Harper - Weather by the Numbers - Ch 4 excerpts

By 1944, the United States was nearing military victory in World War II.
Meteorologists experienced a shift due to the end of the war, leading to unused classrooms and a pivot away from supporting military missions towards theoretical meteorology.

There were worries regarding continued government funding sources for meteorological research post-war.
Government funding had been crucial during the war; its future was uncertain for various scientific communities including physics and engineering, benefitting from wartime developments in various technologies (e.g., radar, electronics, nuclear power).

Wartime needs also advanced technology, leading to primitive electronic computers to assist in fire-control solutions for large weapons.
John von Neumann, a prominent mathematician who fled Hungary, was instrumental in shifting to digital electronic computers after the war, aiming to accelerate complex mathematical solution processes.
New stored-program computers expected to yield solutions within hours, enabling rapid iteration of calculations, a significant advancement over human computation.

Despite atomic bomb ramifications, a belief persisted that science positively influenced the war outcome, reinforcing public faith in scientific solutions for both natural and man-made problems.
There was an aspiration to control atmospheric conditions, such as droughts, floods, and hurricanes, which required deeper comprehension of atmospheric processes and capabilities for accurate forecasts.

In 1945, theories explaining the atmosphere’s general circulation were underdeveloped, and forecasting techniques remained rudimentary.
The war had expanded data networks and upper-air observations, enhancing theoretical work potential in meteorology.
Images and references (e.g., Figure 4.1, Army Air Force balloon launch preparations in Iceland).

The cessation of military focus permitted significant growth across physical sciences including atmospheric studies.
Major meteorological departments expanded research agendas, with leaders like Francis Reichelderfer from the Weather Bureau anticipating a return to civilian roles.

The introduction of electronic digital computers was poised to advance meteorology significantly. The connections between those advocating for theoretical and practical meteorological development emerged prominently.

Theoretical meteorologists expressed concern about potential military/government influences over postwar research agendas versus independence.
During the war, military requirements guided research; there were fears government funding could similarly constrain academic freedom.
Before the war, most meteorological research funding came from private sources, which were dwindling, leading to worries about government-dictated research problems:
- Byers's arguments during University Meteorological Committee meetings emphasized potential government control over research due to contract-based funding.
- Concerns arose that while there might be some government funding, research scope might be narrowly confined to predetermined objectives.
- Additionally, there's mention of a lack of interest in theoretical projects through a “top-ten list” survey of meteorologists that focused significantly on practical forecasting issues. No theoretical topics made the list of concerns.

High-speed electronic computers became central to numerical weather prediction; research began even during the war.
John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert developed the ENIAC computer at a rapid pace, intending to improve running firing tables for artillery.
Mauchly's 1945 visit to Weather Bureau headquarters led to a suggestion of using the computer for climatological data—a rudimentary approach that did not explore forecasting possibilities.
Meeting with the Air Weather Service allowed for discussions about how ENIAC could address atmospheric motion, revealing a divide in the understanding of meteorological applications between different government branches.

Enthusiastic figures like Major Harry Wexler recognized computational power could advance forecasting significantly.
Wexler’s push to integrate EDVAC into meteorological research showcased the potential for advanced meteorological applications such as numerical forecasting.

John von Neumann expressed the need for theoretical frameworks, emphasizing a need for a team to aid in theoretical development.
The need for practical input alongside theoretical research was crucial to make advancements in meteorology through computing, wherein discussions with figures like Rossby became pivotal.

Rossby proposed forming both theoretical and practical meteorological research teams:
- Theoretical team led by von Neumann aimed to model atmospheric phenomena.
- A supplementary group from various Weather Bureau services explored immediate applied forecasting improvements.
Rossby’s mission was to stimulate this interest and bridge connections between computational power and atmospheric theoretical research, ensuring that practical forecasting did not entirely overshadow theoretical advancements.
- Recommendations for participants included specialists in radiation, hydrodynamics, and applied meteorology to enrich research quality.

The collaboration needed funding assurance, which was solidified by the Navy.
Significant discussion revolved around the necessity of balancing theoretical pursuits with practical meteorological challenges, ensuring a comprehensive approach.

The combination of computational advances, the return to peacetime research structures, and concerns over funding sources coalesced to define a pivotal moment in the evolution of meteorological research and forecasting in the postwar era.

Reference to critical meetings, communications, and fears surrounding government role and academic freedom marked this transitional time in meteorological science, emphasizing the historical context of funding, independence, and the burgeoning relationship between emerging technologies and meteorological theory.