John F. Griffiths A Chronology ol llems of Department of Meteorology Texas A8cM University Meteorological interest College Station, Tex. 77843 Any attempt to select important events in meteorology The importance of some events was not really recog- must be a personal choice. I have tried to be objective nized until years later (note the correspondence by and, additionally, have had input from some of my Haurwitz in the August 1966 BULLETIN, p. 659, concern- colleagues in the Department of Meteorology. Neverthe- ing Coriolis's contribution) and therefore, strictly, did less, I am likely to have omissions from the list, and I not contribute to the development of meteorology. No would welcome any suggestions (and corrections) from weather phenomena, such as the dates of extreme hurri- interested readers. Naturally, there were many sources canes, tornadoes, or droughts, have been included in this of reference, too many to list, but the METEOROLOGICAL present listing. Fewer individuals are given in the more AND GEOASTROPHYSICAL ABSTRACTS, Sir Napier Shaw's recent years for it is easier to identify milestones of a Handbook of Meteorology (vol. 1), "Meteorologische science when many years have passed. 1 Geschichstabellen" by C. Kassner, and One Hundred i Linke, F. (Ed.), 1951: Meteorologisches Taschenbuch, vol. Years of International Co-operation in Meteorology I, 2nd ed., Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest & Portig, (1873-1973) (WMO No. 345) were most useful. Leipzig, pp. 330-359. (1st ed., 1931.) B.C. 1066 CHOU dynasty was founded in China, during which official records were kept that in- cluded climatic descriptions. #600 THALES attributed the yearly Nile River floods to wind changes. #550 ANAXIMANDER gave first known correct definition of wind as "a flowing of air." *500 PARMENIDES classified world climates according to latitude—torrid, temperate, and frigid. Phenological calendar was introduced in CHINA to assist farmers. *450 EMPEDOCLES' theory of universe, that earth, air, fire, and water constitute the universe, dominated meteorology for 2000 years. *400 HIPPOCRATES' treatise on "Airs, Waters and Places," first expressed idea that weather molds the life of man. Public notices displayed in GREEK cities gave information on wind direction. Rainfall measurements were made in INDIA. #370 EUDOXUS'S book on bad-weather predictions claimed there was a periodicity in weather phenomena. 334 ARISTOTLE'S Meteorologica, was the first work on the science of the atmosphere. 330 THEOPHRASTUS (pupil of Aristotle) wrote treatises "On Winds" and "On the Signs of Rain, Wind, Storms and Fair Weather." 278 ARATUS wrote Book of Signs, concerned with weather lore. 140 HIPPARCHUS used a zonation of the world depending upon day length at summer solstice. *100 ANDRONICUS KYRRHESTES designed the Tower of the Winds in Athens. A.D. 61 SENECA complained of the air pollution in Rome. * 130 PTOLEMY used a climatic classification of 7-day-length zones, extending to 62°N. *400 Liu THIEN CHUN was made Comptroller-General of Crops and Weather in China. * An approximate date. 23 Vol. 58, No. 10, October 1977 Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/10/21 09:06 PM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society 1059 825 DISCUIL (Irish monk) commented on lack of ice around Iceland as being different from the report of PYTHEAS in 300 B.C. 850 AGOBARD (Archbishop of Lyons) railed against those claiming to control the weather in "The Absurd Opinion of the Vulgar Touching Hail and Thunder." 1150 WILLIAM OF CONCHES made many sound deductions concerning humidity and clouds, oceans, and wind currents. *1200 IDRISI (Arab scientist) used 7 climatic zones, each of 10 divisions. 1269-70 A weather diary exists, most likely referring to conditions at OXFORD. 1337-44 REV. WILLIAM MERLE recorded weather conditions at OXFORD and LINCOLN, ENGLAND. 1442 Rain gages were in use in KOREA. #1450 CARDINAL NICOLAUS DA CUSA noted humidity changes by weighing a bundle of wool. #1500 LEONARD DA VINCI invented hygrometer and designed a pressure-plate anemometer. 1535 Estimates of annual rainfall for VALPARAISO-SANTIAGO, CHILE, exist from this date. 1555 LEONARD DYGGES wrote a book on weather prognostician (how to judge the weather for ever!!). # 1580 GIAMBATTISTA DELLA PORTA reported on simple oat-beard hygroscopes he had seen in use (see 1665). 1586 SIMON SEVINUS'S book Statics and Hydrostatics was published. 1593 GALILEO GALILEI (or his pupil SANTORIO) invented the air thermometer. 1611 MARCO DE DOMINUS published a scientific explanation of the rainbow. 1632 JEAN RAY constructed a water thermometer. 1637 RENE DESCARTES'S appendix "Les Meteores" to his famous work Discours de la Methode led to the break from Aristotle's influence in meteorology. 1639 Rainfall was measured in ITALY, the gage being invented by CASTELLI (pupil of Galileo). *1640 GASPARO BERTI experimented with vacuums and pressure devices. 