Evening star., 1933-12-16
Improved Weather Reports
Give Hope of Practical Gail

Scientific studies OF weather condi-
tions have resulted in two reports
which are welcomed as promising bet
ter forecasts, with special attention to
the interests of aviation, while long
time accuracy Is seen as possibility OF
the future. The Science Advisory
Board. an agency Of the Government
proposes a new system Of reporting
with daily maps of the upper-air tenn
peratures, humidity, pressure and wind
velocity. Secretary Charles G. Abbot
of the Smithsonian Institution points
to increased possibilities in the estab-
lishment of fairly definite 23-year
cycle in weather reports.
"The airlines." says the Youngstown
Vindicator. will welcome the proposed
new system of reporting, which will
benefit business and passengers, whose
patronage is giving encoura cement for
the extension of lines" The Vindi-
Gator feels that "the need for better
reports for flyers becomes more acute" !"
and explains the proposal with the
statement: The Science Board feels
that the upper air is being neglected as
a source of weather information. Eu-
rope being far ahead of the United
States in use Of knowledge gained from
the upper air. 1t suggests that studies
of the wohle ali mass be broadened
and that reports be obtained from
Mexico and Canade, and also Siberia,
so that the weather can be predicted
for a longer time III advance. To this
end the board woul6 consolidate the
whole system Of recording and report
ing data and forecasting under the
Weather Bureau, except Tor necessary
Army and Navy service" -
Every agency concerned with
weather conditions throughout the
United States in the opinion OF the
San Antonio Express, should approve
the recommendations of the Science
Board" That paper indorses stronger
cooperation among all groups that
gather data on air conditions" and
after pointing out that worldwide re-
porting was suggested by Brig. Gen.
Albert j. Mysr, the Army's chief sig
nal officer in 1873, advises eas to the
future: 1T is imperative that the vast
plan suggested by Gen. Myer be de-
veloped in manner to benefit all peo-
Piles. That far-seeing soldier-scientist
insisted that the globes aerial envelope
must be observed as unit" The Ex-
press holds that aviation, shipping and
agricultural interests particularly would
benefit by the additional astrological
StdtlOIlS pIOpOScu.
Observing that a committee Of dis
tinguished men appointed by the Sci
ence Board included DR.. Compton and
DR.. Millikan, the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin comments on the plan that was
presented: This committee stresses the
need for more information, gathered
simultaneously from various points, of
upper air conditions. This is essential
to the air-mass analysis system of FORE
casting developed intensively in Euro
pean countries during the past 10 years,
and imperfectly applied here for want
of systematic information of upper-air
temperatures, humidity and pressures.
Astrological stations closed by pressure
of economy might be supplanted and
increased in number by Army and Navy
cooperation. The advisers are aiming
at provision for the drawing of an upper
air map covering the entire country,
similar to the maps of the surface con-
ditions now drafted on the basis Of re-
ports from some 200 stations If co-or-
1ination of Weather Bureau. Army, Navy
and commercial airport effort cannot
effect this without added support from
Congress, it will be up to that body to
figure the cost in comparison with the
attainable gains"
"The flyers are to help" says the Oak
land Tribune, land the flyers are mainly
the occasion for the new program"
quoting from the report to show the
need Of q properly organized system to
include more contributing units than
under the present system. It also finds
that 1t Is recommended that "the num-