Airplanes were an expensive and dangerous way to obtain upper-air data. The use of the airplane as an upper-air observational tool continued to expand during the 1930s.
In 1931, the Weather Bureau began to replace kite stations with airplane stations. By the early 1930s, kites were becoming a hazard to airplanes in flight, causing kite observations to give way to airplane observations. These pioneers were the first to observe classical meteorological features which significantly impacted weather over the United States. Kite observations were taken intermittently from about 1900 to about 1920 with a kite network of stations established during the 1920s and early 1930s. The early meteorologists were aware that conditions in the upper-atmosphere controlled surface weather conditions, but technology had not advanced to the point of taking upper atmospheric observations.Īround 1900, the Weather Bureau began to experiment with kites to measure temperature, relative humidity, and winds in the upper atmosphere. Weather forecasters in the Signal Service and early Weather Bureau years primarily used information from surface weather observations. During that time, considerable improvements were made in Weather Bureau operations, and the science of meteorology mda significant advances. The Weather Bureau was part of the Department of Agriculture for 50 years from 1891 to 1940. The actual transfer occurred July 1, 1891, and at that time, organized civilian weather services within the Federal Government began in the United States. On October 1, 1890, Congress voted to transfer it to the Department of Agriculture and renamed the Weather Bureau. The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce remained under the Signal Service until 1891. The weather forecasts were simple and general in content - usually containing basic weather parameters such as cloud and precipitation. Instead, weather which occurred at one location was assumed to move into the next area downstream. Most forecasts originated in the main office in Washington with observations provided by field offices.ĭuring the Signal Service years, little meteorological science was used to make weather forecasts. During that time, the main office was located in Washington, D.C., with field offices concentrated mainly east of the Rockies. The new weather agency operated under the Signal Service from 1870 to 1891. The new weather agency was placed under the War Department because “military discipline would probably secure the greatest promptness, regularity, and accuracy in the required observations.” Because of the long name, the agency frequently referred to it as the national weather service or general weather service of the United States. The new agency, called the Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce, was formed under the U.S. Grant, and the precursor to the Weather Bureau and National Weather Service was born. On February 2, 1870, the United States Congress passed a resolution requiring the Secretary of War “to provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent and at other points in the States and Territories.and for giving notice on the northern (Great) lakes and on the seacoast by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and force of storms.” The Resolution was signed into law on Februby President Ulysses S. It has been edited and updated by the NWS Heritage Projects Team to include events and information occurring since. Most of the following content first appeared in National Weather Service Snapshots: Portraits of a Rich Heritage by Gary K.
Editor’s Note: The National Weather Service celebrates its 150th Birthday on Febru- an ideal time to recognize the many accomplishments of the agency.
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