T. Neil Davis
Encyclopedia
T. Neil Davis is a professor emeritus of geophysics
from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
and the author of several books. Born in Greeley, Colorado
, Davis received his B.S in geophysics from University of Alaska Fairbanks
in 1955, an M.S. in geophysics from California Institute of Technology
in 1957, and a Ph.D in geophysics from University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1961. Davis spent most of his working career at the Geophysical Institute
, pioneering the use of all-sky and low-level light camera
s for the study of the aurora borealis and conducting rocket studies of the aurora. With Masahisa Sugiura (while both were at NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center
) he introduced the AE (auroral electrojet) index now commonly used as a measure of solar-terrestrial interaction. A student of Beno Gutenberg
and Charles Richter at Caltech, he also has done work in observational seismology
.
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
and the author of several books. Born in Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
, Davis received his B.S in geophysics from University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
in 1955, an M.S. in geophysics from California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in 1957, and a Ph.D in geophysics from University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1961. Davis spent most of his working career at the Geophysical Institute
Geophysical Institute
The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks conducts research into space physics and aeronomy; atmospheric sciences; snow, ice, and permafrost; seismology; volcanology; and tectonics and sedimentation. It was founded in 1946 by the United States Congress...
, pioneering the use of all-sky and low-level light camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s for the study of the aurora borealis and conducting rocket studies of the aurora. With Masahisa Sugiura (while both were at NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
) he introduced the AE (auroral electrojet) index now commonly used as a measure of solar-terrestrial interaction. A student of Beno Gutenberg
Beno Gutenberg
Beno Gutenberg was a German-American seismologist who made several important contributions to the science...
and Charles Richter at Caltech, he also has done work in observational seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
.
Fiction
- 2004. The Great Alaska Zingwater Caper. McRoy & Blackburn, Publishers.
- 1997. Battling Against Success. McRoy & Blackburn, Publishers.
- 1994. Caught in the Sluice. McRoy & Blackburn, Publishers.
Nonfiction
- 2011. The Painting on the Window Blind: the story of an unknown artist and a daring Civil War spy. IUniverse.
- 2008. Mired in the Health Care Morass: An Alaskan Takes on America's Dysfunctional Medical System for his Uninsured Daughter. Alaska-Yukon Press and Ester Republic Press.
- 2006. Rockets Over Alaska: The Genesis of Poker Flat. Alaska-Yukon Press.
- 2001. Permafrost. A guide to frozen ground in transition. University of Alaska PressUniversity of Alaska PressThe University of Alaska Press is a nonprofit scholarly publisher and distributor of works concerning Alaska, the northern Pacific Rim, and the circumpolar regions. It is associated with the University of Alaska. The press was formally founded in 1989 but had existed somewhat informally for...
. - 1993. The College Hill Chronicles. How the University of Alaska Came of Age. University of Alaska Foundation.
- 1992. The Aurora Watcher's Handbook. University of Alaska Press.
- 1984. ENERGY/ALASKA. University of Alaska Press.
- 1982. Alaska Science Nuggets. University of Alaska Press.
Columns
- 2007–present. "Dose of Reality": monthly medical finances column appearing in The Ester RepublicThe Ester RepublicThe Ester Republic is a small, independent monthly newspaper published in Ester, Alaska, and established January 1999. The paper serves as an alternative media publication for the Tanana Valley. It is the only newspaper that has been published in Ester; the village has been served historically by...
. - 1976-1982. "Alaska Science Nuggets": weekly science column appearing in the Fairbanks Daily News-MinerFairbanks Daily News-MinerThe Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is a morning daily newspaper that serves the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Denali Borough, and the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the United States state of Alaska. It is the farthest north daily newspaper in the United States, and...
.