Australian Meteorology through the 20th Century
Introduction
The Origins of Australian Meteorology
Meteorology in the 20th Century
The Weather and Climate of the Twentieth Century
The Great Weather and Climate Events of the Twentieth Century
A Century of Progress in Science and Service
References
Australian Meteorological Milestones of the 20th Century
1906
1907
1908
1911
1931
1934
1937
1940
1941
1942
1943
1945
1950
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1962
1964
1965
1966
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1974
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1990
1995
1996
1997
2000
Endnotes
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
1906
First Meteorology Act establishing the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology as the authority responsible for providing meteorological services.1907
Mr H. A. Hunt appointed Commonwealth Meteorologist.1908
The new Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology commences operations.1911
Mr George Ainsworth, a member of Mawson's expedition to Macquarie Island, becomes the first Bureau staff member to tour Antarctica.1931
Mr W. S. Watt appointed Commonwealth Meteorologist. First meteorological aircraft flights to obtain temperature and humidity profiles over Melbourne.1934
First synoptic studies of upper air characteristics over southeast Australia.1937
H. E. Wimperis' report, 'Inauguration of Aeronautical Research in Australia resulted in the establishment of the Aviation Meteorological Service.Establishment of the Bureau's Central Training School.
1940
Mr H. N. Warren appointed Commonwealth Meteorologist.1941
The Bureau is placed under the Department of Air (RAAF).1942
Commencement of balloon-borne radiosonde flights for upper air measurement.1943
Radar first used for upper wind measurement at Williamtown.1945
Post War reorganisation leading to the establishment of divisional offices in each State with responsibility for forecasting.1950
Australia becomes one of the first members of WMO.Mr E. W. Timke appointed Commonwealth Meteorologist.
1954
Commencement of continuous meteorological observations on the Antarctic continent at Mawson.Commencement of facsimile transmission of weather charts.
1955
Second Meteorology Act in which the functions of the Bureau and the powers of the Director were defined.The title Commonwealth Meteorologist changed to Director of Meteorology.
Mr L. J. Dwyer appointed Director of Meteorology.
1956
First TV weather segment—Channel 9 Sydney.Fire weather organisation commenced.
1957
Establishment of the Hydrometeorological Section to provide river height information and flood forecasts for river sysytems in eastern Australia.1958
Bureau reorganisation establishing three Divisions within Head Office—Research, Services and Management.1959
Establishment of the International Antarctic Analysis Centre (IAAC) in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science.1962
First Automatic Weather Station installed at Ashmore Island off the northwest coast of WA.Dr W. J. Gibbs appointed Director of Meteorology.
1964
Reception of the first TIROS satellite photo.1965
IAAC ceases operational analysis function and reconstituted as IAMRC (International Antarctic Meteorological Research Centre).1966
World Meteorological Centre, Melbourne, commences operations through SHAC (Southern Hemisphere Analysis Centre) assuming operational function of former IAAC.1968
Commissioning of the Bureau's IBM computers.1969
Issue of the first operational numerical analysis.IAMRC closed and CMRC (Commonwealth Meteorology Research Centre) established as a joint venture between the Bureau and CSIRO.
1970
First operational numerical prognosis issued—500 mb.1971
First Regional Forecasting Centre commences operation in Hobart.1972
First issue of a numerical analysis and prognosis for the southern hemisphere.1974
CMRC renamed ANMRC (Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre).Head Office moves from 2 Drummond Street to 150 Lonsdale Street.
1978
Dr J.W. Zillman appointed Director of Meteorology.Operational reception of satellite photos from the Japanese Geostationary Satellite GMS 1 commences.
Australia commenced launchings of 47 ocean buoys as part contribution to the Global Weather Experiment.
1979
First reconnaissance flight into a tropical cyclone (Kerry) in the Australian region.Introduction of computerised communications systems (CMSS).
1980
First AROS minicomputer installed as prototype for trials in the Victorian Regional Office.1981
Opening of Bureau's field training annex at Broadmeadows.1982
Bureau hosts the eighth session of WMO Commission for Atmospheric Sciences and eighth session of Regional Association V.1983
Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre established.1990
Bureau transferred to the Environment Portfolio.1995
Dr J. W. Zillman elected president of the WMO.1996
Review of the Operation of the Bureau of Meteorology.1997
Establishment of joint Bureau-CSIRO High Performance Computing and Communications Centre (HPCCC).2000
Bureau support for the Sydney Olympic Games.
Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre; Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre; Commonwealth Meteorology Research Centre; International Antarctic Analysis Centre; International Antarctic Meteorological Research Centre; Southern Hemisphere Analysis Centre
People in Bright Sparcs - Dwyer, Leonard Joseph; Hunt, Henry Ambrose ; Timcke, Edward Waldemar; Warren, Herbert Norman; Watt, William Shand; Wimperis, H. E.; Zillman, John William
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