Content alert: this material may contain content that represents attitudes that
do not align with NCAR’s Values.
View more information.
Part of: Oral History Interview with George D. Robinson (2 objects) Next
Oral History Interview with George D. Robinson
Transcript of Oral History Interview of George D. Robinson
Oral History Interview with George D. Robinson
Times viewed: 152
Audio Description
George D. Robinson describes his education in physics at Leeds University, first position as research assistant at Kew Observatory under Sir George Simpson. He discusses his appointment as a meteorological officer in 1940 at Balloon Command, noting the use of âFree Balloon Barrageâ against German aircraft. He reviews his posting to RAF Bomber Group #3 under R.C. Sutcliffe, and subsequent position at the Central Forecasting Office. He describes his duties at SHAEF in 1944 coordinating secret telephone conferences between American and Britain forecasting units, and comments on the difficulties of establishing minimum weather conditions for a successful Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy. He goes on to describe further military meteorological activities in Europe; postwar employment at Kew, working on terrestrial radiation; involvement with the IUGG and the IGY. He discusses his appointment to the WMOâs expert panel on artificial earth satellites; the genesis of World Weather Watch and the GARP program; and subsequent position at Travelerâs Research Corporation in Connecticut in 1968, working on acid rain and researching trace gases in the stratosphere. He describes his role as organizer and collaborative activities in the 1971 international conference and publication about âManâs Impact on the Climate;â research on the problem of stratospheric pollution by supersonic transport, particularly the effects on ozone; subsequent research on the stratosphere for NASA. Dr. Robinson concludes with comments about the principal forecasters for the D-Day invasion, as well as more personal history. Oral history interview with George D. Robinson, 1994. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 3 sound cassettes (ca. 4 hrs.) : analog, mono + transcript (50 pgs.). AMS 102-104; two physical versions (one master, one copy). Forms part of American Meteorological Society Oral History Project.