Overview

Despite being perhaps the foremost British meteorologist of the twentieth century, Reginald Sutcliffe has been understudied and underappreciated. His impact continues to this day every time you check the weather forecast. Reginald Sutcliffe and the Invention of Modern Weather Systems Science not only details Sutcliffe's life and ideas, but it also illuminates the impact of social movements and the larger forces that propelled him on his consequential trajectory. Less than a century ago, a forecast of the weather tomorrow was considered a practical impossibility. This book makes the case that three important advances guided the development of modern dynamic meteorology, which led directly to the astounding progress in weather forecasting-and that Sutcliffe was the pioneer in all three of these foundational developments: the application of the quasi-geostrophic simplification to the equations governing atmospheric behavior, adoption of pressure as the vertical coordinate in analysis, and development of a diagnostic equation for vertical air motions. Shining a light on Sutcliffe's life and work will, hopefully, inspire a renewed appreciation for the human dimension in scientific progress and the rich legacy bequeathed to societies wise enough to fully embrace investments in education and basic research. As climate change continues to grow more dire, modern extensions of Sutcliffe's innovations increasingly offer some of the best tools we have for peering into the long-term future of our environment.

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9781612496528

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This book is an insightful and full-orbed biography of one of meteorology's veritable luminaries. It faithfully traces the multifaceted career, the monumental scientific achievements, and the far-reaching and long-lasting influence of Professor Sutcliffe. In the process, the book pays due attention to his character, personal circumstances, and family life. The manuscript's underlying theme is the emergence of meteorology as a socioeconomically relevant and scientifically rigorous discipline during the twentieth century. The author's account is purposefully set against the backdrop of the prevailing but rapidly evolving societal, cultural, and educational scene. --Huw Davies, Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland Atmospheric scientists, weather forecasters, numerical weather prediction modelers, weather enthusiasts, historians with an interest in the industrial revolution in the United Kingdom and World War II from the perspective of those who lived it in England, and educators interested in teaching general science education courses at the high school and college level will all be avid readers of Jonathan Martin's book. The author continually embeds a history of ideas into his discussion of Dr. Sutcliffe's distinguished scientific contributions. Martin writes with passion for his subject matter, and his book is delightfully informative. --Lance F. Bosart, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Albany, SUNY An advancing world demanded better weather forecasts, but meteorology was in a rut. Then along came Reginald Sutcliffe. This thoroughly accessible, meticulously researched, and inspiring twentieth-century journey reveals how wonderfully diverse factors such as geopolitics, community action, sport, a visitor to Malta, underemployment, family, and war engineered this giant of the meteorological world. Discover how his relentless endeavours in understanding and application genuinely have improved quality of life for us all. --Timothy Hewson, Principal Scientist, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Author Information

Jonathan E. Martin is a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the author of Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics: A First Course. A native of northeastern Massachusetts, his lifelong passion for the phenomenology and science of weather systems took root battling the region's famous winter storms as a morning paperboy.

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