| Description | Present at the meeting: Professor W J G Beynon in the chair; Dr R d'E Atkinson; Sir David Brunt; Ssir Edward Bullard; Sir Miles Clifford; Dr G E R Deacon; Professor H Elliot; Professor M A Ellison; Professor L Hawkes; Mr J Paton; Mr J A Ratcliffe; Professor S K Runcorn; Dr J M Stagg; Dr R Stoneley; Sir Graham Sutton
1. Terms of reference and membership - Appointed by Council at its meeting of 12 January 1961, where the British National Committee for the International Gelphysical Year had been transferred into the British National Committee for Co-operation in Geophysics
1a Terms of reference - (i) to co-ordinate United Kingdom activities in connection with International geophysical programmes, particularly those of the Committee International de Geophysique (CIG) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ii) To report to the Council of the Royal Society
1b Membership - Professor W J G Beynon (Chairman); The Physical Secretary; The Foreign Secretary; Dr R d' E Atkinson; Professor D R Bates; Sir David Brunt; Sir Edward Bullard; Sir Miles Clifford; Dr G E R Deacon; Professor H Elliot; Professor M A Ellison; Professor L Hawkes; Rear-Admiral E G Irving; Sir Harrie Massey; Professor N F Mott; Mr J Paton; Mr J A Ratcliffe; Dr G de Q Robin; Professor S K Runcorn; Professor P A Sheppard; Dr R L Smith-Rose; Dr J M Stagg; Dr R Stoneley; Sir Graham Sutton
The two subcommittees of the British National Committeefor the International Geophysical Year, namely the IGY Analysis subcommittee (Chairman, Sir William Hodge, see Minute 4b) and the Antarctic Analysis Subcommittee (Chairman Sir David Brunt), were transferred to the British National Committee for Co-operation in Geophysics.
2. First and Second Meetings of CIG - noted the reports (CIG News Nos 1 and 2) of the First and Second Meetings fo CIG, held in the HAgue (4 - 6 November 1959) and in Paris (29 March - 2 April 1960)
3. Third meeting of CIG - considered a report (NIG / 3 (61) ) on the Third Meeting of CIG held in Paris 24 - 27 January 1961, under the Presidence of Professor V V Beloussov (USSR). Stated three working parties established -
1. Solar Activity Minimum Programme, convenor Professor W J G Beynon
11. Upper Mantle Project, convenor Professor V V Beloussov
III. World Data Centres, convenor Dr H Odishaw
The ICSU Bureau had stressed the importance of completion of the IGY publications but had regretted that the two difference actrivities of CIG :
first, to ensure the fullest possible exploiotation of the IGY and IGC 1959 data, including: mainataining the efficient functioning of the World Data Centres, encouraging the discussion and utilization of IGY and IGC 1959 results and publishing the IGY and IGC 1959 results and biographies.
and
second, to develop and co-ordinate international plans for the furtherance of co-operation in Geophysics and related sciences, especially those of an interdisciplinary nature, and to encourage appropriate discussion and publication of the results fo such programmes
were not handled by two different bodies. Nevertheless, they had expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the CIG affairs.
It had been agreed that a deadline of 1 December 1961 should be set for the receipt of data for inclusion in the World Data Centres Final Catalogue.
The proposal that there should be a permanent service for meteorology at Geneva had been discussed by the Executive Committee oh WMO and it had been decided to continue the World Meteorological Data Centre at least until July 1961, when the Executive Committee of WMO would consider the future fo the Centre.
Mr Ratcliffe congratulated the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, on his election to the Presidency of CIG in succession to Professor V V Beloussov. '
4. Functions of the National Committee
4a. Purpose - considered a report ( NIG/9 (61) on the proposed activities of the British National Committee for Co-operation in Geophysics. Widely divergent views were discussed, and it was agreed that the Committee should continue on a provisional basis for a year, after which time the situation coulc be reviewed.
4b. Considered and noted the minutes of the last meetings of the IGY Analysis Subcommittee (NGY /29(59) ) and Antarctic Analysis Subcommittee ( NGY/5 (60) ) After Mr Ratcliffe's analysis, it was agreed that Mr Ratcliffe should be invited to prepare an article for publication in the 'New Scientist' drawing attention to this work. |