Sir David Brunt, father of meteorology, c 1945

Sir David Brunt, father of meteorology, c 1945. Brunt (1886-1965) joined the Met Office after concerns over the use of poison gas during World War One. Gas dispersal was not predictable because of a lack of understanding about wind direction and the atmosphere. Increased air travel also made improved forecasting necessary. Brunt applied the study of fluid dynamics to meteorology. Gases in motion cause atmospheric conditions or 'weather'. Brunt used statistics to make sense of the vast quantity of data on temperature, pressure and wind strength to make informed weather forecasts. He also tried to link weather conditions and human health, concluding that New Zealand's climate is healthiest for humans. He was president of the Physical Society from 1945 to1947. ©SSPL/Science Museum