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Man has always been possessed by a need to foretell the weather. In ancient times, he turned to his gods, weather lore and the stars. As science progressed the understanding of the atmosphere, it began to harnessed to prognostication, notably in the 'weather glass' or barometer. True scientists attempted to quash this trend, but ordinary people, especially seafarers, clamoured for protection from the devastation of storms.
In America, scientists battled the elements and each other in an attempt to understand the nature of storms; in France and Holland they grappled with charts and isobars, trying to spot their advance; while in Britain it was left to a mere naval man, Admiral Robert FitzRoy, to struggle against bureaucracy and the scientific hierarchy to establish Britain's first telegraphic storm warning service - and with it in 1861 the first published weather forecast. Inaccuracies were inevitable and, crushed by the constant torment of scorn and opposition, in 1865 he cut his own throat. His forecasts and storm warnings died with him.
Public outrage soon forced the re-introduction of storm warnings, but the forecast languished until 1879, when deeper understanding meant it could be resumed. Real advances in forecasting could not begin until the twentieth century, which brought radio, aviation, computers and satellites, all of which form the armoury of today's mighty forecasting networks.
book reviews
- Lothian Life
'...entertaining and informative...'.
- Royal Naval Sailing Association Journal
'a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the weather, and the reader will not flounder in a surfeit of scientific terminology'.
- Sandra Carter, Bucks Free Press
'It's a fascinating story'.
- Limited Edition
'A fascinating book'.
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