Canadian contributions to meteorology?
October 16, 2013 5:33 AM
What are some contributions that Canadians have made to meteorology as a science? I'm looking for technologies, theories, whatever you can come up with. Even Canadians that were involved in the development of something to do with a technology or meteorological finding. I've spent most of my evening on Google with little success, yet I'm required to teach this to my students.
We've made some contributions to the development of the Wind chill indices. Which is perhaps unsurprising.
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:17 AM on October 16, 2013
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:17 AM on October 16, 2013
Oh that reminds me! And the humidex is a purely Canadian thing.
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:18 AM on October 16, 2013
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:18 AM on October 16, 2013
Aside from operating satellites like RADARSAT-2, Canada has participated in or provided instruments for many Earth Observation missions, for example CLOUDSAT.
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:21 AM on October 16, 2013
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:21 AM on October 16, 2013
Well, we developed the Humidex, but I'm not sure it's actually caught on outside Canada.
A lot of meteorological research is multi-national (for example, NinJo includes Canadians but isn't necessarily Canadian-driven). This page lists some recent "highlights" that aren't necessarily that exciting, but might point you in the right direction. The "coupling" page on the left margin is sort of interesting.
I think, but do not know for sure, that Canada was involved in developing Automatic Temperature Compensation systems for fuel pumps, which is sort of an interesting intersect between weather and commerce. You might be able to run that down for sure with some research.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:25 AM on October 16, 2013
A lot of meteorological research is multi-national (for example, NinJo includes Canadians but isn't necessarily Canadian-driven). This page lists some recent "highlights" that aren't necessarily that exciting, but might point you in the right direction. The "coupling" page on the left margin is sort of interesting.
I think, but do not know for sure, that Canada was involved in developing Automatic Temperature Compensation systems for fuel pumps, which is sort of an interesting intersect between weather and commerce. You might be able to run that down for sure with some research.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:25 AM on October 16, 2013
Well, York University lead the team that put the first LIDAR on Mars. They found that it snows on Mars.
A lot of the mesoscale wind flow models used in climate modelling and wind power were developed and refined in Canada.
MeMail me if you want to get in touch with a former chair of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. I can pass his details along.
posted by scruss at 6:56 AM on October 16, 2013
A lot of the mesoscale wind flow models used in climate modelling and wind power were developed and refined in Canada.
MeMail me if you want to get in touch with a former chair of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. I can pass his details along.
posted by scruss at 6:56 AM on October 16, 2013
The Canadian Meteorological Centre is a world leader in the use of satellite observations in numerical weather prediction (data assimilation).
Roger Daley was an influential developer of numerical weather prediction models.
posted by tracer at 7:21 AM on October 16, 2013
Roger Daley was an influential developer of numerical weather prediction models.
posted by tracer at 7:21 AM on October 16, 2013
If you haven't already, check the Canadian atmospheric science department webpages, they will usually feature alumni and faculty spotlights:
http://www.atmos.illinois.edu/careers/academic.html
Plus dig through CMOS awards: http://www.cmos.ca/awards.html
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:10 PM on October 16, 2013
http://www.atmos.illinois.edu/careers/academic.html
Plus dig through CMOS awards: http://www.cmos.ca/awards.html
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:10 PM on October 16, 2013
One of the best known sounding rockets is of Canadian design.
posted by vasi at 10:41 PM on October 16, 2013
posted by vasi at 10:41 PM on October 16, 2013
Thanks for the suggestions. I managed to find 6 good, researchable topics for my students to work with. Presentations are later this week - we'll see how it goes.
posted by sarae at 6:43 PM on October 19, 2013
posted by sarae at 6:43 PM on October 19, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
e.g.
Dr. André Robert (April 28, 1929 - November 18, 1993) was a Canadian meteorologist who pioneered the modelling the Earth's atmospheric circulation.
George Templeman Kingston (1816–1886) was a Canadian professor, meteorologist, author, and public servant. For successfully promoting and organizing one of Canada's first national scientific services, Kingston has been called the father of Canadian Meteorology.
John Patterson (January 3, 1872 – February 22, 1956) was a Canadian physicist and meteorologist. .... Following the war, he was involved in designing a new barometer and was responsible for developing the 3-cup anemometer now in widespread use.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:13 AM on October 16, 2013