Horace R. Byers
American Meteorological Society Oral History Project
The American Meteorological Society Oral History Project (AMSOHP) aims to capture the history of the atmospheric sciences as told by scientists, administrators, and others working in the field. The collection is especially rich in interviews that capture the memories of scientists who launched much of the innovative meteorological research in post-war America.
To browse this collection and others, please visit the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Archives: https://aspace.archives.ucar.edu/
On February 7, 1990, Roscoe R. Braham, Jr. interviewed Horace R. Byers at the Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Anaheim, California. Byers, a pioneer in meteorology, begins the interview by reflecting on his early career, particularly his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was introduced to meteorology in 1925. He recounts the influence of key figures in meteorology, such as Richard J. Russell and John B. Leighly, and his early work on El Niño. Byers describes his time at Berkeley, where he published a bulletin based on observations from the university's meteorological station. This led to his connection with Carl Rossby, under whom Byers worked at the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, establishing a model airway between San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. The interview covers Byers’ involvement in the advancement of meteorology in the United States, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. He discusses the contributions of international meteorologists and the lack of awareness within the U.S. Weather Bureau of significant foreign literature, particularly from Germany and Norway. Byers highlights his academic journey to MIT, where he studied under Rossby, and his subsequent work on polar front theory and air mass analysis. The interview delves into Byers' role in the organization of meteorological stations in California and his observations about the slow adoption of advanced meteorological methods by the U.S. Weather Bureau during this period. Throughout the interview, Byers provides detailed accounts of his contributions to various meteorological projects, including the Thunderstorm Project and his work on atmospheric electricity and cloud physics. The interview concludes with Byers’ reflections on the state of meteorology at the time of the interview, particularly the impact of technological advancements such as radar, satellites, and computers, as well as his concerns about the accuracy of climate models regarding global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.