Himalayan Times (1961)

Six

Himalayan Times

July 9, 1961

munications like railways,
bus transport, telegraphs
and telephone services.
Heavy rains and Hoods
caused th reby affeot ad-
veraely the safety of
bridges and the perma-
nent way, the design and
strength of which have
to be based on past cli-
matologies! date.

Heavy rainfall and
oyolone warnings are gi en
by the India Meteorolo-
gical Department to the
railway and road engi-
neers. Telegraph and tele-
phone services are adver-
sely affected by stroi>g
winds experienced during
depressions and cyclones

The applications of
meteorology to irrigation
and public works and
river vadey projeots, dams,
etc are considerable and
vital. Hydrologicol mete-
orology which deals with
these matters is a fast
developing subject and is
of muoh economic import-
ance: At every stage of
planning and execution
of irrigation works re-
servoirs, dams, etc me-
teorological data are re-
quired and even - after"
they are completed accu-
rals rainfall forecasts aiid
warnings ure required to
regulate the water storage
in reservoirs at the time
of heavy rains and floods
and also for regulation
of water for irrigation
purposes.

In o jam ct.on with

flood forecasting and flood
control al«o, weather fore-
oasts and warnings are
required. The India Me.
teorological Department
supplies all the uieteoro
logic .1 data, forecasts and
warnings required for the
above purposes and works
in olose collaboration with
the Central Water and
Power Commissi!.n and
the various river valley
piojrolB.

Analysed, olimatoh gi-
cal data are of consider-
able importance for indus-
tries, engineering works
and commerce in many
ways. Selection of loca-
tions and . sites for fac-
tories is made on the
basis of temperature, wind
and:* weather data In
many cases wind direc-
tion and speed becomes
an important factor spe
cially where the effluent
from the factory is ex-
pected to pollute the air.

The siting of utomio
energy establishments ib
very much '--.dependent- on
meteorological factors, so
that radio active material
which goes into the air
or the sea is not drifted
towards populous locali-
ties Ta I structures such
as towers, - multi-storied
buildii gs, huve to be de-
signed to withstand the
mnximum wind pressure
expected to be experien-
ced.

The Tndia Meteorolo.
gioal Department has cul

lected much wind data
over a long period which
is i f - use in determiug
areas suitable for location
of wind mills. Architects
make use of olimatologi-
cal data in the design
and orientation of build-
ings, the siz and num-
ber of windows, instilla-
tion, root construction,"
etc Air conditioning and
refrigeration companies depend
on climate-logical data for de-
termining suitable plants -and -
the nptin.um conditions under
which they should work.

The relationship of climate
to health and disease needs
no elaboration, Prevalence of"
different diseases isy different
seasons due to changes in tent--
perature, wind and humidity
conditions is well known and :
existence of; a subject like
I'iropical medicine'' is itself an
'evidence of the effect of cli-
"mate on disease.

The subject of "human
bionlimatology" dealing with
these problems is gaining more
and more importance end much
work will have to be dune in
India on the subject In the
yea re to come, although-even
now medical and public health
authorities are utilising clima-
tological data w henever required
for their studies.

The siting 0f hospitals, the
climate of health resorts, sani-
toria and lull stations, the
special t-limites suitable fi.r
quick healing of wounds or
curing of specific disease!-', the
incidence and spread of mala-
ria, fib 1 ria, - - - smal I pox,---' bron-
chial diseases, etc. are all tie-
pendent. . on climatic factors
which require iartful study in
collaboration with medical and
public health authorities. Cli-

: (Continued ou, page 7;-