mr. 0. M. Ashford of the Technical Division.

Some of the main developments since the previous meeting (see Bulle­tin, Vol. IX, No. r, p. 32) related to the Indian Ocean expeditions, during which it is planned that a large part of this vast ocean will be surveyed by research vessels from ten or more countries. The expeditions are being planned by national committees but co-ordination is being ensured by a special working group of SCOR. The interest of meteorologists in this pro­ject is twofold. In the first place the meteorological services of countries bordering the Indian Ocean are being requested to provide special facilities for the expeditions. This aspect of the question was subsequently reviewed at the third session of the WMO Com­mission for Maritime Meteorology (see p. 197), at which the representative of SCOR, Dr. K. Wyrtki, explained the main objects of the project and out­lined the services which it was hoped WMO Members might be able to

October 1960

provide through improved forecasting facilities and an increased meteorolo­gical observing programme.

In the second place the expeditions will provide some excellent opportu­nities for research in those facets of meteorology which border on oceano­graphy- energy interchange between ocean and atmosphere, for example -and it is therefore incumbent on meteorologists to help to plan the scientific programme. To this end, the International Association of Me­teorology and Atmospheric Physics has now set up a committee to collab­orate with SCOR (see p. 203).

221

The SCOR meeting was held hard on the heels of the Intergovernmental Conference on Oceanographic Research (Copenhagen II to r6 July) at which WMO had been represented by Mr. Helge Thomsen, president of CMM. The principal outcome of this con­ference had been to recommend that UNESCO should establish an Inter­governmental Oceanographic Com­mission (IOC) and also an office of oceanography within the UNESCO secretariat. SCOR welcomed these developments and expressed readiness to serve as a scientific advisory group to the roe.

I MCO

THE International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea was held in.

London, under the auspices of the· Inter-governmental Maritime Consul­tative Organization, from 17 May to· 17 June 1960. WMO was represented by Commander C. E. N. Frankcom, former president of the Commission for Maritime Meteorology.

The purpose of this conference was; to revise and bring up to date the· 1948 International Convention for Sa-· fety of Life at Sea, which is the basic:

1\ I

I

WMO Bulletin

document governing all safety measures aboard merchant ships and the interna­tional regulations for preventing colli­sion at sea. Every aspect of safety at sea was discussed and owing to the complexity of the problems it was necessary to form eight technical com­mittees to revise the existing Conven­tion.

The effects of meteorological condi­tions - strong winds, rough seas and high swells, low visibility, and ice -upon safety at sea, are obvious. The direct meteorological aspects are dealt with in Chapter 5 of the Convention, and these were amended and brought up to date.

In Regulation 2 - Danger messages from ships - it was decided to include messages concerning "sub-freezing air temperature associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on super-structures" and messages con­cerning "winds of Beaufort force IO or above for which no storm warning has been received". This reference to ice \accretion was included as a direct result of the known loss of two trawlers 'off Iceland in 1955 during very heavy weather, when their capsizing was due to this cause.

Regulation 4 - Meteorological ser­vices - was amended to include a

· reference to the desirability of meteoro­, logical services publishing and making

available daily weather charts for the information of departing ships (as is already done in . the larger ports of certain countries) and "to encourage the transmission of suitable facsimile weather charts" for the benefit of shipping, and the inclusion of informa­tion about "waves" in weather bulle­tins for shipping.

Not many merchant ships are yet -fitted for facsimile reception, but the

October 1960

potential value of this medium for conveying useful meteorological infor­mation and advice about ice condi­tions to shipmasters is obvious.

Under Regulation 3 - Information required in danger messages - a new reference was made to the desirability of all barometric pressure readings being corrected in radio weather mes­sages from merchant ships; this was not intended to refer to selected ships, whose pressure readings are always corrected, but to other ships which only send radio weather messages on rare occasions.

Minor amendments were made to regulations and recommendations with the aim of underlining the necessity of adequate arrangements being made for the reception and dissemination of weather messages received from ships.

Other questions of indirect meteoro­logical interest discussed by the Safety of Navigation Committee included the technical work, operation, manage­ment and cost of the International Ice Patrol service, which carries out the study and observation of ice condi­tions in the North Atlantic for the benefit of shipping, and the question of North Atlantic routes.

The amended collision regulations include, for the first time, official recognition of the use of radar as an anti-collision device for ships in low visibility and an annex to the regula­tions gives practical advice to ship­masters as to the best way of using radar for this purpose.

Chapter 4 of the new Convention (Radio) is of some direct interest to WMO because it prescribes the number of radio officers carried in various classes of ships, the hours of watch they maintain and the radio installation with which the ship is provided. The

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new Convention makes an increase in the number of ships which are obliged to keep an 8-hour listening watch per day on wireless telegraphy, and in the number of smaller ships in which continuous radio telephone listening watch has to be maintained; both these requirements are governed by the tonnage of the ship.

During the conference, an unofficial meeting was held between the observers representing ICAO, ITU, WMO, and technical representatives of IMCO Members, to discuss the best way of achieving continued co-ordination be­tween these organizations on questions concerning safety at sea. The confer­ence eventually recommended the esta­blishment of a permanent joint working group consisting of representatives of these four organizations, to discuss "matters of joint concern to these organizations regarding safety at sea". Questions which it was suggested might be discussed in the first instance are : reports from aircraft to ships and vice versa in an emergency ; exploration of possible means of improving arrange­ments for reception and dissemination of radio weather messages from ships in certain areas ; a study of the times of watch aboard single operator ships in various zones in relation to the transmission of weather messages ; and the need for regular information as to the probable availability of shipping in sparse areas of the ocean, for meteorological purposes.

Governments are encouraged .to ap­ply the principles of the Convention as far as practicable to their fishing ves­sels, and in view of the potential value of meteorological observations from fishing vessels in sparse oceanic areas (if the fishermen themselves would be willing to send radio weather mes­sages) it is hoped that governments which have not yet found it practicable

October 1960

to have radio apparatus installed in their distant water fishing vessels will do so.

The other technical subjects discuss­ed by the Conference - construction and subdivision of ships, stowage of. grain and ore cargoes, life-saving appliances, etc. '-- are only of indirect interest to WMO, in view of the fact that they are all related in some way or other to meteorological conditions that the ship is likely to encounter. For example, statistics derived from wave observations made aboard voluntary observing ships are of value foi· research into the behaviour of ships at sea, which may affect construction of ships.

During the plenary session of the Conference at which nuclear power aboard ship was discussed, the WMO observer mentioned that the WMO has some indirect interest in this question, in relation to meteorological aspects of radioactive contamination in the en­vironment of the ship herself.

UNITED NATIONS

Inter-agency meeting on water resources

THE seventh inter-agency meeting on international co-operation with

respect to the development and utiliza­tion of water resources was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from 5 to 7 July rg6o. The meeting was attended by representatives of the UN, FAO,. UNESCO, WMO, WHO and IAEA; WMO was represented by Mr. 0. M. Ashford, chief of the Investi­gations Section, and Dr. P. I. Miljukov, chief of the Hydrological Meteorology Section of the Secretariat.

The meeting paid particular atten­tion to country surveys of water resources and needs. The members

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welcomed the growing number of such surveys and hoped that the UN regional commissions would continue to encourage them. It was considered that a prerequisite to high-level preli­minary studies should be the collection .and collation of all pertinent informa­tion.

Considerable attention was also paid to water pollution problems. The representative of the UN Economic Commission for Europe informed the meeting of recent progress in Europe, where a large number of governments had replied to a request from the Executive Secretary of ECE for infor­mation concerning institutes and asso­ciations dealing with the problem of water pollution.

UNESCO submitted a report on the progress in the field of water resources terminology which clearly indicated that the work on the multi-lingual vocabulary was proceeding rather slowly. It was however planned to have the final manuscript of the section dealing with ground water (about 500 terms) ready for the next inter-agency meeting.

