Verner Suomi

Location of Interview
Collection Name

American Meteorological Society Oral History Project

Description

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/

Interviewer
Date of Interview
03-20-1994
04-20-1994
05-14-1994
Audio
Abstract

On March 20, April 20, and May 14, 1994, Gisela Kutzbach and colleagues interviewed Verner Suomi, a prominent meteorologist and researcher, about his career and contributions to weather science, particularly satellite-based observations. Suomi reflects on his early life in Minnesota, his academic journey, and his initial work on weather-related research. He discusses his pivotal role in the development of satellite weather observation, focusing on the creation and advancements of the ATS-1 and ATS-3 satellites, which provided essential data for weather forecasting. Suomi highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in his work, including his idea to measure the Earth's heat budget using satellites and the process of integrating satellite imagery with weather data. He also recounts his collaboration with NASA and other scientists, which led to the development of the McIDAS system for handling and processing satellite data. Throughout the interview, Suomi emphasizes the importance of perseverance in scientific research and the interdisciplinary collaborations that were crucial in pushing the boundaries of meteorology. He offers insight into the evolution of weather satellites and their increasing role in global weather observation and forecasting.


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