6 PREFACE 



In this address I have referred mainly to the influence of 

 the oceanic circulation, as its effects may be traced directly 

 in the land masses of the southern hemisphere. In the 

 more complex conditions of the northern hemisphere the 

 oceanic control may not be recognised so directly ; and there 

 seasonal weather changes are necessarily considered in 

 relation to the atmospheric pressure systems, which have 

 been investigated with .such interesting results by the 

 American meteorologists. 



Some meteorologists still regard the prospects of seasonal 

 weather predictions as an unattainable vision. But I find 

 it difficult to understand this view. The work is no longer 

 a mere speculative possibility. The Indian Meteorological 

 Department has issued seasonal forecasts for the last 15 

 years, and with brilliant success (see Appendix III), where 

 the extracts illustrate the Seasonal Forecasts issued by the 

 Indian Meteorological Department, and show their depen- 

 dence on the variations in the currents of the Indian 

 Ocean. It is quoted from the Report of the Administration 

 of the Meteorological Department of the Government of 

 India, 1898-1899, pp. 26-29. There has been only one 

 failure, which happened during a year when the conditions 

 of the sun were abnormal, and which could have been 

 avoided had the Lockyers' principle been then available. 



Similar forecasts for Australasia will no doubt continue 

 impossible until our meteorology has been advanced 

 another stage. I have agreed to the separate publication 

 of this address in the hope that it may do something to 

 help the proposals for the establishment of a united 

 meteorological service for Australasia, which should work 

 in close co-operation with those of India and New Zealand. 



J. W. GREGORY. 



January, 1904. 



