Diario las Américas., 1958-03-27
Know thv

BY ANTONIO RUIZ

BRAZIL Ihe great variety
OF climates enjoyed by Brazil sur
priseS many of the visitors, since
the greater part of the Brazilian
people live in the inter tropical
region where the sun passes
through the zenith once or twice a
year and one might expect this to
cause great heat and, therefore,
great discomfort. That this is not
the case is due to the uneven ma
ture of the land nearly all over
the country, consisting to a very
large extent Of uplands where
the altitude has a markedly lower
ing effect on the temperature, and
also to the circulation of air which
keeps the atmosphere in constant
movement over Brazilian territory.
Thus, the configuration of South
America allows cold air masses
from the polar region to advance in
a northeasterly direction, forcing
up the tropical air which requires
a flow from north to south, and
giving rise to periodical rain
storms which assist in tempering
the sultry heat. 1t may, therefore,
be affirmed that in the vast inter-
tropical regions occupied by Bra
iii, hot, dry seasons usually alter
nate with tropical rains, and the
net result is a pleasant, mild eli
mate, extending over most of the
country. Even in the depths of the
Amazon Valley, the steamy heat is
dispelled by the breeze blowing up
from the sea and the sharp drop in
temperature at nightfall is very re-
freshing.
Climatic conditions in the
mountain regions cannot be bet
tered and the bracing effects of
this temperate zone are exper-
fenced in full in the numerous
spas and holiday resorts such as
Campos de Jordao, Friburgo, Te-
rezopolis, Pozos do Caldas, Ara
xa, etc. The extremes OF climate
injurious to health are not found
in Brazil. On the contrary, it is
indeed a blessed country. on that
respect; winter never strikes with
the harsh severity that brings bit
ter hardships to all living creatures
in less favored lands. The tenn
peratures are usually within the
range of endurance, and even the
short periods dominated by a heat
wave are not very disagreeable.
Snow is seen once in a while
in the southern part of Brazil, but
it is very light; even so, it adds a
picturesque touch to the local
scenery and has a healthy effect
on the population. Frost is more
serious, but the maximum is not
more than 25 frosty days a year
in the south, and north of the
State of Sac Paulo is practically
unknown.
Weather f~orecasting in Brazil
dates back about half a century,
The undertaking was so complex,
that it was necessary to enlist the
cooperation of other South Ameri-
can Republics, some of which were
already operating weather bureaus.
OF the 400 meteorological sta
lions now in service in Brazil,
about 200 are equipped to COO
perate in f~orecasting work and, as
many other stations in South
America, make standard observa'
tons three times a day. The data
thus obtained enables to forecast
the weather for the various re
gions of the country.
The charts show the weather
prevailing at time intervals fixed
by international agreement and
corresponding to 9 A. M. and 3
and 8 p. M. at Rio de Janeiro,
The information covers atmo'
spheric pressure, temperature, hui
mildly, and other factors. To com
ply with international regulations
the Brazilian Meteorological Ser
vice has to prepare its daily fore.
cast within two hours after taking
observations. The data is transmit
ted by telegraph and telephone
and between II in the morning
and noon, the Central Bureau al
Rio is in possession of nearly all
morning weather reports, even
those sent by the most distant sta
tions three times a day to the
whole world, thus taking technical
part in the collective work of the
organization known as Amersud
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