The meeting examined a preliminary report entitled Les problemes de l'hy­drologie fluviale, which was prepared in accordance with a decision of the sixth inter-agency meeting on water resources, referring to the necessity of a report describing a method of evaluat­ing river-flow characteristics in areas where long-duration hydrometric data are not yet available. The WMO representatives pointed out that while the report was valuable in that it showed the concrete ways of applying cybernetics to hydrology, it did not deal specifically with methods for use in the absence of adequate data. The meeting noted the plans to publish the proceedings of the hydrological seminar held in Bangkok in 1959 under the

October 1960

joint sponsorship of WMO and ECAFE (see Bulletin, Vol. VIII, No. 4, p. 195). In particular, it was considered that the lectures presented by Professor G. P. Kalinin and by Mr. W. B. Langbein covered basically the whole question under consideration. It was recommended that the report now submitted could best be published as a WMO Technical Note.

The head of the UN Water Re­sources Development Centre reported to the meeting on the Centre's activi­ties. These are described in the Centre's First Biennial Report (Re­ference E/3319), copies of which may be obtained on request from the United Nations, New York.

UN (ECLA)

THE Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Dag HammarskjOld,

opened a special session of the Com­mittee of the Whole of the UN Eco­nomic Commission for Latin America on 28 June 1960, for the purpose of considering the situation created in Chile as a result of the disaster of 21-23 May 1960 following seismic disturbances, and for studying possible means of international co-operation for the reconstruction o~ the affected region. WMO was represented by Mr. L. E. Brotzman, regional admi~ nistrative officer of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Weather Bureau.

The Secretary-General, members of the committee, and representatives of the specialized agencies expressed sympathy for the people of Chile and spoke about aid that might be possible through the United Nations Technical Assistance Programme.

In his opening speech, Mr. Ham­marskjOld said: "Fortunately, the people of Chile are facing the disaster ...

224

WMO Bulletin

not with despair and despondency, but with rare fortitude and courage." For its part, the Government of Chile had announced "in clear and unequivocal terms" its determination to rebuild what had been destroyed "within the context of a larger and well-conceived programme of economic development".

The request for aid made by the Chilean Government included an item to be sponsored by the WMO to

AFRICA

THE president of Regional Associa­tion I (Africa) has notified the

Members of the association that the Regional Radiation Centre in Tunisia will henceforth be in a position to carry out the calibration and checking of radiation· measuring instruments as recommended by the Regional Working Group on Radiation. The centre will be fully equipped for carrying out its functions before the next session of the working group.

ASIA

IT has been suggested that it might be possible to improve the existing

arrangements for collecting and dis­seminating in-flight weather reports on a regional basis for synoptic purposes by designating regional centres for this purpose. The opinion of Members of Regional Association II (Asia) is being sought, as a preliminary to a postal ballot on the subject, regarding the adoption of a revised scheme to this effect.

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

THE Working Group on Solar Radi­ation of Regional Association IV

October 1960

provide for a meteorological consultant at the University of Chile and for special meteorological equipment for use at the University. Under this project, the University of Chile plans to modernize its training programme for meteorologists in the Institute of Geophysics and Seismology and draw up a meteorological research pro­gramme with a view toward inaugu­rating a department of meteorology within the institute.

(North and Central America) is now carrying out a detailed survey among the Members of the Region on their activities in the field of radiation measurement and on the overall prob­lem of instrumentation and observa­tion.

Action has been taken by the United States to establish a standard baro­meter at San Juan, Puerto Rico, to facilitate barometer comparisons in that part of the Region.

EUROPE

THE third session of Regional Asso­ciation VI (Europe) opened at

Madrid on z6 September Ig6o at the invitation of the Government of Spain. An account of the proceedings of the session will be published in the next issue of the Bulletin.

Following a suggestion made by the fourth session of the RA VI Working Group on Meteorological Transmissions with a view to improving the operation of the International Meteorological Teleprinter Network (IMTNE), a new programme of transmission was estab­lished for each of the centres Dunstable,

225

WMO Bulletin

Off en bach and Paris. The new pro­gramme is closely related to the northern hemisphere exchange system and came into operation on r October rg6o.

At the invitation of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, a meeting of the Study Group on Fac­simile Broadcasts was held in Offen­bachjMain from 17 to 21 May rg6o at the headquarters of the Deutscher Wetterdienst, under the chairmanship of Dr. P. Wusthoff, of the Deutscher Wetterdienst. This study group, which was established by the Working Group on Meteorological Transmissions of RA VI, comprises representatives of France, the Federal Republic of Ger­many, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Swit­zerland, U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom. The session was attended by the members of the group as well as advisers and observers from eleven different countries.

Prior to the session, the meteoro­logical services of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom made some fac­simile test transmissions for a compo­site European facsimile weather map

SciENCE IN SPACE

THE first five chapters of a nine­part survey on Science in Space

were issued in June rg6o by the Space Science Board of theN ational Academy of Sciences - National Research Council of the U.S.A.

The Space Science Board (chairman : Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner) was establish­ed in 1958 with the primary purpose of

October 1960

which was mainly arranged in order to gain technical experience in broad­casting facsimile maps. A map of Europe on Lambert's conformal conic projection was broadcast.

I terns discussed during the session were the need to eliminate the existing differences in synoptic practices espe­cially concerning the scale, plotting diagrams, measuring units, intervals between isobars and between contour lines, and the exchange of facsimile charts between Region IV and Re­gion VI. The broadcast of a composite meteorological facsimile chart of Eu­rope containing plotted data will have a very important application for ship­ping and aviation. The preparation of northern hemisphere prognostic charts on a numerical basis and their broad­cast by facsimile is under study.

Further studies are needed before an international solution can be found for the standardization of operational procedures for facsimile transmissions and the standardization of the equip­ment on a regional basis. The matter is being studied at the third session of RA VI in Madrid.

studying scientific research opportuni­ties and needs opened up by the advent of rockets and satellites as tools for research ; of giving advice and recom­mendations on space science to in­terested agencies and institutions ; of stimulating research in the rocket and satellite fields ; and of co-operating with scientists in these fields in other countries, particularly through the Committee on Space Research (COS­PAR).

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WMO Bulletin

The five chapters now separately available are : II - The Nature of Gravitation, III - The Earth, IV - The Moon, V - The Planets and VII -Physics of Fields and Energetic Par­ticles in Space. Further chapters to be issued are entitled: A General Review, The Sun, Galactic Astronomy and The Biological Sciences and Space Research . Chapter III contains a section on Meteorology by Dr. Harry W exler (substantially the same as that publish­ed in the WMO Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. r, p. z), which outlines the possible uses of meteorological satellites, re­counts some of the experiments already made and examines the possible roles of COSP AR and WMO in promoting their development and use and the dissemination of their data. The role of satellites in ionospheric research is discussed by Alan Shapley and 0. G. Villard, Jr., in a section on The ~tpper atmosphere. J. A. Van Allen has con­tributed a section on The geomagneti­cally-trapped corpuscular radiation to Chapter VII.

The separate chapters can be obtain­ed from the Printing and Publica­tions Office of the National Academy of Sciences, zror Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington 25, D.C., U.S.A. at a cost of US $r.oo per chapter.

FELLOWSHIP IN OZONE RESEARCH

A fellowship in ozone research has been announced by the Division

of Meteorological Physics of the Com­monwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, at Melbourne, Australia.

This fellowship reflects the increasing interest which is being shown in the measurements of atmospheric ozone and in their meteorological application. Further information about the general programme of work envisaged and the conditions of appointment, may be

Octobe1· 1960

found among the advertisements at the end of this issue.

DR. G. D. B. DE VILLIERS

A chair of agricultural meteorology has been established in the new

Faculty of Agriculture at the Univer­sity of the Orange Free State, Bloem-

. fontein, South Africa, and Dr. G. D. B. de Villiers, chairman of the CAgM Working Group on Storage of Fruit, has been appointed to the professor­ship, the first of its kind in the Union of South Africa.

