News
BAMOS Sep 2020
7
New citizen science weather rescue projects — Climate History Australia
Caitlin Howlett
To further develop Australia ’ s longest daily weather record , Dr Joëlle Gergis at the Australian National University is leading new citizen science projects to transcribe daily weather journals from Adelaide , SA , from 1848 – 1856 , and Perth , WA , from 1880 – 1900 . This will bring together Adelaide ’ s daily weather records back to 1838 , and Perth ’ s back to 1836 . The team are also keen to hear from anyone with potential information on additional weather observations taken in Adelaide between 1851 – 1852 , or Perth between 1876 – 1879 .
The image ( above ) shows a page of the recently recovered journals in Adelaide showing the details of the historical weather observations . The folios include instrumental measurements for temperature , air pressure , and wind direction and strength , as well as remarks on the state of the atmosphere , cloud type and if it rained that day . Source : National Archives of Australia .
The weather observation site at the Adelaide Observatory in the 1880s ; showing a thermometer house ( middle ), a Glaisher stand ( left ), and a Stevenson screen ( right ). Source : B-23932 , State Library of South Australia .
This photo from 1900 shows staff at the Old Perth Observatory , who were responsible for taking the meteorological observations from 1880 – 1900 . Standing ( left to right ): C . Yeates , H . B . Curlewis , R . B . Achlaud . Seated : W . Earnest Cooke ( the first Government Astronomer ), and H . M . Joslun . Source : The State Library of Western Australia .
WMO forecast verification challenge
Beth Ebert
Forecast verification is evolving beyond traditional metrics for basic weather variables to make use of many new sources of data to assess forecast quality . For example , data on weatherrelated damage and other societal impacts , social media , photos and other data from smart phones , and user‐relevant variables such as energy output , crop yield , and so on , can all be used to evaluate forecasts and warnings . This additional evidence gives people greater confidence to use forecasts in their decision making .
The first international verification challenge on new useroriented verification metrics attracted entries from 11 countries . We hope to generate even more interest in using non-traditional observations to measure forecast quality . The deadline for entries is 30 April 2021 . The winner will be announced in May 2021 and will receive all expense paid attendance and a keynote address at the 8th International Verification Methods Workshop to be held in late 2021 .