Hsiao-Lan Kuo
Encyclopedia
Hsiao-Lan Kuo (1915–2006), or GUO Xiaolan, was a prominent Chinese American
mathematician
, meteorologist. He was a recipient of the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
.
(1937), M.Sc from Zhejiang University
(1942, under advisor Coching Chu
), and PhD
from the University of Chicago
USA (1948, advisor Carl-Gustaf Rossby).
1949-1961, Kuo worked as a research associate, later a senior specialist, and finally the project director on the Hurricane Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
He was Professors Emeritus at the Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago.
Kuo was an academician of Academia Sinica
(1988 election).
.
For this reason, in 1970, Kuo was awarded the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
, from the American Meteorological Society
(AMS), which is the highest honour for atmospheric science.
The Rayleigh-Kuo theorem or Rayleigh-Kuo Criterion, a necessary condition for barotropically unstable fluid, is named after him.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
mathematician
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
, meteorologist. He was a recipient of the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal is the highest award for atmospheric science of the American Meteorological Society. It is presented to individual scientists, who receive a medal...
.
Career
Born in Mancheng Village, Hebei Province on Feb 7, 1915, Kuo obtained his B.Sc from Tsinghua UniversityTsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
(1937), M.Sc from Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
(1942, under advisor Coching Chu
Coching Chu
Coching Chu or Zhu Kezhen was a prominent Chinese meteorologist, geologist and educator.Born in Shangyu, Zhejiang, Chu went to United States for further education in 1910. He graduated from College of Agriculture, University of Illinois in 1913. Five years later, he received a Ph.D. in meteorology...
), and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
USA (1948, advisor Carl-Gustaf Rossby).
1949-1961, Kuo worked as a research associate, later a senior specialist, and finally the project director on the Hurricane Project at 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 was Professors Emeritus at the Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago.
Kuo was an academician of Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
(1988 election).
Works
Kuo developed important mathematical tools to describe the complex circulation patterns of atmospheric activity. He helped to mathematically model the birth of a hurricane. Kuo's work is an important part of the theoretical foundation for modern meteorology. He is considered as a member of the Chicago School of Meteorology, which started from Carl-Gustaf RossbyCarl-Gustaf Rossby
Carl-Gustaf Arvid Rossby was a Swedish-U.S. meteorologist who first explained the large-scale motions of the atmosphere in terms of fluid mechanics....
.
For this reason, in 1970, Kuo was awarded the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal
The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal is the highest award for atmospheric science of the American Meteorological Society. It is presented to individual scientists, who receive a medal...
, from the American Meteorological Society
American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
(AMS), which is the highest honour for atmospheric science.
The Rayleigh-Kuo theorem or Rayleigh-Kuo Criterion, a necessary condition for barotropically unstable fluid, is named after him.
External links
- Obituary notice: Hsiao-Lan Kuo, meteorologist, 1915-2006(English)
- Britannica: Hsiao-lan Kuo (Chinese-American meteorologist) (English)
- A memorial of professor Guo Xiaolan (English)
- Chinese Obituary: 郭晓岚院士去世 (Chinese)
- 郭晓岚教授对大气科学的杰出贡献 (Kuo's outstanding contributions to meteorology) (Chinese)