Agrometeorology's Leading Lady [Gloria Bedson]

Gloria Bedson says that 32 years as a meteorologist have given her 'lots of variety'.

Gloria describes herself as a liaison person between the Bureau and agricultural communities. She works for Services Policy Branch in a 'friendly and cooperative atmosphere' as a Senior Meteorologist, Public and Marine Weather Service, in association with Phil Parker and Don Linforth, Head of Public and Marine Weather Services. Her job covers a wide range of areas including work on the Secretariat of the National Committee on Agrometeorology (NCA), and membership of the World Meteorological Organization's Commission for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM).

As part of her NCA work, she recently wrote a paper on measurement of dew and leaf wetness in Australia to aid deliberations on the feasibility of establishing a standardised sensor to measure leaf wetness. As an example of the collaboration needed, this project involved more than 25 organisations ranging from researchers to growers to instrument makers. Her CAgM role includes completing WMO surveys on agrometeorology, and compiling a regular report on Australian agrometerological research.

'The NCA's task is to identify opportunities for cooperation and cross-fertilisation between the Bureau and the spectrum of agricultural organisations,' Gloria says. 'In my secretariat role, I prepare the agendas and arrange the twice-yearly meetings, write the minutes and oversight follow-up action, and prepare the annual report. I liase with, and encourage other Branches and units working in related areas. I've played a role in most NCA issues, including the work of the specialised sub-groups; data access, agrometeorological services, benchmark sites and minimum data sets. I make sure that non-Bureau members see appropriate WMO and Bureau reports and useful material.'

Gloria played a major role in organising a successful Agrometeorology conference which drew 200 delegates frrom the meterological and agricultural communities to Melbourne University in 1991. She assists with the organisation of the annual National Agricultural and Resource Outlook Conferences in Canberra. and was recently involved with a Marine Forecasters workshop and the international workshop on Seasonal to Interannual Climate Variability. Publications contribute to the variety . Gloria prepared brochures on the Bureau's services to agriculture for each State and the Northern Territory, and she edits Regional texts and diagrams for the popular Wind, Waves and Weather booklets. Her marine projects also included coordination of another round in the eternal battle for clarity and brevity in forecasts, aiming at standardisation to help the community and reduce communication costs.

Bureau of Meteorology