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Federation and MeteorologyBureau of Meteorology
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Weather News

Introduction

History

Personal Notes

Retirements

Obituaries

Observers and Volunteers

Media

Computers
Commissioning Ceremony of the Bureau's IBM 360/65 Computer
Computer—Important Forward Step
New Era for Meteorology
How We Got the Computer
The Computer
Processing 159 Million Rainfall Observations . . . Approx
Computing in the Bureau—The Early Years


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Computer—Important Forward Step

No. 145 August 1968, Item 1550

Mr. Kingsland deputised for Mr. Peter Nixon, Minister for the interior, who had been scheduled to commission the computer. Mr. Nixon was unfortunately unable to leave Canberra because of an urgent Cabinet meeting.

Commissioning the Bureau' s computer, Mr. Kingsland said it was an important step in meeting the growing needs for general and specialised weather information.

Its basic purpose was to improve meteorological services to the nation as a whole through increased accuracy, an extended procedure of forecasts and warnings and by better statistical and consultative Processes. He said forecasts and weather analysis charts on a global scale were becoming increasingly important as high speed aircraft and telecommunication channels shrank the distance between countries.

Melbourne played a key role in the World Weather Watch network. It was the only centre in the southern hemisphere to collect, process and exchange meteorological data on a global scale for the World Meteorological Organisation. Two other cities to complete the chain were Moscow and Washington. Mr. Kingsland said the computer would be invaluable in that operation. A second similar machine would be installed later for use mainly as a standby and for research on new weather forecasting techniques.

Mr. Kingsland said the Bureau of Meteorology was of immense value to the nation, saving an estimated 300 million dollars annually with timely weather warnings.


People in Bright Sparcs - Kingsland, Richard

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