The reason why the world’s first weather map was created

The world's first weather map was born as a result of the Crimean War.

Early meteorological observations did not have unified observation regulations, and the data obtained were not exchanged in real time. The meteorological observation records collected at different places at the same time are filled in on a map according to specially prescribed numbers and symbols, and analysis and research are conducted on the map. This kind of map is called a weather map.

In today's TV weather forecasts, a schematic surface weather map is still often given. Through this simplified weather map, viewers can understand the location of the cold air front, the location of strong winds and rainfall areas, etc. It can be said that the emergence of weather maps is of great significance in meteorology. It organically links a place and the meteorological elements of a place together, allowing our vision to expand from a point to an area. Forecasters can learn about large-scale or even global meteorological conditions through weather maps in a short period of time, and predict future changes in weather through several consecutive weather maps. Until the advent of numerical weather prediction, weather maps were the primary tool for weather forecasters. Today, with the rapid development of numerical forecasting, weather maps are still one of the forecasting tools.

In November 1854, the historically famous Crimean War was raging. The British and French forces surrounded Sevastopol, and the Marines were preparing to land at the port of Balaklava on the Black Sea. At this time, a strong wind suddenly broke out on the Black Sea, and huge waves surged into the sky. The British and French allied forces collapsed without a fight, and almost the entire army was destroyed.

Le Frière, director of the Paris Observatory, was ordered by the military to study the storm. He sent letters to meteorologists from various countries to collect weather reports before and after the storm. After collecting the reports, he filled in the meteorological conditions of various places at the same time on a map, linked each piece for analysis, and found that the storm was moving from northwest to southeast. When it reached the Black Sea, it was 1~ In the past 2 days, Spain and France have been affected first.

After analysis, Lefrière believed that if there were weather stations in Europe at that time, the storm information could be telegraphed to the British and French fleets in time, and the attack of this storm might have been avoided. In March 1855, he proposed to the French Academy of Sciences to organize an observation network to quickly gather observation data in one place to analyze and draw weather maps.

Lee's suggestion has been echoed by many countries. In 1856, France established the first formal weather service system. Some other countries in Europe, as well as the United States and Japan, have also successively organized observation networks and begun to publish the weather observation results of the day, draw weather maps, and carry out weather forecast services. The weather map is the beginning of modern weather forecasting. It expands weather forecasting from point to surface, allowing people to leap from "looking at the sky from a well" to "looking at the world."