Meteorology of India

Abstract

IN a lecture delivered to the Royal Society of Arts on April 13, an account of which appears in the Journal of the Society (82, No. 4256), Mr. J.H. Field discussed the meteorology of India. In his lecture, Mr. Field gave interesting accounts of recent develop ments, such as the detection of cyclones at sea by the indications of seismographs, a subject developed by Dr. S. K. Banerji with the aid of a Milne-Shaw seismograph located in Bombay, and also of recent researches into the system of upper winds over India. At the present time, maps are prepared daily showing the wind systems at seven different levels between 500 metres and 6,000 metres above the ground. These maps are of great service to aviation. Speaking of the dangers to flying in India, Mr. Field pointed out that these include most of those encountered in Europe with the addition of dust storms, and of hail storms that at their worst probably surpass any that occur in Europe; he spoke of cases where hail stones of at least five inches diameter have destroyed Indian villages and killed every living creature in them. A point that emerged very clearly was the inadequacy of the financial provision for dealing with the require ments of aviation over the Indian section of the air route from England to Australia. The service was described as a “skeleton provision, materially below the standards recommended in the International Air. Convention”. This, fortunately, can be regarded as a matter that in the forward march of aviation must inevitably be set right, sooner or later. It is to be hoped that realisation of the importance of more com plete meteorological information will not be delayed until after numerous fatal accidents have directed public attention to the subject.