1. Supply to the artillery information up to the maximum height of the trajectories of shells, enabling gunners to allow for wind and temperature variations for various ranges and types of guns.


2. Supply of weather forecasts.


3. Give direction and speed of upper winds to the R.A.F. This was required for a variety of purposes.


4. Study of local winds in detail and forecasting them in connection with possible use of gas.


5. Climatic data were needed for many purposes.

Kidson joined the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology in 1921, and he immediately set out to organise 'the exploration of the upper air'. With the assistance of a few juniors he established pilot balloon observations and later extended them to the centres. In a 1923 reorganisation of the Bureau, he was made Assistant Director (Research) and was given the full time assistance of a small staff.

He worked tirelessly and enthusiastically on his newly-chosen subject, taking a keen interest in practical forecasting (being one of the Forecast Board) and he introduced a forecasting service for aviation.

Meanwhile he prepared scientific papers on various subjects, and in his own time at night he gave attention to private research.

One important work he completed was 'Cloud heights from Melbourne Observatory Photographs', which was based on a long series of cloud photographs made by Baracchi from 1897–1901. For this Kidson was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science by the New Zealand University in 1924.

Bureau of Meteorology