Balfour Currie
Encyclopedia
Balfour Watson Currie, (November 1, 1902 – January 8, 1981) was a Canadian
scientist specializing in the fields of meteorology
and climatology
.
Born in Montana
, he came to Saskatchewan
at an early age. His parents moved to a farm homestead at Netherhill, near Kindersley, in the west central region of the province. Because of his pioneer heritage, he was equally comfortable with internationally renowned scientists or with farmers in the field. He came to the University of Saskatchewan
as a student and received a Bachelor-level degree in Physics (1925) and a Master-level degree in Physics (1927). His Ph.D. program at McGill University
was completed in 1930.
He was a staff member of the Department of Physics at the University of Saskatchewan
(1928 - 1981), was Professor of Physics (1943-70) Head of the Department (1952-61), founder of the Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies (1956-66), Dean of Graduate Studies (1959-70) and Vice-president, Research (1967-74). Upon his retirement as Vice-president, he was appointed by the President of the University to be Special Advisor in Research Matters (1974-78). Later 1n 1974, he became Canadian Coordinator of the International Magnetospheric Study, and gave it his fullest attention until its completion at the end of 1979. During this period, he also pursued an earlier research interest in the possible influence of solar activity on prairie weather and rainfall.
Early in his career, he spent two years in the Canadian Arctic. Currie and Frank Davies
worked together at Chesterfield Inlet
during the Second International Polar Year
(1932-1933). An online archive of Currie's work on 2nd IPY studies of the Polar Year data continued under his direction at the University of Saskatchewan
after World War II.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to his fields of study, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteorology Society of Great Britain in 1940, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1947. In 1972, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
"for his services to science and education especially in the fields of meteorology and climatology".
In 1977 he received an honorary Doctor of Science (space research) from York University
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
scientist specializing in the fields of meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
and climatology
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
.
Born in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, he came to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
at an early age. His parents moved to a farm homestead at Netherhill, near Kindersley, in the west central region of the province. Because of his pioneer heritage, he was equally comfortable with internationally renowned scientists or with farmers in the field. He came to the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
as a student and received a Bachelor-level degree in Physics (1925) and a Master-level degree in Physics (1927). His Ph.D. program at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
was completed in 1930.
He was a staff member of the Department of Physics at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
(1928 - 1981), was Professor of Physics (1943-70) Head of the Department (1952-61), founder of the Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies (1956-66), Dean of Graduate Studies (1959-70) and Vice-president, Research (1967-74). Upon his retirement as Vice-president, he was appointed by the President of the University to be Special Advisor in Research Matters (1974-78). Later 1n 1974, he became Canadian Coordinator of the International Magnetospheric Study, and gave it his fullest attention until its completion at the end of 1979. During this period, he also pursued an earlier research interest in the possible influence of solar activity on prairie weather and rainfall.
Early in his career, he spent two years in the Canadian Arctic. Currie and Frank Davies
Frank Davies
Frank Davies is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for Hunslet, playing at Second-row forward, i.e. number 11 or 12.-International honours:...
worked together at Chesterfield Inlet
Chesterfield Inlet
Chesterfield Inlet is an inlet in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is an arm of northwestern Hudson Bay, and the end point of the Thelon River after its passage through Baker Lake. Cross Bay, a large widening of the inlet, occurs east of Baker Lake...
during the Second International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
(1932-1933). An online archive of Currie's work on 2nd IPY studies of the Polar Year data continued under his direction at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
after World War II.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to his fields of study, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteorology Society of Great Britain in 1940, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1947. In 1972, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for his services to science and education especially in the fields of meteorology and climatology".
In 1977 he received an honorary Doctor of Science (space research) from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
Selected publications
- BW Currie, (1939) Earth Currents, Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaJournal of the Royal Astronomical Society of CanadaThe Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a bimonthly peer reviewed scientific journal published by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 1907. The title in French is Journal de la Société royale d'astronomie du Canada. The founding editor was Clarence Chant...
, Vol. 33, p. 313 scanned PDF - WD Penn and BW Currie (1949) A recording meter for auroral radiations, Canadian Journal of Research, Vol. 27A biblio. record
- WG Kendrew, BW Currie (1955) The Climate of Central Canada (book) E. Cloutier, Queen's Printer
- BW Currie, (1955) Auroral Heights over Central-Western Canada, Canadian Journal of Physics 33(12): 773-779 abstract with link to full text
External links
- Obituary - Currie, Balfour-Watson 1902-1981 Obituary in The Journal of the Royal Astron. Soc. of Canada vol. 75 no. 5, p. 219, October 1981.
- Biography in the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
- "How did we get here from there?" -- account of early atmospheric research at U.Sask. by Peter Forsyth