Sicawei_ Observatory announces an extension of its activities in order to meet the new demands which are likely to arise through the establishment of an air service inithese parts. The new scheme is set forth in a circular which has been issued by the Rev. L. Froe, s.J., Director of the Observatory, and it will take effect from to-day.
In his letter the Director observes that not only is the government taking steps towards the creation of an aerial service, but likewise local firms are interesting themselves. Further the active pronaganda of the Federation Aéronautigue Internationale under such men as Com. L. de Beaumont and Major Glidden will certainly advance the date of the opening of air services. Accordingly the time appears to have arrived for the establishment of a service of aerial information.
With a view to this Sicawei Observatory will begin at once to give such data as may ati present he available. This will be embodied in the wireless warnings sent every dav by the Koukaza Wireless Station at 11 am. and 5 p.m. just after the trinle time signal, and will be preceded the words "air currents." The great motions of the mass of the atmosphere, deduced from cloud movements observed a short time before the message is sent, "will then be indicated in a manner such as the following:—*High W.N.W.; Mean N.E.; Low E.E., ete-'The hich level is shown by the drifting Cirrus, ete.. which according to the "Dictionnaire dee Sciences." are flouting between 6,000 and 15,000 metres (19,600 to 49,000 ft-); the mean level chiefly by ithe Alto-cumulus, between 2,500 and 6,500 metres (8,200 to 18,000 ft.); the low level by the other clouds (Cumulus, ete.) between 500 and 2,000 metres (1,600 to 6,500 ft.
The points of the compass, N., N.N.E., N.E., ete., are those from which the clouds and-the currents carrying them are flowing. If the directions cannot be stated, for want of clouds or for other reasons, the words high, etc., will be followed by the word nil or an equivalent. Tf two or more directions are indicated for one level, it will mean that there are superposed layers of clouds of different motions, the higher being named the first, and 80 on.
Imperfect as such information may be, the Director concludes, it is unnecessary to say that it will be important not only to airmen bub also to navigators, especially during the typhoon season. Provided a sufficient knowledge of the theory of cyclones is possessed, these' observations on air currents will assist in arriving at very suggestive conclusions concerning the bearing and motion of these phenomena. While the first step has been taken in connexion with the service, the Director suggests that this may be improved and followed later by other services.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.