Calculation of Charts on an Oblique Gnomonic Projection by Electronic Computer

Extract

IN the Meteorological Office, great accuracy is not usually attainable in determining or forecasting the position of significant weather features. Special projections of charts are therefore not often required; the normal conic projection with two standard parallels or (near the equator) the mercator projection is quite adequate. However, in the radiolocation of thunderstorms a chart drawn on a gnomonic projection is required. The bearings of each lightning flash within one or two thousand miles are recorded from a small number of special stations (SFERICS stations). When these bearings are plotted on a gnomonic chart by straight lines drawn from the appropriate observing station the coordinates of the source of the lightning can be quickly determined and reported through normal meteorological channels. Speed is essential and therefore the charts on which the bearings are drawn are specially designed with the SFERICS stations grouped more or less evenly about the tangential point of the projection plane of the gnomonic chart.