War History of the Australian Meteorological Service
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: D.Met.S.—Australia's Wartime Weather Service
Chapter 2: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 3: Met in the Retreat
Chapter 4: Met in the Advance
Chapter 5: Meteorology in Aviation
Chapter 6: Central Forecasting Services
Chapter 7: Met With the Army
Chapter 8: Research and Personnel Training
Chapter 9: Instrumental Development and Maintenance
Chapter 10: Scientific Developments in the RAAF Meteorological Service
Chapter 11: Divisional Bureaux and Their Work
Appendix 1: List of Reports Provided by D.Met.S. for Advances Operational Planning and Other Purposes
Appendix 2: List of Service Personnel RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 3: List of Civilian Personnel Who Worked Together with Service Personnel of the RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 4: List of Locations at which RAAF Meteorological Service Personnel Served
Index
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As the war progressed, the amount of information available to the meteorologist gradually increased. The establishment of a meteorological network of radiosonde stations over Australia and adjacent areas, from which daily soundings of the atmosphere to a height of 10 miles or more were made, gave the meteorologist a more detailed picture of the upper air but also required the development of new techniques for the systematic analysis of such data. In addition there was a large volume of observations made from aircraft in flight which provided a wealth of detail never before available and not likely to be equalled again except in war. Considerable work was done overseas on methods of upper air analysis and it was necessary for meteorological personnel in Australia and adjacent areas to keep abreast of these developments and to make any modifications in technique that were required by local conditions.
The meteorological information provided to the armed services may be classed under the headings of strategic and tactical. For long term planning it was necessary to give a detailed account of conditions likely to be met at a certain place at a certain period in the overall strategic pattern. In the short term tactical interest, detailed information as to conditions to and from and over target areas was required. (Ed. At this point in the manuscript, about 20 words are not legible. Accordingly, this paragraph has been shortened, using what can be read, to give what is believed the most likely intent of the author.)
Research section at Melbourne headquarters and the tropical research centre at Brisbane, issued numerous climatological surveys giving detailed climatological information regarding rainfall, cloudiness, wind, state of the sea and any other elements likely to affect operations of a naval or military nature in various theatres of war. In addition to these, numerous specific studies included a special study of winds at high levels over the East Indies and studies of swell and landing conditions on the coasts. A general survey of conditions over the whole theatre was prepared in Melbourne, by research section, and a series of studies prepared at the request of the Admiralty was published under the title Weather on the Australia Station. These studies can be considered as of a strategic character.
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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