Hall of Weather Stories
Throughout history, the weather has been a source of fortune or misfortune to many. It has made people famous, shaped nations, inspired art, and changed the course of war. In this exhibit, explore a handful of the stories. Feel free to browse, look up details, and let you imagination run wild!
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Robert Watson-Watt
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 3 July 1931
Purchased, 1996
NPG x84993
CHAIN HOME RADAR
© IWM CH 15174
From a “death ray” to RADAR
In the decade before WWII, the British government approached Scottish scientist Robert Watson-Watt with the idea of building a death ray. Watson-Watt knew about radio waves, but the idea of using them for a death ray seemed infeasible. Instead, radio waves proved useful for another purpose: detecting enemy aircraft.
RADAR stands for RAdio Detection And Ranging. During WWII, Watson-Watt helped build a set of radar stations on the British coast called the “Chain Home,” helping protect from enemy attacks. Around the world, many others helped develop radar technology over the course of the war. Two of these pioneers: Pauline Morrow Austin of the U.S. and Elizabeth Laird of Canada. After WWII, many radars were used to detect the weather instead.
The next time you see a weather radar, remember this strange history of a meteorological marvel!
Fun fact
Before working on radar, Robert Watson-Watt worked as a meteorologist! Starting in 1915, he helped develop technology to detect lightning strikes. Lightning strikes give off radio waves. By detecting these radio emissions from multiple locations, the location of lightning strikes can be triangulated.
Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin: who invented the temperature scales?
Daniel Fahrenheit
Daniel Fahrenheit
Polish instrument maker (1686-1736). In 1714, Daniel Fahrenheit invented the first accurate thermometer: the mercury thermometer! His Fahrenheit temperature scale was based on the freezing point of a salt-water solution, the freezing point of water, and the temperature of the human body.
Anders Celsius
Swedish astronomer (1701-1744). Working as an astronomy professor, Anders Celsius studied the aurora borealis and built an observatory in Uppsala, Sweden. When he first developed the Celsius scale, it was reversed: 0°C was boiling and 100°C was freezing. After this death, the scale was updated.
Lord Kelvin
Irish physicist (1824-1907). Born as William Thompson, Lord Kelvin helped lay the first transatlantic cable, helped devise the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and developed the temperature scale that bears his name. The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale, so 0 is as cold as things can get.
Did you know?
Other temperature scales also exist: Rankine, Réaumur, and more! If you made a temperature scale named after yourself, what would it be based on?
More exhibits to come!
If you have suggestions, email me at michael.p.erb@gmail.com