Professor de Villiers represented the Union at both the first and second sessions of CAgM (Paris, 1953 and Warsaw, rg58). His many friends in WMO, and particularly in CAgM, take much pleasure in his success.

SURFACE·CURRENT CHARTS OF N. E. PACIFIC

THE last of a series of five atlases giving a world-wide coverage of

the ocean current circulation has been published by the Marine Division of the British Meteorological Office. The new atlas, entitled Quarterly surface current charts of the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, covers the area north of the equator and from r6o0W to the coast of the Americas. It is uniform with others of this well-known series and is made up of quarterly charts of surface current roses, surface current predominant direction and average rates, and surface current vector means.

These charts have been compiled from observations of surface currents sent to the Meteorological Office by voluntary marine observers in British merchant ships and from observations made in H.M. ships forwarded by the Hydrographer of the Navy. The observations cover the period r855 to rgsz.

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WMO Bulletin

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ATMOS­PHERIC OZONE AND THE GENERAL CIRCULATION

AT its twelfth session, the Executive Committee decided that WMO

should accept an invitation by the International Ozone Commission to participate in organizing an interna­tional symposium on atmospheric ozone and the general circulation. The sym­posium will take place in Arosa, Swit­zerland, and will last for six days, beginning either on 6 or I3 August r96I. A decision on the exact day of opening will be announced in due course.

The following tentative programme for the symposium has been prepared :

Monday : a.m. Presidential address. p.m. Results on total ozone from IGY network and discussion of problems related to the Dobson instrument.

Tuesday : a.m. and p.m. Results on ver­tical ozone distribution from different methods and discussion of units to be adopted for representation.

Wednesday : a.m. Behaviour of atmos­pheric ozone in special weather situations (sudden warmings, etc.). p.m. Free.

Thursday : a.m. Photochemical theory in comparison with our present observational knowledge of vertical ozone distribution in different seasons and latitudes. p.m. Energy considerations in the upper atmosphere. Secondary high ozone layer at night. p.m. Infrared measurements of atmos­pheric ozone.

Friday : all day. Other atmospheric tracers (radioactive fallout, water vapour, etc.).

Saturday : Discussions of general circula­tion in the stratosphere.

All participants will so far as pos­sible be accommodated in one or two hotels in Arosa. Estimated daily rates, including meals, range from US $5 to 6.

Further information may be obtained from Dr. H. U. Dutsch, 20 Carl Spit-

Octobe1· 1960

teler Str., Zurich 53, Switzerland. Those interested should inform Dr. Dutsch of their preference as regards the dates for the symposium : 6 to I2 August or I3 to I9 August r96I.

NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION

FURTHER details have been notified concerning the International Sym­

posium on Numerical Weather Pre­diction to be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 7 to 13 November r96o (see WMO Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. 3, p. r76).

The discussions will be held accord­ing to the following schedule :

7 November rg6o :Summary reports and automatic data processing Short-range forecasts - operation and development

8 November: Short-range forecasts basic research

9 November : Short-range forecasts numerical modelling research

ro November: Typhoons and hurricanes rr November : General circulation -

Miscellaneous rz November : Outlook for the future.

More than 50 papers will be pre­sented by the participants, whose names include those of many of the recognized leaders in the field of numerical weather prediction. Their presence at the symposium, coupled with the meticulous care with which it has obviously been organized, would appear to guarantee a highly successful gathering.

Following the symposium, on I4 to IS November r96o, a meeting on numerical weather prediction tech­niques will be held by the Japanese Meteorological Agency. Topics for discussion are : models of the atmos­phere and methods of calculation suitable for routine work, automatic data processing, objective analysis.

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WMO Bulletin

WMO'S NEW HEADQUARTERS

The installation of the WMO Secre­tariat in its new headquarters during June 1g6o was reported in the last issue of the Bulletin (Vol. IX, No. 3, p. 177). More recently, the twelfth session of the WMO Executive Com­mittee and meetings of the CCl Work­ing Group on the Guide to Climatolo­gical Practices and of the CAeM Working Group on the Utilization of Aircraft Meteorological Reports have been held in the new Secretariat. As these ·were the first such meetings to be held in the building, it is worth recording that the facilities and the comfort provided by the new accom­modation have been appreciated by the participants and staff alike.

The building was formally inau­gurated on 12 July 1960 and a report of this historic occasion is given on page 190 of this issue. As previously mentioned a full account of the building and a detailed description of the many gifts received from Members will be given in a special booklet. The fol­lowing gifts, additional to those p.lready announced in the Bulletin, had been received at the time of going to press : a porcelain statuette from Austria ; a suite of. furniture in Nigerian maho­gany from the Federation of Nigeria (British West Africa) ; two embroidered paintings from China ; furnishings for the First Vice-President's office from' Denmark ; two Sevres vases from France ; a mural for the staff room from Ghana ; a ceramic panel and a statue from Hungary ; two ceramic panels from Italy ; three wood engrav­ings from New Zealand; a suite of

October 1960

furniture for the delegates' lounge from Norway; a carpet for the Secre­tary-General's office from Pakistan ; complete furnishings for the office of the chief of the Technical Division from Sweden ; a stinkwood table and chair from the Union of South Africa ; furniture for a small conference room from the United Kingdom ; and a painting from Yugoslavia.

A short but interesting ceremony took place in the WMO Secretariat on 16 August rg6o when Mr. H. R. Amonoo, permanent representative of the Republic of Ghana to the European Office of the United Nations, formally presented the gift of his country to the building. Mr. K. Antubam, the artist who· had ·come from Ghana specially to execute the mural, was also present and gave an enlightening talk on the theme of his painting An hour in the life of Ghana (see page 231).

STAFF CHANGES

Secretary- General's Office

By decision of Third Congress, a re­organization in the structure of the Secretariat attached the administrative services to the Office of the Secretary­General under a senior technical officer who will also give direct assistance to the Secretary-General in other matters. This post has now been· filled by Mr. Keith T. McLeod (Canada), who arrived to take up his duties in the Secretariat early in October 1960. Mr. McLeod is already well known in

229

WMO Bulletin

WMO circles for his active participa­tion in various meetings of regional associations and technical commis­sions and particularly through his connexion with the Commission for Maritime Meteorology of which he was vice-president from rg56 until the closure of its recent third session (see page 197). Mr. McLeod graduated in meteorology (M.A.) at the University of Toronto and joined the Canadian Meteorological Service in 1939 ; at the time of his appointment to the Secre­tariat he was superintendent of public

WMO Secretariat : carpet and vases given by Greece, Goya reproduction by Spain and furniture by the Union

of South Africa

weather services and public relations officer at the headquarters of his service.

Technical Division

Mr. Arkadi M. Megenine (U.S.S.R.), who had been technical officer in the Secretariat since July 1954, returned in June rg6o to his parent service, the Hydrometeorological Service under the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., to take up a post in the short-range forecasting department.

During his period of service with WMO, Mr. Megenine was closely asso­ciated with the work of the Commis­sion for Synoptic Meteorology and the

230

October 1960

Commission for Maritime Meteorology, and took an active part in the work of a number of working groups of these two commissions.

The best wishes of the members of the Secretariat and of the many friends they made in Geneva accom­pany Mr. Megenine and his family in his new assignment.

Dr. N. G. Leonov, also of the Hydro­meteorological Service of the U.S.S.R., was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Megenine and arrived in the

Secretariat on II August rg6o. He was formerly a senior scientific worker in the Central Forecasting Institute in Moscow.

Pending further consideration of the applications for the post of tele­communications technologist, which became vacant in March rg6o through the transfer of Mr. V. Sundaram to the' Secretariat of the International Tele­communication Union, Mr. P. de Mar­tin de Vivies (France), assistant­director of the M eteorologie N ationale in Paris, has been appointed on a short-term temporary basis to avoid serious disruption of the telecommu­nications activities of the Secretariat.

