Harry Wexler
Encyclopedia
Harry Wexler was an American
meteorologist.
He attended Harvard University
, and in 1939 he was awarded a Ph.D.
in meteorology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
He worked for the United States Weather Bureau from 1934 until 1942, then served as a Captain
to a Lieutenant Colonel
with the weather service of the Army Air Corps during World War II
from 1942 until 1946. On September 14, 1944, Major
Harry Wexler became the first scientist to deliberately fly into a hurricane. He accompanied a flight of a Douglas A-20 "Havoc" that flew into the hurricane to collect scientific data.
In 1946 he returned to the U.S. Weather Bureau, becoming Chief of the Scientific Services division. As head researcher, Dr. Wexler encouraged a study into the atmospheres of planets other than the Earth
. He is particularly noted for his work on the use of satellite
s for meteorological purposes, the development of the TIROS-1
. He also studied the use of computers for weather prediction and modification. He was chief scientist for a U.S. expedition to the Antarctic
for the International Geophysical Year
.
From 1959 until 1961 he proposed and promoted the idea of a World Weather Watch. In 1961 he served as the lead negotiator for the U.S. in talks with the U.S.S.R. concerning the joint use of meteorological satellites.
He continued working at the bureau until his death in 1962. He was survived by his wife Hannah, and her daughters Susan and Libby. His wife donated his papers to the Library of Congress
in 1963.
on the Moon
is named after him. Volume 91, issues 10-12 of the Monthly Weather Review
were published as memorial issues for Dr. Wexler. In 1977, the University of Wisconsin–Madison
founded the Harry Wexler Professorship of Meteorology.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
meteorologist.
He attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and in 1939 he was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in meteorology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
He worked for the United States Weather Bureau from 1934 until 1942, then served as a Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
to a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
with the weather service of the Army Air Corps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1942 until 1946. On September 14, 1944, Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Harry Wexler became the first scientist to deliberately fly into a hurricane. He accompanied a flight of a Douglas A-20 "Havoc" that flew into the hurricane to collect scientific data.
In 1946 he returned to the U.S. Weather Bureau, becoming Chief of the Scientific Services division. As head researcher, Dr. Wexler encouraged a study into the atmospheres of planets other than the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. He is particularly noted for his work on the use of satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s for meteorological purposes, the development of the TIROS-1
TIROS-1
TIROS I was the first successful weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites...
. He also studied the use of computers for weather prediction and modification. He was chief scientist for a U.S. expedition to the Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
for the International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
.
From 1959 until 1961 he proposed and promoted the idea of a World Weather Watch. In 1961 he served as the lead negotiator for the U.S. in talks with the U.S.S.R. concerning the joint use of meteorological satellites.
He continued working at the bureau until his death in 1962. He was survived by his wife Hannah, and her daughters Susan and Libby. His wife donated his papers to the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in 1963.
Honors
The crater WexlerWexler (crater)
Wexler is a lunar impact crater that lies across the south-southeast limb of the Moon. In this location not much detail about the formation can be discerned from the Earth, and it must be viewed from orbit to see most of the structure...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him. Volume 91, issues 10-12 of the Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review
The Monthly Weather Review is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.Topics covered by the journal include research related to analysis and prediction of observed and modeled circulations of the atmosphere, including technique development, data assimilation, model...
were published as memorial issues for Dr. Wexler. In 1977, the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
founded the Harry Wexler Professorship of Meteorology.
Sources
- Who was Who in America, vol. IV, 1961-1968, p. 1000. - Chicago : Marquis-Who's Who, 1968.