Neil B. Ward

Neil Ward
Born	June 26, 1914 Purcell, Oklahoma, USA
Died	April 12, 1972(1972-04-12) (aged 57) Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Fields	Physics, Meteorology
Institutions	Weather Bureau, National Severe Storms Laboratory
Alma mater	University of Oklahoma Texas A&M University
Known for	Physical modeling of tornadoes, first scientific storm chase

Neil Burgher Ward (June 26, 1914 - April 12, 1972), American meteorologist, was the first scientific storm chaser, and second known storm chaser, developing ideas of thunderstorm and tornado structure and evolution as well as techniques for forecasting and intercept. He also was a pioneering developer of physical models of tornadoes, first at his home, then at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. He significantly furthered understanding of atmospheric vortices, particularly the tornado.^[1]

Biography

Ward first studied mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. In 1939, he began working for the Weather Bureau as a weather observer, eventually becoming a forecaster. Earning two scholarships, he attended graduate school at Texas A&M University, the University of Oklahoma, and Colorado State University, beginning in late 1956. He studied fluid mechanics and developed an increasing interest in atmospheric vortices by the early 1950s.^[2] Neil was a research scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory, from the first year of its operation in 1964 to his death in 1972.^[3] He began actively pursuing storms on the road in 1961, coordinating with radar information via the Oklahoma Highway Patrol radio.^[4]

See also

• Ted Fujita
• David K. Hoadley

References

1. ^ Bluestein, Howard B. (August 1999). "A History of Severe-Storm-Intercept Field Programs". Weather and Forecasting (American Meteorological Society) 14 (4): 558–577. Bibcode 1999WtFor..14..558B. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1999)014<0558:AHOSSI>2.0.CO;2. http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0434%281999%29014%3C0558%3AAHOSSI%3E2.0.CO%3B2. 
2. ^ Ward, Neil B. (September 1972). "The Exploration of Certain Features of Tornado Dynamics Using a Laboratory Model". Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (American Meteorological Society) 29 (6): 1194–1204. Bibcode 1972JAtS...29.1194W. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1972)029<1194:TEOCFO>2.0.CO;2. http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0469%281972%29029%3C1194%3ATEOCFO%3E2.0.CO%3B2. 
3. ^ Rhoden, Gene (1990). "Storm Pioneer: A Biography of Neil B. Ward". Stormtrack 14 (1): 4–7. http://www.stormtrack.org/library/people/ward.htm. 
4. ^ Ward, Neil B. (1961). "Radar and surface observations of tornadoes of May 4, 1961". Proc. Ninth Weather Radar Conf.. Kansas City, MO: American Meteorological Society. pp. 175–80. 

• Ward, Neil B. (Oct 1964). "Contoured Radar Display of a Line of Thunderstorms". Monthly Weather Review 92 (10): 475. Bibcode 1964MWRv...92..475W. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1964)092<0475:CRDOAL>2.3.CO;2. http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0493%281964%29092%3C0475%3ACRDOAL%3E2.3.CO%3B2. 
• --- (Jul 1972). "A Note on the Effects of Pressure Gradients on Fluid Flow with Atmospheric Applications". Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 29 (5): 982–984.

Persondata
Name	Ward, Neil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 26, 1914
Place of birth	Purcell, Oklahoma, USA
Date of death	April 12, 1972
Place of death	Norman, Oklahoma, USA