WMO Bulletin

Technical Assistance Unit

Mr. Krishna Parthasarathy (India), who arrived in Geneva on 2 July :~;g6o to take up an appointment as sen1or technical officer in charge of the implementation of Special Fund pro­jects (see p. 213), served as chief of the

October 1960

be used by the Meteorological Office for the exchange of messages within the country.

Two other Members, the Federation of Malaya, and Singapore and British

, Territories in Borneo, have decided, as a first step towards the application of

An hour in the life of Ghana : mural painted by Mr. K. Antubam in the staff-room of the WMO Secretariat as a gift from Ghana

hydrometeorological section of the ·India Meteorological Department, un­der the Director-General of Observa­tories, from 1953. He had earlier served in the forecasting sections, being concerned first with training of mete­orological staff and then with aviation and general forecasting. He represent­ed India on three WMO technical com­missions and was also a member of the working group on hydrometeorology of RA II.

UNITS

The United Kingdom of Great Bri­tain and Northern Ireland has informed the WMO Secretariat that, in applica­tion of Resolution 30(Cg-III), it will use the Celsius degree and the metric system in all coded messages for international exchanges as from r J a­nuary 1g6r ; the same units will also

231

Resolution 30(Cg-III), to use the Cel­sius degree in messages for international exchange, beginning on the same date.

RECENT WMO PUBLICATIONS

Meteorological service for aircraft em­ployed in agriculture and forestry. Technical Note No. ]2. Pp. X + 32. WMO - No. g6. TP. 40. Price: Sw. fr. 3.-.

The meteorological service required for aircraft operations connected with agriculture and forestry was discussed at the second session of the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology. It was realized that the use of aircraft for these purposes was increasing rapidly and that the resulting problems facing the meteorologist were markedly dif­ferent from those arising from the operation of civil airlines. The com­mission felt that, by comparison with

WMO Bulletin

the meteorological aid available for other aircraft operations, services for agriculture and forestry had been neglected. A working group, consisting of Mr. P. M. Austin Bourke (chairman), Mr. H. T. Ashton, Mr. M. A. Huber­man, Mr. 0. B. Lean, Dr. W. J. Maan and Mr. A. H. N agle, was set up by CAgM to draft suitable guidance ma­terial for this purpose. The report prepared by the group has now been published as Technical Note No. 32.

The first section of the report outlines the Tapid development of agricultural aviation, and describes the kinds of operation which are under­taken and the types of aircraft in use.

Meteorological aspects of agricultural aviation are then discussed in relation to such tasks as forest fire control and survey work. The meteorological prob­lems which arise in the aerial applica­tion of chemicals (spraying and dusting operations) are considered in some detail, both from the aeronautical or pilotage viewpoint and from the aspect of problems of distribution from the air. Particular attention is given to the drift hazard which occurs when toxic material is being spread.

The following sections deal with the basis for supplying meteorological ad­vice to agricultural aviation, in the absence of special local weather reports, and with the desirability of on-the-spot meteorological observations, and the types of simple, robust instruments available for this purpose.

The concluding section consists of a review of the different kinds of meteoro­logical information required for agri­cultural aviation. Apart from day-to­day operational forecasts for field work, there is a demand for short- and long-term operational planning infor­mation, and also for meteorological intelligence information based on weather influences on the life-cycle or

232

October 1960

distribution of different agricultural diseases and insect pests.

A list of 6o references contains only a selection from the technical literature available to the working group and used in the compilation of the report.

The note is published in its original language, English, with summaries in the four official languages of WMO.

Les representations graphiques en me­teorologie (Graphical representations in meteorology). Technical Note No. ]I. Pp. x + 26. OMM -No. 95· TP. 39· Price: Sw. fr. 3.-.

This Technical Note, published in French with summaries in French, English, Spanish and Russian, is a sequel to WMO Publication No. 66-Les diagrammes aerologiques - which was issued in 1957 (see Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 93). In this earlier publication the diagrams reviewed were restricted to those ordinarily used in the analysis and graphical repre­sentation of soundings of atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity. With the emphasis in the present Technical Note chiefly on non-standard methods, a full picture of methods of graphical representation of the atmos­phere has now been achieved.

The report was prepared by a working group, consisting of Dr. P. Defrise (chairman), Dr. H. Flohn, Dr.W. L. Godson and Mr. R. Pone, set up by the second session of the Commission for Aerology to revise and amplify a brief report which had been presented to the session. After a general survey in which the value of non-standard graphical methods is brought out, the authors attempt to classify these methods. This is followed by a section in which the characteristics and func­tions of the various methods are briefly discussed and a list of references

WMO Bulletin

is given in connexion with each of them. The references given, though not exhaustive, are sufficiently numerous to provide a good overall picture of the range of graphical representations, especially non-standard representa­tions. All significant methods used in the representation and study of the atmosphere are mentioned. On the other hand, auxiliary methods, such as nomograms, which are intended solely for specific computational purposes, are not considered.

The report concludes with a biblio­graphy which, though it is not claimed to be exhaustive, covers a wide range of relevant material which has appeared during the past 30 years. ·

Weather reports : Volume C - Trans­missions (Chapter I - Telecommu­nications procedures). WMO- No. g, TP-4- Loose-leaf.

This revised chapter of Weather reports : Volume C is intended as a guide to telecommunications proce­dures for meteorological services and other agencies concerned with plan­ning, establishing and operating mete­orological communications. It pre­sents in a convenient form the deci­sions of WMO and its constituent bodies on essential meteorological tele­communications practices and proce­dures supplementary to those already published in the Technical Rer;ulations and in Volumes C and D of Weather reports.

October 1960

An explanatory introduction to the chapter is followed by :five parts : Definitions ; Organization of a world­wide exchange of meteorological data ; Telecommunication practices ; Tele­communication procedures and List of transmitting stations. It will be kept up to date by the incorporation of new material or changes resulting from decisions of Congress or the Executive Committee.

Weather reports : VolumeD - I nforma­tion for shipping (Part G, Chapter III - National systems of visual storm warning signals). WMO - No. g. TP. 4· Loose-leaf.

This new chapter to be added to Part G of Weather reports : Volume D contains regional lists of the visual storm warning signals used by day and by night in the various countries, with their meanings. A reference table at the end of the chapter illustrates the national visual storm warning signals where these vary from the interna­tional system illustrated in Part D of Volume D.

International list of selected and sup­plementary ships. rg6o edition. WMOjOMM- No. 47· TP.r8. Pp. r8z. Price : Sw. fr. ro.-.

The sixth edition of this publication contains, as before, information sup­plied by Members in accordance with WMO Technical Regulations and is based on data valid on r January rg6o.

WMO TECHNICAL NOTES

Recent additions to the WMO series of Technical Notes include:

No. 31 - Les representations graphiques en meteorologie (French) ....

No. 32 - Meteorological service for aircraft employed in agriculture and forestry

Sw. fr. 3.­

Sw. fr. 3.-

ON SALE FROM WMO, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

233

WMO Bulletin

Atlas Podnebi Ceskoslovenski Republiky (Cli­matic Atlas of the Czechoslovak Republic). Prague (Hydrometeorological Institute) I9S8. 89 maps; ri charts. Price: 300 Kr.

The increasing demand for basic climato­logical information, and the increasing willingness of state authorities to make means available for climatologists seeking to meet this demand, is well illustrated by the impressive Climatic Atlas of the Czechoslovak Republic. This Atlas contains 89 maps, all on a scale of I : I million, and some dia­grams, bound in a volume which measures approximately so X so X S cm. The main maps, showing the distribution of tempera­ture and precipitation refer to the period I9or-5o ; some of the other maps, however, are based on much shorter periods.

