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Until satellites came along, weather forecasting was either very local (it's raining) or very general (it's going to be warmer tomorrow). When satellites started sending pictures of the Earth and its atmosphere, a remarkable meteorologist named Harry Wexler, saw the opportunity for long range, global forecasting. In the late 1950's, as head of the U.S. Weather Bureau and chief U.S. scientist for the International Geophysical Year, Wexler not only had the vision, but the means to carry it out. Producer Barbara Bogaev looks at how Harry Wexler changed meteorology from weather forecasting to global climate research.
IGY:Weather Report was produced by Barbara Bogaev and edited by Jared Weissbrot,
with production assistance from Dian Belanger and Katie Ball. Archival tape
courtesy of the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University. Thanks
to Whitman College and Paul Dalrymple. Voice over by Hank Rosenfeld. Weather
Report is funded in part by the National Science Foundation.
Links:
Pole to Pole Gallery
A gallery showing different ‘Pole to Pole’ research sites.
The Weather Channel
You do not have to travel to the Antarctic weather station to know what the weather would be tomorrow. Just enter your zip code.
World Meteorological Organization
An agency of the United Nations, this organization’s vision is to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and water resources, thereby contributing to the safety and well-being of people throughout the world and to the economic benefit of all nations.
Harry Wexler: Father of weather satellites
A look at the scientific achievements and contributions by meteorologist Harry Wexler.
Books:
 The AMS Weather Book: The Ultimate Guide to America's Weather
by: Jack Williams , Rick Anthes, Stephanie Abrams and Jim Cantore 2009
This book is a great read for anyone interested in understanding the weather and our atmosphere.
 Deep Freeze: The United States, the International Geophysical Year, and the Origins of Antarctica's Age of Science
by: Dian Olson Belanger 2006
A compelling account of the first thorough study of the dawn of Antarctica’s scientific age.
 Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control
by: James Rodger Fleming 2010
Fleming studies scientists’ fascination and techniques to understand climates and weather from 1830s to today.
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