special news feature

Edwin Kessler Retires As Director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory

Edwin Kessler retired in June from his position as di- ing system. He has taught as a visiting professor at MIT, rector of the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Nor- and he presented a series of seminars on precipitation man, Oklahoma, a post he has held since 1964. Under kinematics at McGill University in 1980. his 22 years of leadership, the Norman laboratory, a President of the Greater Boston chapter of the AMS major research facility of the National Oceanic and At- from 1960 to 1961, Kessler has served on several AMS mospheric Administration (NOAA), has developed the committees including the committees on mete- use of in early detection of tornadic de- orology, severe local storms, atmospheric electricity, velopment within thunderstorms. This achievement has and hurricanes and tropical . He is a fellow permitted as much as 20 minutes of advance warning of the Society and has been a Councilor of the AMS. before a tornado touchdown. Kessler holds an A.B. from Columbia College and a Kessler came to NOAA from the Travelers Research S.M. and Sc.D. from MIT. He was certified as a con- Center in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was senior sulting meteorologist in 1961 and was elected a fellow research scientist from 1961 to 1962 and director of the of the American Association for the Advancement of Atmospheric Physics Division from 1962 to 1964. He Science. Kessler has authored or coauthored approxi- helped to develop applications of radar to meteorology mately 130 reports and publications, principally on ra- in his work in the Branch and dar meteorology, distribution of water substance in the Radar Branch of the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab- atmosphere (AMS Meteorol. Monograph, Vol. 10, No. oratories in Blue Hill, Massachusetts, where he worked 32, On the Distribution and Continuity of Water Sub- as research meteorologist from 1954 to 1961. stance in Atmospheric Circulations), severe storms, Because of his highly specialized knowledge of radar weather modification, and some topics in agriculture meteorology, Kessler was chosen by the Weather Bu- and energy. He is also editor and originator of a three- reau in 1964 to visit Costa Rica to investigate the pos- volume comprehensive documentation on thunder- sibility of using in a volcano-hazard warn- storms, first published during 1981-82. •

Americas Weather Warriors, 1814-1985 Charles C. Bates, John F. Fuller "I endorse it enthusiastically not only to those interested in an unusual aspect of science, but also to military commanders at all levels who wish to use weather as an ally, rather than to face it as a foe"—Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, USAF (Ret). "It brought back to memory so many intense 'battles,' some WON, some Lost, with person- alities and events not thought of for years "—Commander Francis W. Reichelderfer, USN (Deceased). Here for the first time is the story of Americas weathermen and -women who have played a crucial role in the success or failure of military operations, such as the Normandy invasion and the aborted Iranian hostage rescue mission. Based on interviews, reports, letters, and the authors' first-hand experience, this book describes the human interplay and personalized leadership that were so important in the development of the U.S. mili- tary weather services. 438 pp. 101 illus. maps. $29.95 Discount Coupon AMS members, 10% discount. Prepaid orders, publisher pays postage. Please send me copies of Americas Weather Warriors (E95) at $26.95 each. residents add 5.125% ($1.38 each) sales tax. • Payment enclosed. • Visa • MasterCard Exp. date Acct. # Signature Name Street Telephone ( 2 City State Zip Texas AirM University Press, Drawer C, College Station, Texas 77843-4354

Bulletin American Meteorological Society 747

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/25/21 07:28 PM UTC