Jerome Spar
American Meteorological Society Oral History Project
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On September 22, 1990, Julius London interviewed Jerome Spar in Glen Rock, New Jersey. Spar, who entered meteorology in 1940 after earning a physics degree from City College of New York, discusses his long career in the field, starting with his graduate studies in meteorology at New York University (NYU) under Athelstan Spilhaus. Spar recounts his service in the Army Air Corps Weather Service during World War II, including assignments in Presque Isle, Maine, and Goose Bay, Labrador. After the war, Spar returned to NYU as an instructor, later earning his Master's and Ph.D. He shares insights into the development of meteorology at NYU, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s, and his involvement in weather modification experiments like Project SCUD and Project Stormfury.
Spar elaborates on his contributions to atmospheric science, including his research on atmospheric tides, the distribution of radioactive debris from hydrogen weapons tests, and numerical weather prediction. He describes his work with the General Circulation Model (GISS) and his efforts to assess the effects of sea surface temperatures on global circulation. Spar reflects on his role as a teacher and mentor at NYU and later at City College, where he joined the Earth and Planetary Sciences department after the meteorology program at NYU was dissolved. He concludes by discussing his publications, including his textbooks on geophysical sciences and popular science books for young readers.
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