This Friday the Bureau’s office in Kent Town will host an open day to celebrate a century of service by South Australian volunteers. This is part of celebrations to mark 100 years of operations of the Bureau of Meteorology.
The open day will give current volunteers a better understanding of how their data helps the Bureau.
According to South Australian Regional Director, Mr Andrew Watson, “The open day also allows us to recognise the enormous and ongoing contribution that these volunteers make.”
The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology officially began operations in January 1908 and celebrates its Centenary during 2008. Throughout this period volunteers have helped by providing observations of rainfall, river heights, weather and approaching storms.
Regional Director Mr Andrew Watson praises the efforts of the volunteers by saying “The dedication of our volunteer network is critical to our services. Their input provides not only a history of our rainfall patterns, but also an insight into the trends, and what the future might bring. The Bureau's commitment to the community over the past 100 years has been greatly enhanced by the dedication of our volunteers, and I take this opportunity to warmly thank them for their contribution.”
Meteorological services around the world rely heavily on networks of volunteer observers to gather information vital for weather forecasting and increasing understanding the effects of climate change. Because of Australia’s vast size, observations from our volunteers are particularly valued and help to fill gaps in the understanding of how the weather works across Australia.
Volunteer observations for the Bureau in South Australia commenced in the late 1800's when Charles Todd developed a network of more than 500 rainfall observers as part of the expansion of the telegraphic network. Rainfall volunteers currently number around 650, coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, including farmers, fishermen, postmasters, and people who are simply interested in the weather. "Severe Weather Spotters" also provide crucial information on the location and intensity of storms.
Further information available from
Paul Lainio, Public and Marine Officer, Bureau of Meteorology, 0417 886 850
Andrew Watson, Regional Director South Australia, Bureau of Meteorology, (08)8366 2643
