History of the Meteorological Office

This is a history of the UK's national meteorological service for meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, historians of science, and amateur meteorologists.

Malcolm Walker (Author)

9781108445566, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 March 2018

494 pages, 79 b/w illus.
25.4 x 17.9 x 2.8 cm, 0.97 kg

'… magnificent and comprehensive … will quickly become recognised as a classic.' The International Journal of Meteorology

Malcolm Walker tells the story of the UK's national meteorological service from its formation in 1854 with a staff of four to its present position as a scientific and technological institution of national and international importance with a staff of nearly two thousand. The Met Office has long been at the forefront of research into atmospheric science and technology and is second to none in providing weather services to the general public and a wide range of customers around the world. The history of the Met Office is therefore largely a history of the development of international weather prediction research in general. In the modern era it is also at the forefront of the modelling of climate change. This volume will be of great interest to meteorologists, atmospheric scientists and historians of science, as well as amateur meteorologists and anyone interested generally in weather prediction.

1. Seeds are sown
2. Statistics and storms
3. Inquiry and criticism
4. The fight over forecasts
5. Squalls and settled spells
6. The emergence of science
7. A decade of change
8. The Great War
9. The inter-war period
10. The clouds of war
11. Aftermath of war to forecasting by numbers
12. Global meteorology
13. Winds of change.

Subject Areas: The environment [RN], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]