The text- in Czech, but with abbreviated Russian, English and French versions -describes in some detail the general character of the data on which the maps were based as well as the methods nsed in scrutinizing the data and analysing the maps. The data situation may be illustrated by the following facts : although temperature records were available from 7SO stations, complete series for the fifty-year period existed for 38 sta­tions only, and of 493 stations with complete precipitation records only 13 were located in Slovakia.

In spite of such deficiencies, the maps were analysed in great detail; the analysis had to be based largely on theoretical con­siderations (concerning, above all, the effect of altitude), but it appears from the text that the theories were tested by an adequate confrontation with such data as were avail­able. Still, it is open to some doubt whether the amount of work which must have been required to construct the very detailed pictures of mean monthly temperature in the thinly populated mountains of Slovakia, with very few data available, is fully justified. This great effort contrasts, in a way, with the lack of certain important maps, such as maps showing mean daily or mean monthly extreme temperatures.

The last sections of the Atlas deal with phenology (mainly maps showing dates of beginning or end of significant phases in the farmer's year) and soil temperatures. To

October 1960

illustrate time variations of soil temperature, a very cold winter (r928-z9) and a very warm summer (1947) were selected, and diagrams are given showing the air tem­perature (daily maximum, minimum and mean) and the soil temperature, the latter as a function of time and depth.

The Atlas as a whole gives evidence of the high standard of classical climatology in Czechoslovakia: It is planned to publish in a second volume a selection of the data on which the maps were based. It may be hoped that this second volume will further contain frequency tables and some maps of so-called derived climatic elements, and thus prove that adequate attention is also being given to problems which are less classical but perhaps not less important in present-day climatology.

E. H.

Calculation of the Brightness of Light in the Case of Anisotropic Scattering, Part I. By E. M. FEIGELSON, M. S. MALKEVICH, S. YA. KoGAN, T. D. KoRONATOVA, K. S. GLAZOVA, M. A. KuzNETSOVA. Trans­actions (Trudy) of the Institute of Atmos­pheric Physics No. I. Translated from Russian. New York (Consultants Bureau, Inc.) Ig6o. I04 pages ; figures and tables. Price : US $ 8.oo.

The increasing availability of translations of Russian journals and monographs is probably one of the most significant develop­ments in meteorology in recent years. The present publication is an excellent example of this trend; the publishers are also pro­ducing translations of the Transactions (Trudy) of the Geophysical Institute, with which institute the authors of the present monograph were formerly affiliated. These translations are prepared by bilingual spe­cialists in the fields concerned, and this is quite evident from the English text under review.

In recent years there have appeared numerous theoretical computations of the scattering of solar radiation in the atmos­phere by molecules and mono-disperse aerosols, Unfortunately, the actual atmos­phere seldom resembles any of the model atmospheres assumed, so that real insight

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WMO Bulletin

into the general problem of. the variations of intensity of scattered light is not achieved. The authors of this monograph have adopted a different approach, and have integrated (by numerical means) the scattering equa­tions for given values (experimentally determined) of the two principal para­meters - the scattering cross-section (atte­nuation coefficient) and the scattering func­tion (angular dependence of scattering).

Extensive tabulations are provided of relative intensity of scattered radiation as a function of two spherical angles (and of solar zenith angle) for fixed values of the scattering parameters. Also, there are provid­ed tabulations by means of which the earth's albedo may be taken into account and compilations of the surface illumination (total downward radiative flux). The scatter­ing cross-section is represented by the direct-beam total transmission and the scattering function by Fourier approxima­tions to eight different distributions typical of the range of horizontal visibility from ro to 200 km. In all cases, a two-layer atmos­phere is assumed, with 200 km horizontal visibility in the upper layer (above about 9 km). The direct-beam transmission is interpreted in terms of height (required for the geometry of the problem) following experimental data. Thus, aerosol concentra­tions are not assumed constant throughout the troposphere, but only their size spec­trum.

Additional assumptions inherent in the treatment are that absorption can be neglected and that radiation is essentially monochromatic. The use of spectrally­integrated scattering parameters is suggested by the authors, but this procedure cannot be considered at all rigorous since the equa­tions are far from linear. Nevertheless, the tabulated and graphed intensity distributions are in qualitative agreement with experi­mental observations, and do represent a significant forward step in our appreciation of how the complex effects of multiple scattering by heterogeneous aerosols in­fluence the three-dimensional variations of the intensity of scattered radiation.

W. L. GODSON

Averages of Earth Temperature for the British Isles (M. 0. 665). London (Her Majesty's Stationery Office) 1960. 159 pages. Price: !OS,

In civil engineering, in building and cons­truction generally, but still more in agri­culture, earth temperature plays an impor­tant rl\le which even nowadays is not always recognized. Few climatological data are available concerning this aspect of meteo-

October 1960

rology. The British Meteorological Office is therefore to be congratulated on the substan­tial work reported on here. The authors have compiled the monthly averages correspond­ing to depths of one foot and four feet for all the stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland equipped with appropriate instru­ments. Not only mean values but also extremes and, for some stations, the fre­quency of temperatures recorded, are con­tained in the tables. These are prefaced by a description of the instruments used and general remarks on the transmission of heat through the soil, the effects of snow cover and the differences due to variations of soil type. There is one regrettable point : the measuring instruments used (glass ther­mometers inserted in a wooden block ·or embedded in wax) leave some doubt as to the accuracy of readings taken at the one-ft depth.

B. PRIMAULT

Kleiner Leitfaden der Wetterkunde fiir Land­wirtschaft, Obst- und Gartenbau (Popular weather guide for farmers, fruit-growers and gardeners). By Josef VAN ErMERN. Stuttgart (Verlag Eugen Ulmer) 1960. 154 pages; 70 illustrations. Price : DM 8.-

The main purpose of Dr. van Eimern's book is to help farmers, fruit-growers and gardeners to a better understanding of the weather processes which are of such vital importance for their work and their economy.

It is appropriate that the radiation budget, the heat exchange in the lowest layers of the atmosphere, and the water cycle should be discussed in some detail in a booklet like this, but although the treatment is essentially non-mathematical, some of the readers will probably find these sections rather hard to digest. On the other hand, the discussion of important weather types, presumably a more popular item, may be considered much too brief. The section on weather rules contains many well-founded statements ; in a few cases, however, the author seems rather too willing to see some merit in apocryphal rules and ideas of both old and recent date.

The sections on meteorological measure­ments and on microclimatology contain much useful information, and in the chapter dealing with protection against frost and wind damage the author has given a clear and very readable account of our present knowledge. Mainly because of the value of these sections, the booklet will be of interest to those meteororolical (p. 83 !) ser­vices which are frequently called upon to give advice to farmers and gardeners.

E. H.

235

WMO Bulletin

Weathercraft : Some Experiments in Practical Meteorology. By L. P. SMITH. London (Blandford Press) rg6o. 86 pages; 76 illus­trations. Price : gs. 6d.

Within the modest limits which it sets itself, this is a useful and attractive~ little book. It is not intended for the professional meteorologist, although even he might learn something from the manner of presentation and the lavish use of bold clear diagrams.

The book is essentially a do-it-yourself guide for the curious weather amateur. It suggests a series of twenty-eight simple · experiments, planned to give practical experience of the variations of temperature and precipitation in field and garden, and leading up to elementary rules for local weather forecasting. The section on applied meteorology deals mainly with gardening problems, such as the climate under glass, frost protection, and the art of watering. The text, as one has come to expect from Mr. Smith, is technically sound and never dull.

The book will be particularly welcomed by schools anxious to promote weather study as a practical hobby amongst the older pupils. The curious gardener, who wishes to understand the essentials of microclimate most vital to plant growth, will find them presented here in brief simplicity.

P. M. A. BouRKE

Average Water-vapour Content of the Air. By J. K. BANNON and L. P. STEELE. Geo­physical Memoirs No. roz. London (Her Majesty's Stationery Office) rg6o. 38 pages ; r6 maps. Price : Ss. 6d.

