International Symposium on Tropical Cyclones, Brisbane (continued)

As was the case in the Bureau tropical cyclone conference the previous year some of the authors of papers were unable to attend the symposium. These included Simpson, Rockney and D. Lee Harris of the US Weather Bureau and Pisharoty and Kulkarni of the Indian Meteorological Service. Their papers were a valuable source of information on the structure of tropical cyclones, detection of cyclones by radar and other means of remote sensing and the mechanism of storm surges.

The summary of proceedings (pp 1-4) stressed the importance of case histories, synoptic analysis and forecasting and the structure of cyclones (especially spiral cloud bands). The conclusions also stressed the need to develop techniques for interpretation of radar echoes in detecting and tracking tropical storms. It was interesting that the paper by Brann, Hennessy and Ryan contained photographs of the radar echoes of the tropical cyclone which crossed the Queensland coast near Townsville on 6 March 1956. The position of the radar, which had been installed on the Garbutt aerodrome in December 1955 primarily as a wind-finding radar, was not ideal for weather watching as its coverage for the sector 088 to 115 degrees azimuth was reduced by the presence of Castle Hill. However interesting photographs were obtained by Bureau staff, and Pat Ryan, OIC of the aerodrome meteorological office, became an enthusiastic advocate of radar weather watching after his experience in using radar to track the cyclone.

Papers by Brango, Fletcher, Jamison, Rockney, Rutherford and Hannan on tropical cyclone reconnaissance by aircraft excited great interest among those engaged in tropical cyclone forecasting and warning as they brought promise of future developments which would enable more detailed tracking of cyclone centres. The record of the detailed discussions in these sessions make interesting reading. Page 2 of the summary of proceedings mentions photography from rockets and radio beacons dropped from aircraft into the cyclone eye and includes the statement that "there is the possibility of automatic observation from Earth satellites", truly an important anticipation of things to come less than four years later.

Bureau of Meteorology