The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-01
OFFICIAL KITE FLYING.
Systematic Work Resulting From
Cooperation in Europe.

The first permanent station for kite
flying in Europe. and the first in the
world established under governmental
auspices, Is that at Viborg, in the ex-
IRENE northern part of Denmark. Pho
neer work in sounding the upper air
with meteorological instruments which
were carried up by kites was done at the
Blue Hill Observatory, near Boston; but
worthy Of note that the greatest attitudes
yet reached by this method (about three
mileS) were attained there. Somewhat
extended experiments were made in the
United States, too, under the direction
OF the Washington bureau, and while
these may be renewed in the future,
they have hitherto been brief tempo
rary and more or less disconnected. At
Viborg provision has been made for
more continuous exploration the gov
ernments of Denmark, Sweden and
France cooperating in the scheme. Del
egates Of international reputation in
weather science from these countries
met to fix the site and plan other de-
tails.
The most important building at the
station is a tower thirty-three feet high,
mounted on circular rails, SO that it
can be rotated easily, and left open on
one side. No matter from which direc-
ton the wind blows, the tower is turned
with this gap to leeward. Thus the op-
orator can sit within, where the wind
lasses are and watch his kites The lat
ter, Oh course, take ln6lT lines
down the wind. There are two wind
lasses controlled by electric motors, one
being held in reserve for immediate use
in case the wire on the other breaks
while in service.
From an account which M. Tefsser-
enc de Bort, the director, contributes to
the latest number of THE United States
Weather Review it appears that sys-
last August. An effort is made to fly
the kites by night as well as by day
and the staff is divided into three sec
tions, one relieving another every eight
hours. The value of the data obtained
is believed to depend largely on the con-
tinuity of the observations. Hence It is
desirable to have self-recording barome-
tiers, thermometers and registers of hui
Nudity and wind force tell their stories
as often as possible. For this special
service all four types of instruments are
combined in one, and this is placed on
the outermost kite. Usually two or
more kites are sent up tandem, the
greater the number the higher the ele-
walton reached. What the meteorolo-
gists want to study is the situation in
the upper parts Of highs" and lows"
as these drift over the country and COM
pare it with that Of the surface of the
earth at the same moment. Light on
the structure and cause of storms, cold
waves and other phenomena may be
thus obtained and accuracy of forecast
ing enhanced.
have been to heights of $500 or 1000 me
tiers, or in the vicinity of a mile; but
occasionally the kites go up 1000 or
1000 meters. The amount of wire which
must be let out depends partly on the
elevation of the kites and partly on the
angle which the string forms with a
horizontal line. On an average the
length of wire is so per cent greater
than the height attained. The duration
of each ascent is mainly dictated by the
strength of the wind. AS soon as the
predetermined amount of wire is run
the windlass is set to hauling it in. A
fresh instrument is substituted for the
other one (the removal of whose records
takes time), and the kites are started
up once more.
In case of breakage time is required
for repairs; but there is always at least
one extra instrument on hand. The ap-
paratus is so adjusted in a basket that
it will not suffer harm unless it gets a
heavy fall. A letter is attached to this.
offering a reward of seven francs (abour
$1.40) to the finder for bringing it back.
Then If the kite gets away there is a
chance for recovering the property.
Such luck has been enjoyed even when
kites have drifted over 100 miles from
the station. Once within twentyfour
hours, three instruments, fifteen kites
and nearly nine miles of wire were lost
in high winds. The more valuable part
New York Tribune.