Evening star., 1933-02-26
Cooperative Weather Observers Work
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.

compiled by the section director and
then sent In 10 the Weather Bureau at
Washington. On these data are built
the weather maps and they form the
basis for studies Of climate, Of the cy-
cles Of cold weather, dry weather,
precipitation and all the other phe-
nomena which contribute to the vast
science Of meteorology. The expert
scientists at the top are men of the
highest skill, but 1t Is from the CO.
operative observers In the field that
they obtain their data. without the
data, the conclusions would be impos-
sible.
The Weather Bureau furnishes the
observers with the necessary instru-
ments for the making Of observations.
Extent of rainfall must be daily record
ed by means Of the rain gauges supplied
and temperatures must be taken a.
carefully. Then there are instruments
which show humidity. frequency and
velocity Of wind, characteristics Of
storms, extent Of snow cover, and the
like.
Volunteers Are Faithful
The farmer is the best weather OBJ
server ofncials Of the Weather Bureau
have found. He Is an out-of-d doors man
and, by long training. has become
familiar with weather phenomena.
Moreover, he Is interested. Many
weather observation stations are In
towns, and school teachers have been
used In this capacity to some extent, but
they are not regarded Is ideal. The
teacher often uses the instruments more
to teach q smattering Of meteorology to
classes than to keep accurate records.
OFTEN the readings are delegated to
pupils. In vacation periods the work
is likely to lapse and at no time can
be wholly depended upon for accuracy.
Blank forms are furnished the volu5 :
teer observers and they are supposed 70
send these in. properly filled out with
the instrument readings. to the section
director. It requires q good deal of
keep up this somewhat monotonous rou-
tine year in and year out and wholly
without money compensation.
The volunteer weather observer often
Is called on by neighbors Of his COM
munity for data on the weather and for
weather lore. He achieves, In time,
something Of reputation as . prophet
In his own right. A good many rural
weather observers, In addition to send
ing In their reports to the section direc-
tor, also compile periodical weather and
crop reports for the newspapers of their
communities. Occasionally local VOL
unteer weather observer Is called on to
bring his records into court In connec-
ton with some lawsuit In which the
weather Is factor.
The Weather Bureaus staff of volun-
teer weather observers necessarily Is con-
stantly changing because Of deaths. re-
movals or other causes. But 1t Is doubt
full whether any branch Of Government
work has more veterans in Its service.
A special effort Is made to preserve con-
tinuity and th1 bureau prefers to keep
the same observer year after year. The
result Is that there are hundreds who
have been at work for more than Q
quarter Of century. In the East du-
ration Of service Is longer because the
service was more rapidly extended there
and also because there were not 80 many
people available In the West In the early
days. But there Is one man In South
Dakota who has been observing weather
for 40 years. The job, In come cases.
Is hereditary, being handed down from
father to SON. Widows sometimes carry
on the work Of dead husbands.