GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mr J.M. Craddock (Meteorological Office, Bracknell) said that the 130 or so members of the World Meteorological Organization were presently planning improved systems for the collection and transmission of meteorological data, under the general title of the Western Weather Watch, and for the storage and retrieval of this data for research, exchange and other purposes. The current world stock of data digitized for computer use exceeded 1012 decimal digits, divided among many centres, with a large annual increment. The problems of exchanging and manipulating these data were to be reduced by the adoption by WMO of the recommended standard type of magnetic tape and recommended formats for the exchange, etc., of nearly all types of data. The problem of a system of cataloguing and classification suitable for world use was becoming urgent, both for data and, to a lesser extent, for the increasing stream of meteorological literature. The three speakers had given excellent and lucid accounts of the work which was being done to set up international standards for the classification and exchange of information, but the question arose of whether the mechanisms of discussion and decision could work quickly enough to keep ahead of the requirements of the computer age. As an example of the time scale on which firm guidance would be desirable, the British Meteorological Office was to acquire an IBM 195 computer which was about one hundred times more powerful than the one at present in use, and would be one of the most powerful in Europe. This was due to become operational by October 1971 and by that time decisions had to be taken on the cataloguing of data, which, if possible, would have to be in line with thinking elsewhere. However, decisions had to be reached even if intentions elsewhere were unknown, and once these decisions were embodied in computer programs they may be hard to modify or reverse.