International Symposium on Antarctic Meteorology (continued)

The symposium was opened by the Hon Gordon Freeth, Minister for the Interior, supported by Sir Arthur Warner, representing the Government of Victoria, Bill Priestley and Len Dwyer. Forty papers were presented in seven sessions, subjects being local effects, synoptic analysis and forecasting, influences on lower latitudes, circulation studies, snow and ice, heat and mass exchanges and climatological aspects. The presentation of papers was followed by animated discussion and a summing-up by the session chairman. Sessions were chaired by Gabites, Gibbs, Langlo, Robin, Bill Priestley, Taljaard and Van Mieghem. I had met many of the overseas participants and was well acquainted with most of the Australian participants. Attendance at the symposium was an indication of the high regard in which the Bureau was held by Antarctic scientists in Australia and overseas.

Figure 35 Antarctic Symposium, 1959. Left to right Prof Webster (Australia), Prof Van Mieghem (Belgium), Dr. Langlo (WMO Geneva), Dr. Robin (Scott Polar Research Institute UK), Dr. Stilwell (Australia) and Mr. Gray (USA).

Figure 36 Antarctic Symposium, 1959. Left to right, Prof Van Mieghem (Belgium) Prof Dzerdeevski (USSR), Dr. Somov (USSR).

Space does not permit a detailed review of papers presented and discussions which took place but the Bureau was able to arrange the publication of an elegantly printed, hard-cover volume of 483 pages. A brief summary of papers presented was followed by the full text and illustrations of papers presented and a summary of the discussions. The volume was published by Pergamon Press in 1960 after assembly by the Bureau.

The important subject of the katabatic wind of the Antarctic continent was discussed in a number of papers and produced considerable animated discussion. Another series of papers concerning the circulation of the atmosphere over and adjacent to the continent was important not only for synoptic analysis and forecasting but also because of the likely effect on the circulation in lower latitudes. A paper of special interest was that by Reg Clarke of CSIRO which presented the results of a series of laboratory experiments using a cylindrical tank with heating at the rim and a cold area or dome at the centre, inspired by similar experiments by Pultz. Papers by Astapenko, Gibbs and Langford discussed frontal analysis over the Southern Ocean which had particular relevance to forecasting in southern latitudes of Australia, South America and South Africa.

One of the special topics of the IGY had been the exploration of the upper atmosphere and a paper by Vic Hopper and Jean Laby of the Physics Department of the University of Melbourne discussed winds at levels from 40 000 to 110 000 feet over Australia.

Bureau of Meteorology