1643 EVANGELISTA TORRICELLI invented the barometer and with VINCENZIO VIVIANI developed a hygrometer. 1644 First weather records in America were made near WILMINGTON, DEL., by REV. JOHN CAMPANIUS. 1648 BLAISE PASCAL designed experiment in which PERIER ascended the Puy-de-Dome, France, and registered decrease of pressure with height. 1653 FERDINAND II OF TUSCANY created a network of observing stations. 1659 ROBERT BOYLE propounded his law of the relationship between volume and pressure. *1660 Dew point hygrometer was constructed in FLORENCE. 1660 VON GUERICKE noted that a severe storm follows a sudden drop in barometric pressure. 1661 JOHN EVELYN published Fumifugium, a discussion of air pollution in LONDON. 1662 SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN invented a self-recording, tipping bucket rain gage. 1664 Rainfall observations began in PARIS. 1665 ROBERT BOYLE described a hygroscope made of an oat beard. 1667 ROBERT HOOKE published details of an anemometer. JOHN LOCKE began thermometric readings at OXFORD. * 1670 Mercury replaced water or spirit in thermometers. 1670 Weather observations began in CHARLESTON, S.C. 1683 EDMUND HALLEY published first comprehensive map of winds. Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/10/21 09:06 PM UTC Vol. 58, No. 10, October 1977 1686 EDMUND HALLEY (called Father of Dynamical Meteorology) explained trade wind and monsoon circulations. 1687 ISAAC NEWTON developed his three laws of motion. 1690 CHRISTIAN HUYGENS'S treatise on theory of light was published (written in 1678). 1693 WILLIAM DAMPIER began collecting information on the distribution of winds. 1694 EDMUND HALLEY conducted experiment showing the effect of sun and wind on evapora- tion. 1697 Monthly precipitation records exist from this date for KEW, ENGLAND, although 1717- 1723 has been estimated. -1716 WILLIAM DERHAM took temperature and rainfall readings at UPMINSTER, ENGLAND. 1710 GABRIEL DANIEL FAHRENHEIT developed his 32°-212° temperature scale. 1716 EDMUND HALLEY described the great auroral display of 6 March and advanced theories for the causes. 1722 First description of daily fluctuations of pressure was made. 1723 JAMES JURIN proposed that the Royal Society collect yearly weather data worldwide. 1725 Rainfall figures exist from this date for PADUA, ITALY, and LENINGRAD, U.S.S.R. 1727 JOHANN DANIEL PERLICKY published a paper on the development of a dew meter. 1729 PIERRE BOUGUER wrote treatise entitled "Optical Essay on Measurement of Light." 1730 RENE ANTOINE FERCHAULT DE REAMUR developed his 0°-80° temperature scale. 1731 JEAN-JACQUES DORTOUS DE MAIRAN published the Physical and Historical Treatise on the Aurora Borealis. 1735 GEORGE HADLEY developed his theory linking the earth's rotation and the trade winds. 1736 ROBERT MARSHAM began phenological records near NORWICH, ENGLAND. >6-98 THOMAS BARKER took meteorological records at LYNDON, ENGLAND. 1737 ANDERS CELSIUS developed his 100°-0° temperature scale. 1738 First systematic instrument records in America were taken at CHARLESTON, S.C. 1742 Celsius scale revised to 0°-100° by CARL VON LINNE (LINNAEUS), DANIEL EKSTORM, or JEAN PIERRE CHRISTIN. 1743 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN deduced the progressive movement of a hurricane. 1746 J. H. WINKLER propounded idea that lightning is an electric discharge. 1749 ALEXANDER WILSON and MELVILLE took first upper air observations using a minimum thermometer on a kite in SCOTLAND. 1750 CARL VON LINNE established network of 18 phenological stations in SWEDEN. GEORGE WILHELM RICHMANN observed phenomenon of depression of wet bulb. 1751 CHARLES LE ROY recognized dew point temperature as point of saturation of the air. 1752 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN demonstrated that lightning is an electrical phenomenon. 1755 LEONARD EULER used Newton's second law and the concepts of partial differential equa- tions to develop equations of fluid motion. 1760 JOSEPH BLACK formulated the concept of latent heat. 1774 LOUIS COTTE wrote Treatise on Meteorology. 1777 MATHEW DOBSON measured evaporation and analyzed data in LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. 1780 Meteorological Society of MANNHEIM established 39 weather observing stations, using standardized equipment, in various countries (4 in America). Systematic weather records began at NEW HAVEN, CONN. Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/10/21 09:06 PM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society 1061 1782 JAMES SIX invented his maximum-minimum thermometer. 1783 JACQUES ALEXANDER CESAR CHARLES made hydrogen balloon flight measuring temperature and pressure in PARIS. HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE published "Essai sur l'Hygrometrie" and invented the hair hygrometer. *1784 Concept of variation of temperature with height was suggested. 1785 Rainfall