Evening star., 1954-04-23
Pole-to-PoIe Weather
Stations Planned
Network Might Alter
Forecostine Methods
BY Thomos R. Henry

BY Thomas R. Henry
A straight line of upper-air weather
observatorieS between the North and
South Poles is one of the objectives of
meteorologists now formulating plans
for the international geophysical year
of 1857.
This line would run approximately
along 80th meridian west, starting with
a United States Air Force observatory
now operating on bne of the newly dis
covered Arctic ice islands about 200
miles from the North Pole.
Already existing facilities will be
utilized in North America with what
ever additional equipment is necessary.
Thence the line will extend down the
western coast of South America. where
there are at present no stations
equipped with the facilities required.
All the Pacific Coast countries Of
South America have weather forecast
ing services based on ground observa-
tions and to some extent on air recon-
naissance flights. The primary interest
of this program, however, is In obser-
vation of conditions in the extreme
upper atmosphere where air masses
clash and where much Of the surface
weather is manufactured.
Can Be Modified
It is believed, however. that when
suitable equipment is provided. and
personnel trained for its operation.
most of these existing stations can be
made to At into the pole-to-pole line.
From South. America comes the big
gest Jump, across Cape Horn to the
Palmer Peninsula, the hooklike north
ern projection of the Antarctic contl-
nent. This mountainous peninsula Is
largely a vast unknown. Argentina.
however, is maintaining a permanent
weather observatory on the South Ork-
ney Islands off the Palmer Land coast.
Chile also has stations there and. 1t Is
believed, all these can be fltted ade-
quately into the program.
The British also maintain an excel
lent weather observatory on the Falk-
land Islands and probably could estab-
lish stations in Palmer Land, claimed
as a British possession, without much
difficulty.
Thence to the South Pole itself with
one intervening station at the foot of
the Rockefeller Mountains on the 80th
meridian constitutes the difficult and
expensive part of the plan. Antarctic
experts in Washington have assured
the meteorologists however, that they
believe two stations can be set up. to
operate for an entire year, II sufficient
funds and personnel are available.
Along this line every station would
make and report upper-air observations
every day. The purpose would be to
obtain a comprehensive and continu-
Gus picture of the upper air north
south circulation and determine in
what way this may be applied to fore
casting.
Only Practical Line.
The 8Oth meridian line, it is eX-
planned, is of no particular meteorolog-
ical significance. per Sc, but happens
to be the only one where the continu-
Gus string of observatories is feasible.
The problem of the North Pole link
now is becoming complicated. The ice
island T3. one of the curious geographic
cal features of the far north discovered
in the last few years by Canadian and
United States flyers, is slowly drifting
southwark. Three years ago it was at
81 north latitude. 1t now is at about
SO and moves little every day. 1t is
drifting, however. in somewhat cir
cular course which eventually will bring
it close to the pole once more.
Air Force observations there during
the past two years have proved Of very
great value to both American and Eu-
ropean forecasters. since much Of the
weather Of both continents originates
in the extreme Arctic. The ice island
promises at least stable base and
station on the pole itself probably
would be impossible.
The primary observations at all these
stations will be made with radiosondes,
instruments which record automatically
such features as temperature. wind di-
rection and humidity. They are sent
aloft by means Of free balloons and ra-
dio back to earth the picture which
they find.
Once the line of stations has been
established, the meteorologists planning
the program say. there is q possibility
that it will be permanent.