International Antarctic Analysis Centre

Bureau meteorologist Keith Morley was selected in September 1957 to work at Little America and served in the Weather Central from December of that year until December 1958. Keith joined the Bureau in 1950, having previously served as a schoolteacher in the South Australia Department of Education and as an instructor in the Royal Australian Navy. His early career in the Bureau included service in CAWDS of the Bureau's Central Office.

In February 1959, having returned to Australia from the Weather Central, Keith participated in the Antarctic symposium and joined Henry Phillpot when the Melbourne International Antarctic Analysis Centre commenced operation in February 1959 with Henry as Leader.

The Australian Government had accepted the invitation of CSAGI and SCAR to establish a centre in Melbourne to carry on the functions of an Antarctic Weather Central. This and earlier chapters of these reminiscences have mentioned the outstanding service Henry Phillpot had given in analysis centres in Melbourne and Brisbane during and after the war and his significant contributions in providing crucial meteorological advice for the atomic weapons tests conducted by the British Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Australia from 1951 to 1957. Henry's performance in leading the team of meteorologists engaged in those tests made him an ideal choice as Leader of the International Antarctic Analysis Centre (IAAC) in Melbourne.

Henry was responsible to a Joint Working Party consisting of Len Dwyer as chairman and executive adviser, Professor L. J. H. Huxley and Bill Priestley (representing the Academy of Science). The aims of the IAAC were to:

1. develop scientific analysis techniques;


2. produce regular synoptic analyses for the surface and upper air for the Antarctic and adjacent regions northward to 30°S;


3. make these analyses available for operational purposes and for research in related sciences; and


4. investigate problems of Antarctic meteorology.

Bureau of Meteorology