Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1382687
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 JUNE 2021 7 HISTORY THE Meteorological Office within Malta International Air- port is shining the spotlight on its meteorological archives and their importance to weather-re- lated research and the study of the Maltese islands' climatology on International Archives Day. The first entry of these ar- chives dates back to 10 July 1922, coinciding with the start of operations of the Meteoro- logical Office in Malta under the management of the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Amassed over nearly a cen- tury, this meteorological data is categorised in different col- lections, the most important of which are the Daily Obser- vation Registers. A browse through these invaluable reg- isters shows pages upon pages of weather observations doc- umented at specific times of each day as well as hand-plot- ted synoptic charts, which formed the basis of weather forecasts prior to the advent of forecasting technologies. Other important collections forming part of the Meteoro- logical Office's archives shine a light on precipitation, sun- shine, wind, and temperature trends on the Maltese islands throughout the years. While Malta enjoys a sunny reputation and is widely sought by visitors for its mild climate, archived documents serve as reminders of the rare instanc- es when severe weather events, such as the thunderstorms of January 1978 and October 1982, did not spare the islands. Whilst these archival docu- ments are stored in a safe place where ambient conditions, in- cluding temperature and hu- midity, are constantly moni- tored, an ongoing digitisation project is aimed at ensuring that this meteorological legacy is truly preserved and protect- ed for generations to come. The content of the Meteoro- logical Office's archives is not only unique to the Maltese is- lands, but is also regarded as an official source of climatological information, which allows for the all-important comparabili- ty of weather-related data over the years. Recognising the importance of this trove of meteorologi- cal data, the Meteorological Office recently appointed its first Climate and Data Archi- vist, whose specialised skills and training are contributing to even better archive manage- ment and administration. Met Office shines spotlight on its archives