RAAF Meteorological Service
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 2: Establishing and Developing the RAAF Directorate of Met. Services (D.Met.S)
Chapter 3: Recruiting and Training of Personnel
Chapter 4: Meteorology in Aviation
Chapter 5: The Met. Retreating
Chapter 6: The Met. Advancing
Chapter 7: The Met With the Army and the Navy
Chapter 8: Divisional Offices of the Bureau of Meteorology During the War
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane
Perth
Adelaide
Hobart
Chapter 9: Research and Instrumental Development
Chapter 10: The End, Aftermath, and Beyond
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
References
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Perth
One of the problems at the outbreak of war was the immediate imposition of almost complete radio silence in waters off the Western Australian coast. This deprived the Perth Divisional Office of the invaluable radio-telegraphed weather reports from ships in the Indian Ocean. Pre-war, ships' radio reports were almost the only source of information about weather approaching Australia from the west. Cabled reports were available from Cocos Island, but this is situated too far north of an ideal latitude for one station to be the sole source of meteorological information for the vast area concerned. Mostly later in the war, a few radio-telegraphed reports were received at the Divisional Office by favour of the Navy; also, for part of the time, some benefit was derived from weather reports from trans-ocean service aircraft.The wartime development in 1943 of radiosonde assisted forecasting, although the observations first made in Western Australia were mainly made by army units, primarily for gunnery purposes.
Wartime security restrictions severely limited the usual channels through which meteorological information was available to serve the economic needs of the civilian community. Broadcasting facilities were almost withdrawn, and publication of newspaper information was strictly curtailed. The display in various parts of Perth and at country post offices of meteorological charts—which had been routine—ceased. This also applied to rainfall lists and other meteorological data. This embargo continued until 1944, although some severe weather warnings were issued to the public. Nevertheless, as in other States, it was still necessary to ensure that the more important items of meteorological information reached those to whom it was essential for economic purposes; and to provide for this an emergency service with adequate security safeguards was introduced. In Perth, meteorological information—which included isobaric charts, weather bulletins, rainfall maps and certain forecasts—was delivered safe-hand to the Commonwealth and State government departments vitally concerned, such as the Department of Agriculture. The needs of rural industries were met by the despatch (via land telegraph lines), of essential information to country postmasters who were entrusted with the responsibility of releasing details for the use of approved primary producers. Every care was taken that this information only reached those who would use it for the intended purpose, and who could be trusted not to circulate it indiscreetly.
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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