Forecasters' Training Course (continued)

For me the most interesting exercise in our course was the synoptic analysis of weather maps. After plotting observations on the surface chart we proceeded to make an isobaric analysis and endeavour to detect polar fronts. Lack of information presented a major problem. The use of radar for wind-finding or weather watching was not available at that time. Indeed at that time radar was hush-hush and in the process of being developed for wartime detection of enemy aircraft and ships. The launching of satellites for observation of cloud patterns and other meteorological information was 20 years off. A radiosonde capable of observing the temperature and humidity of the upper air was in the early stages of development in the USA.

The extent of networks of surface observations was limited to the Australian continent. New Zealand and a few island stations. Observations were not available from the uninhabited Heard and Macquarie Islands and the Antarctic continent. Very few observations were available from the vast oceans surrounding Australia because of wartime restrictions on transmissions from ships. Telecommunications were primitive by today's standards. We awaited the development of the transistor and the electronic computer to provide the technological base needed to improve the availability of observations.

Bureau of Meteorology