Today's world-wide weather forecasting is based on the principles which Norwegian physicist and meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes developed back in 1904. This week it was 150 years since his birth.
Prior to Bjerknes introduced mathematics and physics in meteorology; the weather forecasts were usually given simply based on experience.
Based on his research, Bjerknes suggested that they try to estimate changes in the weather based on already known laws about the movements of the atmosphere, something that is still being done today through computer systems.
Bjerknes presented his theories in a German article in a science magazine in 1904, which ended up becoming a turning point in his career and for meteorology. The article presented his famous vision – the first science-based analysis of weather forecasting.
The analysis described that weather forecasting is a mapping of the state of the atmosphere at one point based on observations, and then a mathematical estimate of the changes up until the next state. Bjerknes further explained his findings in a series of long-form articles in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten over the course of three days.
In the early 1900s, it was only common to observe the weather from the ground. Conducting research and observing the state of the atmosphere, above ground, was very new at the time, and Bjerknes participated in several new measuring experiments in Germany, the U.K. and France.
According to Bjerknes himself, his theories only represented common sense. However, people all over the world were intrigued by his vision. Once his article was published in the German science magazine, Bjerknes was invited to come aand speak at the Carnegie Institute in Washington, and was offered financial support for his research in meteorology and weather forecasting.
Ever since 1905, Bjerknes dedicated his life to research, and continued his work in Norway, Germany and in the U.S. His funding also helped educate other Norwegian and Swedish researchers.
In spite of his findings, Bjerknes was never awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. Ironically, it was argued that weather forecasting was not a true science. Still, he remains one of Norway’s greatest sons.
(Aftenposten)
Julie Ryland
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