Reid Bryson
Encyclopedia
Reid Bryson was an American atmospheric scientist, geologist
and meteorologist. He was a professor emeritus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He completed a B.A. in geology
at Denison University
in 1941 and a Ph.D. in meteorology
from University of Chicago
in 1948. In 1946 he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and in 1948 he became the first chairman of the Department of Meteorology. He became the first director of the Institute for Environmental Studies in 1970.
and a previous supporter of the claim that humans were causing global cooling.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FPESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0PoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917,8525417 While he argued that climate change
and a global increase in temperature
are real, he did not believe that they are caused by human activity. Rather, he argued that they are part of natural global climate cycles, particularly the end of the Little Ice Age
:
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and meteorologist. He was a professor emeritus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He completed a B.A. in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
at Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
in 1941 and a Ph.D. in 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...
from University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1948. In 1946 he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and in 1948 he became the first chairman of the Department of Meteorology. He became the first director of the Institute for Environmental Studies in 1970.
Honors and awards
Bryson was made a Global Laureate by the United Nations Global Environment Program in 1990.http://www.global500.org/ViewLaureate.asp?ID=406Views
Bryson was an opponent of the theory of global warmingGlobal warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
and a previous supporter of the claim that humans were causing global cooling.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FPESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0PoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917,8525417 While he argued that climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and a global increase in temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
are real, he did not believe that they are caused by human activity. Rather, he argued that they are part of natural global climate cycles, particularly the end of the Little Ice Age
Little Ice Age
The Little Ice Age was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period . While not a true ice age, the term was introduced into the scientific literature by François E. Matthes in 1939...
:
- "All this argument is the temperature going up or not, it’s absurd," Bryson continues. "Of course it’s going up. It has gone up since the early 1800s, before the Industrial Revolution, because we’re coming out of the Little Ice Age, not because we’re putting more carbon dioxide into the air."
Selected publications
Bryson wrote more than 230 articles and five books, including Climates of Hunger, which won the Banta Medal for Literary Achievement.http://www.alumnifriends.mines.edu/photo_gallery/2003/hon_degree_medal_200305/bryson.htmBooks
- R. A. Bryson, Airmasses, Streamlines, and the Boreal Forest 1966: Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, Geography Branch
- R. A. Bryson, FK Hare, Climates of North America 1974: Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co New York
- R. A. Bryson & TJ Murray, Climates of Hunger: Mankind and the World's Changing Weather, 1977: University of Wisconsin Press
Articles
- R. A. Bryson, A Perspective on Climatic Change, Science, Volume 184, Issue 4138, pp. 753-760. Publication Date: 05/1974
- R. A. Bryson, BM Goodman, Volcanic Activity and Climatic Changes Science, 1980
External links
- Center for Climatic Research, University of Wisconsin, May 2007`
- [ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/climate_forcing/bryson1988/ Volcanic Eruptions and Aerosol Optical Depth Data, 2002]
- Online memorial book for Dr. Bryson