Page 39 - To Dragma October 1929

OCTOBER, 1929 37

"What are the duties? They are so varied that there is little chance
for monotony. We must keep a complete and continuous daily local
record of wind, sunshine, precipitation, clouds, fog, hail, thunderstorms,
sleet, ice, pressure, temperature, and optical phenomena, such as solar and
lunar halos and auroras. Part of this data may be secured by automatic
recording instruments, but much is obtained by actual observation, and
all of it is checked from actual observation.

"Twice daily, at 8:00 A.M. and 8 P.M. Eastern time, we make observa-
tions of meteorological conditions," explains Mary Hamilton. "The reJ
suits of these readings are telegraphed to two distributing points, Chicago
and New York, from which they are sent in the weather code to the 200
odd regular stations in the country.

"From these 'decoded' data we make the weather map, and by
studying the succession to HIGHS and LOWS with their attendant con-
ditions, we make 36 hour forecasts which are distributed through the
press, by radio, and weather bulletins to the public. These bulletins
contain, in addition to the forecast, a synopsis of conditions over the
country and tabulated temperature and precipitation data from other
stations.

"Comparatively new are the air observations to flying fields which
we wire twice daily, at 5 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. The fields which we regu-
larly inform do not send out planes until they receive our favorable
reports. The air observation for flying is done at present in many places
by means of kites and little so-called pilot balloons.

"We also inform industrial plants and producers of coming hot or
cold waves, which is of great value to them. I n flood districts, weather
observers can inform when the water will rise and its height to the
fraction of a foot."

Meteorology and radio communication have literally transformed the

(Continued on page 42)

u

I

A apparatus.

The interior of the iveather bureau is filled with all sorts of delicate