The Washington times., 1936-07-11
NOW
Weather Bureau
Code Blamed
FOR HEAT
BY HELEN ESSARY

BY HELEN ESSARY
I've discovered what's the mat
ter with the weather
The weather reports are sent in
code.
This heat wave is, therefore, the
result of code confusion.
Some overbroiled, sun-tanned
expert in the Sahara Desert proba-
bly, sent the message intended for
the Arctic Circle to the North Tenn
perate Zone.
So, while our thermometers are
bursting, in Admiral Byrd'S South
Pole resort the icicleS on the polar
bears noses are growing inches
longer than ever before.
Inspired by the possibilities OF
much misplaced temperature, I
called up the Weather Bureau to
ask about the system of code re-
ports.
A charming gentleman there,
Thomas R. Brooks, tried to explain
the involved subject of weather
code. He was very patient, and I
was very dumb.
What I finally got into my head
isn't what might be called the
technical story of weather codes.
But in words of one syllable the
system is something like this:
North America-the United
States, Alaska and Canadians
a code of its own. 1t uses let
tiers.
In international signals, used
by most other nations, numbers
from / to SO are used in groups
of five. The numbers indicate
by their choice and placing the
state of the barometer and Their
mometer, the wind-its force and
direction-and the general state
Of the weather.
Ships frequently use additional
groups of numbers which tell IN
detail the look of the ocean or
the river roundabout.
In particular, ship reports call
attention to the course of the
ship, the direction and type Of
sea swells and the condition and
behavior of the upper and lower
clouds.
The letter code syst m OF
weather reporting popular in this
country depends not only on the
choice of vowels and conSonantS
but their placing. Their form>
ton into code words and the posi-
ton of the words in sentences Is
most important.
For instance, there is "bomund."
''Bomund" is word that means
little in my life, or had meant
little until talked to Mr.. BROOKS:
Now I realize that it is a word
of terrific significance. "Bomund"
placed first in a sentence means
a state of weather quite contrary
to it's meaning when placed Sec
ond in a sentence. Unfortunately
I'm not positive which means
which. -,
But in one position "bomund"
means wind from the north and
possible snow"
The other placing means fair
and warmer"
7 asked Mr.. Brooks If this
method was not little involved.
Mr.. Brooks said no, the Weather
Bureau almost never made a mis-
take. The scientists have code
book which they refer to if their
memory should fail, which it prac-
tically never does. AS soon as
each report is received it is de-
coded carefully and correctly.
Mr.. Brooks did think, however,
that the proposed change by the
Weather Department in this
country from the letter code to
the international number signals
would be helpful.
International signals are more
economical and allow more data.
The additional data is useful. IT
gives an operator more certain
chance for a good forecast.
I wondered hesitatingly if that
valuable word, "B OMUN D."
which sometimes means "snow
storm" were put in new place in
the weather reports coming in
from over the prairies, would there
be a noticeable change in the
weather here?
Mr.. Brooks thought not-at least
not Immediately.
IDrAINC' CUDCN