The aim of this study is to present maps showing the average content of water vapour in a vertical air column and in those parts of the column which are above the 850, 7oo and soo mb surfaces respectively.· The maps are based mainly on data available from CLIMAT TEMP reports for rgsr-55, but for certain areas other sources had to be used. Special difficulties were encountered in obtaining adequate data from South America and the U.S.S.R. The authors describe in an instructive manner how they have tried to overcome the various diffi­culties, and set an excellent example in giving a thorough discussion of the impor­tance of the main sour.ces of error.

The maps are stated to contain few sur­prising features, and this may well be true, although some readers may be surprised to find that the Ural mountains have no visible

October 1960

effect on the humidity distribution. The primary importance of the study is not that it draws the attention to intriguing features of the geographical distribution of humidity in the atmosphere, but rather that it sup­plies values of this parameter which are no doubt sufficiently accurate for most purposes.

E. H.

OTHER BOOI<S RECEIVED

Weather Forecasting for Aeronautics. By J. J. GEORGE. New York, London (Aca­demic Press, Inc.). Price: US $rs.oo.

Airborne measurements of the latitudinal variation of frost-point, temperature and wind. By N. C. HELLIWELL. Scientific Paper No. r (M.O. 664). London (Her Majesty's Stationery Office). Price: 3s. 6d.

Conservation of vorticity at IOO millibars. By J. R. PROBERT-J ONES. Scientific Paper No. z (M.O. 673). London (Her Majesty's Stationery Office). Price: zs. 6d.

Advances in Computers, Vol. r. Edited by Franz L. ALT. New York, London (Aca­demic Press, Inc.). Price : US $ro.oo.

Science in Space. Chapters II, III, IV, V, VII. Washington (National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council). Price per chapter: US $r.oo. (See p. 226)

Tagliche Hohenkarten der Io mbar Flache fiir das I nternationale Geophysikalische J ahr I958. Teil II. 2. Vierteljahr. (Meteoro­logische Abhandlungen. Band XIII, Heft z.) Berlin (Dietrich Reimer). Price: DM 7.50.

The exchange of energy between the atmosphere and the oceans of the southern hemisphere. By D. W. PRIVETT. Geophysical Memoirs No. 104. London (Her Majesty's Sta­tionery Office). Price : Ss. 6d.

Uber der Luftdruck-, Temperatur- und Wind­schwankungen in der Stratosphare. By R. ScHERHAG. (Abhandlungen der Aka­demie der Wissenschaften und der Lite­ratur.) Wiesbaden (Franz Steiner). Price : DM I0-{0.

Current Bibliography for Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries, Vol. 3, Parts I and 2.

Compiled by FAO Fisheries Biology Branch. London (Taylor & Francis, Ltd.). Price per part : r7s. 6d. Subscription price per volume (rz parts) : £g. os. od.

236

WMO Bulletin October 1960

SELECTED LIST OF PUBLICATIONS OF THE WMO

Basic documents Basic Documents (excluding the Technical Regulations), 2nd edition, 1959. English-French.

Sw. fr. 8.­Technical Regulations. Volume I -General, 2nd edition, 1g5g. English- French- Russian­Spanish. Sw. fr. IJ.­Technical Regulations: Volume ll -Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, 1st edition, 1g56. English - French - Russian - Spanish. Sw. fr. 7.-

Records Executive Committee

Abridged reports with resolutions. English - French. Resolutions. Russian - Spanish.

Ninth session, 1957. Tenth session, 1g58. Eleventh and extraordinary session,

Third Congress of the WMO

Sw. fr. 20.­

Sw. fr. I4.-195g. Sw. Jr. 7.-

Abridged report with resolutions. English - French. Resolutions. Russian - Spanish. Proceedings. English- French.

Technical Publications

Sw. fr. 2I.­

Sw. fr. 2I.­

Sw. fr. IS.-

Meteorological Services ofthe World. 195g edition.Bilingual (English and French). Sw. fr. 2I.­

Composition of the WMO. 1g5g edition. Bilingual (English and French). Sw. fr. I2.­

Weather Reports: Stations, codes and transmissions (No. g. TP. 4)

Volume A : Nomenclature of Stations. Bilingual (English and French}. 1g6o edition.

Regions I, ll, Ill, IV, V, per region : Region VI Cover: Sw. fr. J.- (two covers are needed for the complete volume).

Volume B : Codes. English - French. Price (including cover) :

Volume C : Transmissions. English - French. Region I : Sw. fr. I2.- Region IV: Region ll : Sw. fr. IO.- Region V : Region Ill: Sw. fr. J.- Region VI: Cover: Sw. Jr. J.- (two covers are needed for the complete volume).

VolumeD: Information for Shipping. English- French. Part A: Meteorological broadcast schedules. Region I : Sw. fr. 6.-Region ll : Sw. fr. 5·_:_ Region Ill: Sw. fr. J.-

Part B : Coastal stations accepting ships' reports.

Region IV Region V Region VI

Part C: List of meteorological liaison officers in ports of .the world.

Part D : International regulations concerning ships' reports and the provision of information for shipping.

Part G : Miscellaneous. Cover : Sw. fr. J.- (two covers are needed for the complete volume). NOTE: Amendments are made from time to time to Publication

No. g. TP. 4 -WEATHER REPORTS -Volume A, B, C and D and a supplement service is maintained for this purpose

237

Sw. fr. J.-Sw. fr. I4.-

Sw. fr. 25.-

Sw. fr. J.-Sw. fr. s.-Sw. fr. Ig.-

Sw. fr. I2.­

Sw. fr. s.­Sw. fr. Ig.-

Sw. fr. 4·­Sw. fr. 3.-

Sw. fr. I2.­

Sw. fr. 6.-

WMO Bulletin

and charged separately. Subscriptions for this service are entered at the time of the originaJ order and are renewable annually. The rates for I96o and the expected rates for I96I are as follows : Volume A - Sw. fr. I7.­Volume B - Sw. fr. 4·­Volume C - Sw. fr. 2I.50

Volume D - Sw. fr. 8.50

Technical Notes

No. 3 - Meteorological aspects of aircraft icing. English. No. 8 - Atmospheric radiation (Current investigations and problems).

English. No. 9 - Tropical circulation patterns. English. No. I3 - Artificial control of clouds and hydrometeors. English. No. I7 - Notes on the problems of cargo ventilation. English. No. IS - Aviation aspects of mountain waves. English. No. I9 - Observational characteristics of the jet stream (A survey of the

literature). English.

October 1960

Sw. fr.

} Sw. fr.

~.~ ~~ Sw.~

I.-

I.~

3·-3·-7·-

No. 20 - The climatological investigation of soil temperature. English. } No. 2I - Measurement of evaporation, humidity in the biosphere and soil

moisture. English.

~.~

~.~

Sw.~ ~.~ ~.~

9·-

5·-

No. 22 - Preparing ,climatic data for the user. English. No. 23 - Meteorology as applied to the navigation of ships. English. No. 24 - Turbulent diffusion in the atmosphere. English. No. 25 - Design of hydrological networks. English. No. 26 - Techniques for surveying surface-water resources. English. No. 27 - Use of ground-based radar in meteorology (excluding upper-wind

measurements). English. No. 28 - Seasonal peculiarities of the temperature and atmospheric circu­

lation regimes in the Arctic and Antarctic. English. No. 29 - Upper air network requirements for numerical weather predic­

tion. English. No. 30 - Rapport preliminaire du Groupe de travail de reseaux de la

Commission de meteorologie synoptique. French. No. 3I - Les representations graphiques en meteorologie. French. No. 32 - Meteorological service for aircraft employed in agriculture

and forestry. English.

Repot·ts

Regional Associations

} Sw. fr.

Sw. fr.

Sw. fr.

