The problem of weather prediction, considered from the viewpoints of mechanics and physics

Meteorologische Zeitschrift

Volumn 18, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 663-667

  Bjerknes, Vilhelm ^c   Volken, Esther ^a   Brönnimann, Stefan ^b  

^a Proclin   (Switzerland)

^b Land Climate Dynamics Group   (Switzerland)

^c NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DYNAMIC EQUATIONS; GRAPHICAL SOLUTION; HYDRODYNAMIC PROBLEMS; WEATHER PREDICTION;

HYDRODYNAMICS;

FLUID DYNAMICS;

CLIMATE PREDICTION; GRAPHICAL METHOD; HYDRODYNAMICS; MECHANICS; METEOROLOGY; PHYSICS; WEATHER FORECASTING;

EID: 77949649203     PISSN: 09412948     EISSN: 16101227     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1127/0941-2948/2009/416     Document Type: Article

References (13)

1. E1 This is not the first translation of BJERKNES' seminal paper. Another translation can be found at www.historv.noaa.gov/stories-tales/ bierknes.html. A very nice and highly recommended translation is that by Y. MINTZ, Los Angeles, 1954, published in: SHAPIRO, M.A., S. GRØNAS, 1999: The Life Cycle of Extratropical Cyclones, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 1-4.
2. Our translation is similar to the latter (on some occasions we follow MINTZ'S translation) but is generally somewhat closer to the German original and is supplemented with editorial endnotes according to our "Classic paper" style.
3. The above mentioned volume also contains a number of other interesting papers relating to Bjerknes and his workh:
4. ELIASSEN, A., 1999: Vilhelm Bjerknes' early studies of atmospheric motions and their connection with the cyclone model of the Bergen School. - In: SHAPIRO, M.A., S. GRØNAS (Eds): The Life Cycle of Extratropical Cyclones, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 5-13.
5. OLKERT, H., 1999: Components of the Norwegian cyclone model: Observations and theoretical ideas in Europe prior to 1920. - In: SHAPIRO, M.A., S. GRØNAS (Eds): The Life Cycle of Extratropical Cyclones. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 15-28.
6. E2 Aerology experienced an impressing development in the years around 1900. Aerological observatories were founded for instance in the United States, France, Russia, and Germany using kites, tethered balloons, and registering balloons. Kite ascents were also performed from ships. The International Aeronautic Commission (chaired by Hugo HERGESELL) that was formed within the International Meteorological Committee coordinated the soundings. Simultaneous ascents ("International Aerological Days") were performed and were considered by some as the start of a new era of synoptic aerology (see HOINKA, 1997).
7. HOINKA, K.P., 1997: The tropopause: Discovery,definition and demarcation. - Meteorol. Z. 6, 281-303.
8. E3 "Infinitesimal calculus" in this context refers to differential calculus.
9. E4 "Mechanical quadrature" is a numerical integration method.
10. E5 Heinrich Rudolf HERTZ (1857-1894), German physicist who is well known for his electromagnetic research (SI unit Hertz). His interest in meteorology is related to his contacts with VON BEZOLD (see below). HERTZ (who was a teacher of Vilhelm BJERKNES) developed the emagram, the first thermodynamic diagram.
11. Johann Friedrich Wilhelm VON BEZOLD (1837-1907), German meteorologist and atmospheric thermodynamicist, 1885-1907 director of the Prussian Institute of Meteorology at the University of Berlin. He worked on (and indeed introduced the concepts of) potential temperature, equivalent temperature and pseudo-adiabatic processes.
12. Two often cited publications of these two scientists are: VON BEZOLD, W. 1888: Zur Thermodynamik der Atmosphäre. Zweite Mittheilung. Potentielle Temperatur. Verticaler Temperaturgradient. Zusammengesetze Convection. - Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Jahrgang 1888, 1189-1206.
13. HERTZ, H., 1884: Graphische Methode zur Bestimmung der adiabatischen Zustandsänderungen feuchter Luft. -Meteorol. Z. 1, 421-431.