Daily Maps of World Weather

OR half a century forecasts of weather have been based upon synoptic maps, that is, maps on which are charted simultaneous observations made over the area under jurisdiction of any one nation. Since the area charted should be as large as possible, international cooperation is needed. This is the object of the Commission for Synoptic Weather Information first organized in Igog.1 At a meeting in London, May, 1928, the Commission considered methods for obtaining, transmitting, and charting definitive data. Action was taken regarding the adoption of a universal code and the making of observations on all oceans at standard times. It was voted that hereafter pressure readings should be expressed if possible in modern units of force, that is, in millibars. The use of an international temperature scale remains for a later conference. Land reports, of course, are easily obtainable from national services. Radio permits us to get data from over the ocean. It is proposed, among other things, that the main collecting and distributing center for the North Atlantic be at the Azores. But the resulting map must be something far different from present surface, or two dimensional, maps. The atmosphere has three dimensions; and the geography of the air-or, as we may well call it, airgraphics-requires the delineation of conditions at various levels as well as at the surface. We are entering an era of utilization of the air for transportation and communication, and a fine field for exploration and survey it offers

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