Radar sets were adapted to Weather scanning and these observations form a valuable aid in local forecasting.

Spherics equipment was installed at Townsville, Charleville and Eagle Farm to locate by triangulation the occurrence of atmospherics denoting thunderstorm activity.

In 1955 a Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre was established at the Brisbane Divisional Office, and further aids in this important work include the opening of a new staffed meteorological station at Gladstone with stations at Mackay and Cairns contemplated, also weather watching at Cape Byron.

The Bureau has provided a Meteorological service for special operations, most important of them being atomic weapon trials at Monte Bello and Maralinga. Associated with the Maralinga trials was the establishment of a meteorological observing outpost at Giles.

Participation by the Bureau in this work of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition included staffing of stations at Macquarie island and Heard Island, commencing in 1947. Macquarie Island has continued up to the present time, Heard Island was abandoned in 1953 and from 1954 on activities were transferred to Mawson in the Antarctic Continent with an outstation at Davis. An automatic weather station will be installed in the Antarctic for the 1958 season.

Bureau of Meteorology