Robert Fitzroy and the first forecasts
LOCATION
St. Chads College
18 North Bailey
Durham
Durham
DH1 3RH
United Kingdom
SPEAKER: Peter Moore, author of "The Weather Experiment".
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate. Non members are welcome to attend these meetings.
On 1 August 1861 Robert FitzRoy issued the first of his public weather predictions for “the two days ahead”. Determined they were not to be considered quack science he had eschewed the old terms of “prediction” or “prognostication”. Instead to reflect his new, government-funded blend of observation and theory he had coined a new term: “forecast”.
This talk examines the scientific, social and philosophical backdrop to FitzRoy’s forecasting experiment, which lasted until his suicide in 1865.
SPEAKER: Peter Moore, author of "The Weather Experiment".
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate. Non members are welcome to attend these meetings.
On 1 August 1861 Robert FitzRoy issued the first of his public weather predictions for “the two days ahead”. Determined they were not to be considered quack science he had eschewed the old terms of “prediction” or “prognostication”. Instead to reflect his new, government-funded blend of observation and theory he had coined a new term: “forecast”.
This talk examines the scientific, social and philosophical backdrop to FitzRoy’s forecasting experiment, which lasted until his suicide in 1865.