Ted Fujita

Tetsuya Theodore Fujita
Born	October 23, 1920(1920-10-23) Kitakyūshū, Japan
Died	November 19, 1998(1998-11-19) (aged 78) Chicago, Illinois, USA
Residence	Japan, United States
Citizenship	Japan, United States (1968)
Fields	Meteorology
Institutions	University of Chicago
Alma mater	Kyushu Institute of Technology (B.S., 1943) Tokyo University (Sc.D., 1950)
Known for	tornadoes, microbursts, mesoscale meteorology, Fujita scale

Tetsuya Theodore "Ted" Fujita (藤田 哲也, Fujita Tetsuya^?, October 23, 1920 – November 19, 1998) was a prominent severe storms researcher. His research at the University of Chicago on severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and typhoons revolutionized knowledge of each.

Biography

Fujita was born in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He studied at Kyushu Institute of Technology and was an associate professor there until 1953 when he was invited to the University of Chicago after a professor there became interested in his research.

Overview

Fujita is recognized as the discoverer of downbursts and microbursts and also developed the Fujita scale,^[1] which differentiates tornado intensity and links tornado damage with wind speed.

Fujita's best-known contributions were in tornado research—he was often called "Mr. Tornado" by his associates and by the media.^[2] Much of what we now know about tornadoes was either discovered or advanced by his efforts. In addition to the Fujita scale, he was a pioneer in the development of tornado overflight and damage survey techniques, which he used to study and map ^[3] the paths of the 2 tornadoes that hit Lubbock, Texas on May 11, 1970. He established the value of photometric analysis of tornado pictures and films, to establish wind speeds at various heights at the surface of tornado vortices.^[4] Fujita was also the first to widely study the meteorological phenomenon of the downburst, which can pose serious danger to aircraft. As a result of his work, pilot training worldwide routinely uses techniques he pioneered to provide instruction to students.^[5]

In another major addition to tornado knowledge, he was instrumental in developing the concept of multiple vortex tornadoes, which feature multiple small funnels (suction vortices) rotating within a larger parent cloud. His work established that, far from being rare events as was previously believed, most powerful tornadoes were composed of multiple vortices. He also advanced the concept of mini-swirls in intensifying tropical cyclones.

A master of mesoscale analysis throughout his career, it was his independent development of advanced techniques as a young scientist in Japan that prompted Horace Byers to invite him to the University of Chicago upon overviewing his work. He continued to advance mesoscale meteorology with a keen ability to glean details and synthesize vast information in developing revolutionary theories.

The American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) symposium held in January of 2000 honored the life work of Fujita.^[6] Usually, these symposia are organized posthumously, but of such great importance was the work of Fujita, this one was approved in October of 1998 by the AMS Council while he was still alive, although he died one month later.

References

1. ^ Fujita, T.T. 1971. Proposed Characterization of Tornadoes and Hurricanes by Area and Intensity. Satellite and Mesometeorology Research Paper 91, Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Il.
2. ^ USA Today 2005-03-16
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ McDonald, J.R. 2001. T. Theodore Fujita: His Contribution to Tornadic Knowledge Through Damage Documentation and the Fujita Scale. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 82(1): 63-72.
5. ^ Wilson, J.W., and R.M. Wakimoto. 2001. The Discovery of the Downburst: T.T. Fujita’s Contribution. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 82(1): 49-62.
6. ^ Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 82(1)

• Fujita, T. T., 1970b. The Lubbock tornadoes: a study of suction spots: Weatherwise, v. 23(4), p. 160-173. [published August, 1970] (first issued as SMRP 88)
• Shanahan, J. A., and Fujita, T. T., 1971c. The Lubbock tornadoes and Fujita suction vortices. Presented at October 18-22, 1971, ASCE Annual and National Environmental Engineering meeting, St. Louis. [October, 1971]
• Fujita, T. T., 1976g. Photogrammetric analysis of tornadoes, F. History of suction vortices, in Peterson, R. E., ed., Proceedings of the Symposium on Tornadoes, Assessment of Knowledge and Implications for Man: Institute for Disaster Research, Texas Technological University, Lubbock, p. 78-88. [June, 1976] (also issued as SMRP 140e)
• Fujita, T. T., and Forbes, G. S., 1976f. Photogrammetric analysis of tornadoes, D. Three scales of motion involving tornadoes, in Peterson, R. E., ed., Proceedings of the Symposium on Tornadoes, Assessment of Knowledge and Implications for Man: Institute for Disaster Research, Texas Technological University, Lubbock, p. 53-57. [June, 1976] (also issued as SMRP 140c)

Further reading

• Grazulis, Thomas P. (1994). A Guide To: Tornado Video Classics II: The Magnificent Puzzle. The Tornado Project of Environmental Films, St. Johnsbury, VT. p. 37-78
• Rosenfeld, Jeff (May/Jun 1999). "Mr. Tornado: The life and career of Ted Fujita". Weatherwise, pp 18

Memoirs

• Fujita, Tetsuya Theodore (1992). Memoirs of an Effort to Unlock the Mystery of Severe Storms. WRL Research Paper Number 239.

External links

• Tetsuya Fujita, 78, Inventor of Tornado Scale (The New York Times)
• A Tribute To Dr. Ted Fujita (Storm Track)
• Dr. Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (The Tornado Project)
• Tornadoes and Severe Weather - In Memory of Tetsuya T. Fujita (Dr. Kazuya Fujita)
• Mr. Tornado: Tetsuya Theodore "Ted" Fujita (Bio by Keith C. Heidorn)
• A Tribute to the Works of T. Theodore Fujita (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society)
• Symposium on The Mystery of Severe Storms: A Tribute to the Work of T. Theodore Fujita (American Meteorological Society)
• Fujita publications (Texas Tech University)
• Fujita Memorial Museum (in Japanese)
• Ted Fujita at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Fujita, Tetsuya Theodore
Alternative names	Fujita, Ted
Short description	Japanese Meteorologist
Date of birth	October 23, 1920
Place of birth	Kitakyushu, Japan
Date of death	November 19, 1998
Place of death	Chicago, Illinois, United States