Evening star., 1925-12-25

SoiIle ny lue CotStdIlt ueNelopiiiChl VI
the Astrological work of the Naval
Bureau of AeronauticS, which now is
regarded as one Of the Weather Bu-
reau's chief aids in determining me-
teorological conditions.
With their craft roaring in the teeth
of gales, tossing in squalls, or pene-
trating rolling banks of fog miles
from the shore, naval air pilots and
aerologists are fulfilling an important
place in the task of gathering the in
format tion on which the daily
weather forecasts are prepared.
Swift flying, radio equipped naval
SeaplaneS. far out on the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, are engaged in
this enterprise of cooperating with
the United States Weather Bureau
in the work of prognosticating me-
neurological conditions.
Maps Air Routes.
Coupled with this work of gather
ing weather data, the photographic
office of the Navy Department now is
engaged in the mapping of air routes
along the coast line, so airmen may
lind their way regardless of the dim
culties encountered by meteorological
conditions. A chart already has been
showing certain sections of the At
!antic coast line, and others are in
preparation. Each will clearly mark
all possible landing fields. the COM
pass courses for both airplanes and
Seaplanes between principal cities,
and areas of possible danger to ayl-
ators whose course lies either over
land or sea. 1t is planned to print on
the margins of these charts sketches
Of lighthouses, buoys and other aids
10 aerial navigation. Such potential
dangers as shallow water, fish weirs
and stakes. gunfiring ranges. etc.
also are shown on these charts.
Helps Other Fields.
The work of the Navy aerologiSts,
however. has a more far-reaching eff
feet than the photographic charts.
Whether you are interested in corn
or wheat. golf or other outdoor sports
II in painting your house or barn,
weather conditions play an impor-
tant part in your movements and
plans. and the part the naval airmen
play in gathering the weather data
aids in permitting you to plan your
days job or recreation. The way the
sailor airmen come TO benefit the
farmer is another interesting illus
tration of the manner in which
science links up mans varied inter
eSts. Who would have thought a few
years ago that the Navy would ever
be doing, for instance. highly tech
nical work aiding the agriculturists
of the wheat belt. or the growers of
tobacco and cotton? This is how it
happened:
Early in aviation it became neces-
sary for the Army and Navy to make
arrangements with the Weather Bu-
reau to obtain for all the flying fields
and ships carrying aircraft flying
weather forecasts" These gave the
flying conditions over certain areas,
and as far as they went were ex-
tremely valuable. However, these
forecasts were issued from certain
localities and it was impossible for
the forecasters to at these places to
anticipate or describe the detailed
weather condition which the aviator
might encounter. Furthermore, with
naval air squadrons operating over
the sea the Weather Bureau can give
only general idea of the conditions
which aircraft may encounter over
the ocean.
Built Up Own Service.
To provide for this additional in.
formation which the naval men re-
quired, the Navy built up an aero
logical organization. consisting of air
observatories with each air squadron
with some operating with the fleet at
sea and others installed at naval shore
stations. AT this time naval weather
experts take special observations
hourly of currents in the upper air
observations of the wind at flying alti-
tudes are obtained by releasing small
balloons and following them through a
fhandn1fta hi
measures the angles of the balloon,
and from these calculations the direc-
ton and the velocity of the winds are
computed. observations also of tenn
peratures, humidity and pressure at
Tying attitudes are obtained by taking
an aerograph, which is a Self-recording
instrument. aloft on an airplafIe
Naval vessels in the Pacific flash BY
radio the information received from
their seaplanes to San Francisco. In.
formation on North Atlantic meteoro-
logical conditions and disturbances
are likewise dispatched to Washington.
This data, of course, is of great value
to the Weather Bureau in prognosti-
eating local weather conditions. BY
means of radio equipment the naval
Astrological observatories intercept
weather reports from all parts Of the
country and from these the weather
IIldp Is up
Prepares Detailed Map.
The feet Astrological officer then
studies the weather map in connection
with his local observations of the up-
per air and the general advices sent
out by the Weather Bureau. He is
then able to prepare detailed weather
forecast giving the information which
the air squadrons require. 1t is the
aim of the astrological officer to furnish
correct data on the exact location Of
squalls and showers. their intensity
and duration. He also predicts the air
currents aloft so that the planes may
take advantage of favorable currents
and avoid unfavorable ones
In order to make the naval OBJ
servations available to other meteor
illogical interests in the country, tel
egrams usually are sent twice daily
in code by the Navy to the central
office of the Weather Bureau here.
Conclusions drawn from them, in ad-
dition to the bureaus own observa-
tions, are given to the public over
radio, through newspap pers and through
the mails. The system is a cooper
ative arrangement. The Weather
Bureau helps the Navy and the NAVY
helms the Weather Rureau