Frank Pasquill
Encyclopedia
Frank Pasquill FRS (8 September 1914 – 15 October 1994) was an English meteorologist at the Meteorological Office
who worked throughout his career in the field of atmospheric diffusion and micrometeorology. He retired as Deputy Chief Scientific Officer. He was a fellow of the Royal Society
.
. He was the first in his family to obtain a secondary education.
He attended University College, Durham
and earned First Class Honours in physics
in 1935. He was awarded a two-year fellowship at University College to pursue further studies.
In 1937, he married Margaret Alice Turnbull. They had two daughters in the 57 year marriage.
He worked from 1937 to 1943 at the Chemical Defence Establishment of the Meteorological Office at Porton Down
. His main work was the measurement of the evaporation of liquids in turbulent air streams. He conducted both wind-tunnel and field measurements. He modified O.G. Sutton's equations based on these experiments.
From 1943 to 1946, he worked in Queensland
, Australia on classified work on the dispersion of toxic agents. In 1946, he returned to head a new unit of the Meteorological Office at Cambridge
. He conducted field measurements on evaporation and obtained vertical profiles of the turbulent fluxes of heat and water vapor.
In 1950 he was awarded the D.Sc.
from the University of Durham. He was assigned to the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
at Harwell
. He worked with N.G. Stewart on the dispersion of radionuclides from nuclear plants and the from atomic testing.
In 1954, he returned to Porton Down to conduct field measurements on the structure of atmospheric turbulence and the dispersion of pollutants. He developed a simple method for assessing atmospheric stability based on wind speed, solar radiation, cloud cover, and time of day. This resulted in the Pasquill stability classes A (very unstable) through F (very stable). In addition, he developed curves that are now interpreted as the vertical and horizontal dispersion coefficients, σz and σy.
In 1961, he transferred to the Micrometeorological Branch at Bracknell
. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Scientific Officer in 1966 and in 1970 headed a research branch in boundary-layer meteorology
.
He retired in 1974. He spend a year at Pennsylvania State University
and North Carolina State University
as a visiting professor. At these institutions, he worked with Hans Panofsky, Kenneth Calder, Frank Gifford, and Robert McCormick.
He was the author of a classic book in atmospheric diffusion. He was editor of the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. He was president of the Royal Meteorological Society
from 1970 to 1972. Pasquill was named a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1977. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Meteorological Society in 1978 and was awarded its Symons Gold Medal in 1978. He served as chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board's Advisory Committee on Environmental Research from 1962 to 1980.
Sources, D. Van Norstand Company, Ltd., London, 1962.
F. Pasquill, Atmospheric Diffusion: The Dispersion of Windborne Material from Industrial and other Sources, 2nd ed., D. Van Norstand Company, Ltd., London, 1974.
F. Pasquill and F.B. Smith, Atmospheric Diffusion, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., New York, 1983.
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
who worked throughout his career in the field of atmospheric diffusion and micrometeorology. He retired as Deputy Chief Scientific Officer. He was a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
.
Biography
Frank Pasquill was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (née Rudd) Pasquill. His father was a miner. Frank attended secondary school in HartlepoolHartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
. He was the first in his family to obtain a secondary education.
He attended University College, Durham
University College, Durham
University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body...
and earned First Class Honours in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1935. He was awarded a two-year fellowship at University College to pursue further studies.
In 1937, he married Margaret Alice Turnbull. They had two daughters in the 57 year marriage.
He worked from 1937 to 1943 at the Chemical Defence Establishment of the Meteorological Office at Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
. His main work was the measurement of the evaporation of liquids in turbulent air streams. He conducted both wind-tunnel and field measurements. He modified O.G. Sutton's equations based on these experiments.
From 1943 to 1946, he worked in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia on classified work on the dispersion of toxic agents. In 1946, he returned to head a new unit of the Meteorological Office at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. He conducted field measurements on evaporation and obtained vertical profiles of the turbulent fluxes of heat and water vapor.
In 1950 he was awarded the D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
from the University of Durham. He was assigned to the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire, was the main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1990s.-Founding:...
at Harwell
Harwell
Harwell may refer to:*Harwell, Nottinghamshire, England*Harwell, Oxfordshire, England, a village**RAF Harwell, a World War II RAF airfield, near Harwell village....
. He worked with N.G. Stewart on the dispersion of radionuclides from nuclear plants and the from atomic testing.
In 1954, he returned to Porton Down to conduct field measurements on the structure of atmospheric turbulence and the dispersion of pollutants. He developed a simple method for assessing atmospheric stability based on wind speed, solar radiation, cloud cover, and time of day. This resulted in the Pasquill stability classes A (very unstable) through F (very stable). In addition, he developed curves that are now interpreted as the vertical and horizontal dispersion coefficients, σz and σy.
In 1961, he transferred to the Micrometeorological Branch at Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Scientific Officer in 1966 and in 1970 headed a research branch in boundary-layer meteorology
Planetary boundary layer
The planetary boundary layer , also known as the atmospheric boundary layer , is the lowest part of the atmosphere and its behavior is directly influenced by its contact with a planetary surface. On Earth it usually responds to changes in surface forcing in an hour or less...
.
He retired in 1974. He spend a year at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
as a visiting professor. At these institutions, he worked with Hans Panofsky, Kenneth Calder, Frank Gifford, and Robert McCormick.
He was the author of a classic book in atmospheric diffusion. He was editor of the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. He was president of the Royal Meteorological Society
Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society traces its origins back to 3 April 1850 when the British Meteorological Society was formed as a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general...
from 1970 to 1972. Pasquill was named a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1977. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Meteorological Society in 1978 and was awarded its Symons Gold Medal in 1978. He served as chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board's Advisory Committee on Environmental Research from 1962 to 1980.
Books
F. Pasquill, Atmospheric Diffusion: The Dispersion of Windborne Material from Industrial and otherSources, D. Van Norstand Company, Ltd., London, 1962.
F. Pasquill, Atmospheric Diffusion: The Dispersion of Windborne Material from Industrial and other Sources, 2nd ed., D. Van Norstand Company, Ltd., London, 1974.
F. Pasquill and F.B. Smith, Atmospheric Diffusion, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., New York, 1983.