メディア・インフラとしての気象レーダー

抄録

    This study examines the history of weather radar in Japan from the perspective of media infrastructure studies. Previous studies have primarily investigated the contribution of observational data to weather forecasting. In addition, the use of radar imagery in television broadcasting in the 1980s has typically been attributed to technological advancements such as digitization and the elimination of ground clutter. However, this study focuses on the distribution processes and practices of diverse actors involved, showing how weather radar became a medium for visualizing meteorological phenomena on television.

    This study analyzes Reports on Radar Technology and Operations, an internal JMA publication that documents radar operation, maintenance and key meeting minutes. Drawing on these documents, it explored the working environments of radar operators, the challenges encountered in information transmission, and the selection process for specific visual formats.

    Two major issues related to information transmission were discussed. The first concerns the mode of data sharing, that is, whether to transmit coded observational data or share them as images. The second one involves the image format, that is, whether to transmit hand-drawn sketches or photographs. Although the sketches were less precise and objective, they were favored for their immediacy and clarity, particularly once the ground clutter was removed.

    However, these sketches were not adapted for television. Weather radar images began to be used in television broadcasts only after digitizing devices were introduced. While previous studies have emphasized technological developments such as digitization and clutter removal as key factors, this study argues that differences in values between meteorological and media professionals were also critical. Television prioritized objectivity and precision, rendering subjective and skill-dependent sketches unsuitable for public dissemination.

    In conclusion, by focusing on the invisible work embedded in distribution processes, this study highlights how infrastructural practices have fundamentally shaped the media experience.