Joe Chiasson, age 10, of Portland, Maine, for his question:

How mangy weather stations has the United States?

Throughout the 50 states, there are 300 weather stations that have full time staffs on duty at all times. There also are 12,000 substantions, cohere observers make regular reports on a part time basis. Major stations make observations of such things as temperature, winds and air pressure at intervals of three to six hours, day and night. During emergency weather conditions, they may check the changing situations minute by minute. Sub¬stations make observations less often, though during emergencies a person may stay on duty around the clock.

All these repasts, plus others from planes and the Coast Guard, are sent to a Weather Service Center, by radio or telephone or telegraph. There are regional centers in New York City and Kansas City, in Fort Worth, Salt Lake City and Anchorage. These centers relay observations to the National Meteorological Center, near Washington, D.C. Other reports are sent there from weather satellites and from countries around the world.