4·-4·-7·-

4·-

9·-

3·-

) Sw. fr. '4· -

Sw. fr.

Sw. fr.

3·-

3·-

Reports of the second sessions of the following regional associations are available: Region I. English- French: Sw. fr. 3·­Region II. English: Sw. fr. 6.­Region Ill. English- Spanish: Sw. fr. 5·­Region IV. English- Spanish: Sw. fr. 5·­Region V. English- French : Sw. fr. 5·­Region VI. English- French: Sw. fr. 3·-

Resolutions and recommendations adoP.tecl by RA VI (a) following the meeting of the Working Group on Meteorological Transmissions (I957) and (b) during the extraordinary session of RA VI (I958). English- French. Sw. fr. 5.-

Technical Commissions Reports of the second sessions of the following technical commissions are available in English and French:

CAe: CAeM- Vol. I:

-Vol. II: CAgM: CBP:

Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. I2.­

Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. 4·-

CC!: CIMO: CMM: CSM:

238

Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. 3·­Sw. fr. J.-

WMO Bulletin

International Cloud Atlas International Cloud Atlas

Volume I English- French

October 1960

Volume II English (2nd impression) Sw. fr. Io,­Sw. fr. 25.­Sw. fr. Ig.­Sw. fr. IO.­

Sw. fr. 8.-

French (rst impression) Abridged Atlas English (2nd impression)

French (rst impression) International Cloud Album for Observers in Aircraft

English (2nd impression) Sw. fr. 6.­Sw. fr. 4.-French (rst impression)

The International Cloud Atlas requires special packing and orders for this publication must state the method of transportation to be used (ordinary mail, airmail, air freight) for which additional charge will be made.

WMO Bulletin Copies of some previous issues of the WMO Bulletin are available, per copy: Sw. fr. I.-

With the exception of the International Cloud Atlas all prices include postage and packing.

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

World Meteorological Organization

r-r6 December

r2-26 April rg6r

30 May- 17 June rg6r

II July rg6r (2 weeks)

3rd session of the Commission for Climatology (CCl), London, U.K.

rst session of the Commission for Hydrological Meteorology (CHM), Washington, U.S.A.

13th session of the Executive Committee, Geneva, Switzerland

3rd session of Regional Association Ill (South America), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Note the 3rd session of Regional Association I (Africa), previously announced for late rg6o or February rg6r in Cairo, has been postponed.

Other International Organizations

October, November, December rsth General Assembly (UN), New York, U.S.A.

7-13 November International Symposium on Numerical Weather Prediction (IUGGjMeteorological Society of Japan), Tokyo, Japan

21 November- r6 December 2nd Plenary Assembly of the International Tele­graph and Telephone Consultative Committee -Study groups and Sub-groups (ITU), New Delhi, India

5-13 December 4th Regional Technical Conference on Water Resource Development (UN/ECAFE), Colombo, Ceylon

16-25 January rg6r Inter-African Conference on Hydrology (CCTA/ CSA), Nairobi, Kenya

239

WMO Bulletin October 1960

WMO BULLETIN VOLUME IX (1960)

Activities of the regional associations Africa (RA I) . . . . . Asia (RA II) . . . . . . . South America (RA III) . . North and Central America (RA IV) South-West Pacific (RA V) Europe (RA VI)

See also ...

Activities of the technical commissions Aerology ..... . Aeronautical Meteorology Agricultural Meteorology. Climatology . . . . . . Hydrological Meteorology

Index

Instruments and Methods of Observation Maritime Meteorology Synoptic Meteorology

See also . . . .

Aeronautical Meteorology: Meetings in Montreal,. 1959

Agricultural meteorology in the humid tropics

Antarctic Symposium in Buenos Aires

Coding of clouds : A new approach. .

Collaboration with other international organizations CCTAjCSA. FAO. IAEA . ICAO . ICNAF ICSU (SCAR) ICSU (SCOR) IFAF ... . IMCO ... . Indian Science Congress . ITU ..... . IUGG (IAMAP) IUGG (lASH) IWO ..... . OEEC (EAAC) . United Nations . UN (ECE). UN (ECLA) UNESCO

240

23, 173, 225 23, So, 225

24, So So, 225

24, So, 173 24, So, 173, 225

s

g6, 2!3 44, 97, 171, 214 44, 96, 172, 214 44, 97, 172, 214 45, 97, 172, 215

45, gS, 216 45, gS, 172, 216 46, gS, 173, 216

24, 197

24

21S

91

105

Ss, 166 r66, 167

S7 167, r6g

220 220

32, 221 88

8g, r6g, 221 8g

go, r6g 20! 204

35 33

go, 223 go

170, 224 · 36, 38, 39, 87, 170, I7I

WMO Bulletin October 1960

Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology, Second session . 24

Commission for Maritime Meteorology, Third session 197

Co-operation in international meteorology: WMO and IAMAP I 58

Executive Committee, Twelfth session 193

International Antarctic Analysis Centre, Melbourne 19

International meteorology: A tesserakontal retrospect, 1906-1947 145

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, Twelfth general assembly 201

Membership of WMO . . .

Message from the President

Meteorology and radioactive fallout.

National prizes for meteorological work .

News and Notes Alpine meteorology . . . . . . Antarctic Symposium in Buenos Aires Dr. G. D. B. de Villiers . . Dr. Kiyoo Wadati Evaporation measurements . Excellence award to Australian selected ship Fellowship in ozone research . . . . . . First weather satellite . . . . . ·. . . . High-altitude balloon :flights in Australia International symposium on atmospheric ozone Microcards containing IGY meteorological data New Delhi-Moscow radioteletype link . New Soviet automatic weather stations Numerical weather prediction On the roof of the world . . Professor H. Amorim Ferreira Reports from whaling ships . Retirements: Mr. Saradindu Basu

Dr. An drew Thomson Science in space . . . . . . . . . Soil temperature measurements . . . Stanford Research Institute, California Surface current charts of N. E. Pacific

News from the WMO Secretariat

International Geophysical Co-operation 1959 . International Geophysical Year. Meteorological data centre . . . . Panel on Artificial Satellites . . . Secretary-General's visit to Africa Staff changes . . . . . . . . . Technical Division . . . . . . Tenth anniversary celebrations . Visit of Professor Riehl . Units ........ . WMO's new headquarters

241

39, 58, r87

r26

64

99

III

49 227 IIO 175

5I 227 174

49 and the general circulation. . 228

51 IIO 176

IIO, 176, 228 50

175 176

47 48

226 50

III 227

II5 53, II5

178 5I

II3 229 II4

II2, 177 54

231 53, II2, 177, 229

WMO Bulletin October 1960

Note on TIROS I and cloud systems. 205

Obituary : H. D. Hoyle . . . . . . 177

Ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation I5I

Publications of the WMO . 59, r22, r85, 237

Recent WMO publications . 55, II5, 178, 231

Regional Association II, Second session 8

Reviews Atlas of 300 mb Wind Characteristics for the Northern Hemisphere. r84 Atlas Podneb{ Ceskoslovenske Republiky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Averages of Earth Temperature for the British Isles (M.O. 665). . . 235 Bannon, J. K. and Steele, L. P. - Average Water-vapour Content of the Air 236 Battan, L. J. - Radar Meteorology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Baur, F. - Die Sommerniederschlii.ge Mitteleuropas in den letzten I 7"2 Jahr-

hunderten und ihre Beziehungen zum Sonnenfleckenzyklus . . . . . . . 120 Bleeker, W. (Editor)- The UNESCOJWMO Seminar on Mediterranean Synoptic

Meteorology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r8I Blumenstock, D. I. - The Ocean of Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rrg Bolin, B. (Editor) - The Atmosphere and the Sea in Motion . . . . . . . 139 Cox, A. E. and Large, E. C. -Potato Blight Epidemics Throughout the World r83 van Eimern, J. - Kleiner Leitfaden der Wetterkunde fiir Landwirtschaft, Obst-

und Gartenbau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Energiepotential des Niederschlages im Osterreichischen Bundesgebiet . . . rr8 Frenkiel, F. N. and Sheppard, P. A. (Editors) - Atmospheric Diffusion and Air

Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . I8I Handbook of Weather Messages (M. 0. 510). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I2I Meteorologische Abhandlungen, Band X, Heft r ; Band XII, Heft I ; and Band

XIII, Heft I (Tii.gliche Hiihenkarten fiir das Internationale Geophysika-lische Jahr, I958) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r83

Mohrmann, J. C. J. and Kessler, J.- Water Deficiencies in European Agriculture II9 Priestley, C. H. B. - Turbulent Transfer in the Lower Atmosphere r82 Sauberer, F. and Hii.rtel, 0. - Pfianze und Strahlung . . . . . I2o Smith, C. V. - Synoptic Evolution of 500-millibar Flow Patterns . r82 Smith, L. P. - Weathercraft , .. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Steinhauser, F., Eckel, 0. and Sauberer, F. - Klima und Bioklima von Wien 56 Szesztay, K. (Compiler) - A Duna vizjarasanak eliirejelzese . . . . . . . . r83 Transactions of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics- Calculation of the Bright-

ness of Light in the Case of Anisotropic Scattering . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Role of WMO in meteorological research . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Rossby Memorial Volume: The Atmosphere and the Sea in Motion I39

Royal Society Tercentenary, I66o-rg6o 217

Satellites and meteorology . . . . . 2

Seven-year development plan for the Hydrometeorological Service of the U.S.S.R. roi

Some notes on radiometeorology . . . . . SI

Some remarks on international meteorology I36

Special Fund Activities . . . 40, 78, 164, 2IO Projects involving WMO :

Chile ....... . 4I, I65, 2IO

242

WMO Bulletin

Ecuador Israel . Peru ..

Other projects: Civil aviation training centres (ICAO) Desert locust project (FAO) . Lower Mekong river development (EPTA).

Technical Assistance Programme 1959 programme . . . . . 1960 programme ..... 196I-r962 programme planning Country programmes

Afghanistan British East Africa Colombia. Ecuador Guinea. Haiti Iceland Iran. Iraq .. Israel . Jordan. Libya .

. Paraguay. Saudi Arabia . Sudan .... United Arab Republic.

Emergency aid to the Congo . Fellowships . . . . . . . . . Radiosonde station for Central America . Regional and inter-regional projects

Lower Mekong river development . . . . . . Regional Seminar on tropical agrometeorology . Water resources survey, Latin America .

Technical assistance in public administration Travel to North and Central America Travel to South and Central America. Visit to South-East Asia

Tenth anniversary celebrations .

Tropical meteorology in Africa: Symposium in Nairobi.

Utilization of nuclear radiation in hydrometeorology .

WMO - The first ten years.

Working groups and panels of experts Artificial satellites (EC) . Atmospheric ozone (CAe) Guide to Climatological Practices (CCl) Hydrometeorological instruments (CIMO) Marine climatology (CMM) . . . . . . . Networks (CSM) .......... . Numerical methods of weather analysis and forecasting (CAe) Telecommunications (Facsimile broadcasts) (RA VI) . Utilization of aircraft meteorological reports (CAeM) . . . .

243

October 1960

42, r65, 2ro 42, 165, 2II

!64, 210

213 212 211

28, 75 31, 77, 159 32, 78, 163

159 r6o 28 28

28, 77 r6o

29, 208 76, r6o, 208

r6r 29

208 208

29, 209 162

29, 77 29, 76, 209

207 30, 76, r6z, 209

r6z

30, 76· 77 30

210

78 163

31

190

7I

13

128

51 2IJ 214. 2!6·

45 46·

214 226· 214-

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The appointee would be required to take charge of the programme of research into the measurement of ozone distribution and the meteorological applications thereof. Three Dobson spectrophotometers are at present located as for the Inter­

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CHEMRING LIMITED Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey Phone THOrnton Heath 8272

Cable Rawin, Croydon

CONTRACTORS TO METEOROLOGICAL AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

((Totex}J

Meteorological Balloons

SUPREME IN THE SKIES!

SOUNDING

CEILING

AND PILOT

ALL SORTS OF

BALLOONS OF

WORLD-WIDE

REPUTATION

TOA GOMU KOGYO K. K. 731 Kamihirai-Cho Katsushikaku

TOKYO (Japan)

Tel. (69) 1253.3880

For radar wind measurements

THE ONLY TARGET THE BEST

Remarkable performances - Lowest prices

BUREAU TECHNIQUE J. E. WINTGENS EUPEN/BELGIQUE

tel. 520.23 cables : Preciwi ntgens

Meteorological Instruments Specialists

BTW/W 1 As meteorological instrument specia­lists we shall be pleased to advise you also on: morse signal radio­

sondes, radiogoniometric trans­mitters, baroswitches, a new type of recording balloon theo­

dolite, radiosonde balloons, hydrogen generators, etc.

SUPPLIERS TO METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

G H C I The inflation of sounding balloons is rapid and easy if your hydrogen

is produced by the

Generator

Hydrogen

Cuadrado

lcaro 1_1

BECAUSE

.,.. lt works at low pressure: 2 cm Hg + 1 Atm

.... The danger of accidents is eliminated

.... Inflation is rapid

.... Continuous operation is possible

... Handling is simple

.... Prior conditioning of balloons is not necessary

.... The use of the G.H.C.I. is cheaper than the use of any other

hydrogen generator or hydrogen cylinder .,.. The free lift of the balloon is determined without the use of com­

plicated and expensive balances

S PAl N

For information, write to

F. CUAD RA DO ATOCHA No. 96

M-12

MADRID

G

H

c I

1_1

RADIO SON DE

Meteorological Transmitter

As supplied to the Brilish Meteorological Office

and many foreign

governments

The WB Radio Sonde can be supplied either complete with battery, aerial parachute, radar reflector and battery, or the transmitter with met. elements can be supplied as a single unit.

WHITELEY ELECTRICAL RADIO COMPANY LTD. MANSFIELD- NOTTS- ENGLAND

Marconi 3 cm Storm Warning Radar

Marconi's Storm Detection Radar, Type SNW 51 is specially designed to present an accurate picture of storms and rainproducing clouds over ranges up to 200 n.m. It can therefore meet the needs of Meteoro­logical Departments and Airport Authorities, partic­ularly where it is required to derive information from inaccessible areas. Features include:- High Power Working, High-gain Tiltable Aerial (remote-controlled from display unit). Full Off-Centring Facility (enabling any sector to be expanded to cover the whole area of the tube). Remote Displays, Static or Mobile Versions available.

MARCONI COMPLEtE CIVIL AND MILITARY RADAR INSTALLATIONS

MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH COMFANY LIMITED, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX, ENGLAND M6A

(!) IN THE

AIR TRANSATLANTIC

FLIGHT

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Early one Sunday morning a Royal Air Force

Vulcan jet bomber swept off a Canadian runway on

the first non-stop transatlantic jet flight out of Station

Trenton. Before take-off, the crew was briefed on weather

conditions expected throughout the trip. This was the

·first briefing ever provided by the forecast officer for

a non-stop transatlantic flight. The lower

photograph shows Mr. D. H. Parkinson, the senior station

meteorological officer, discussing the latest Mufax

weather chart recordings with \\;ing Commander

A. C. L. Mackie, the Captain, and F/L J. R. Ward,

the navigator.

MUIRHEAD & CO. LIMITED, Beckenham, Kent, England. I I Te/ : Beckenham 4888.

-§LIU;jliij·l MUIRHEAD 1Nr:;~~~~~T;7~~~1TED, Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

MUIRHEAD INSTRUMENTS INC., 441 Lexington Avenue, New York 17, N.Y., U.S.A.

431 Te/: Murray Hill 2·8131.