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Bernard VonnegutAmerican meteorologist and chemist, professor of meteorology, inventor
Date of Birth: 14.08.1914
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Bernard Vonnegut
- Career in Meteorology
- Research and Innovation
- Academic Career
- Awards and Recognition
- Personal Life
- Legacy
Bernard Vonnegut
Early Life and EducationBernard Vonnegut, an American meteorologist and chemist, was born in Indianapolis in 1914. His grandfather, Bernard Vonnegut Sr., co-founded Vonnegut & Bohn, an architectural firm. Bernard received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1936 and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1939.
Career in Meteorology
Vonnegut began his career at General Electric's Research Laboratory in 1945. In 1946, he discovered the crystallizing effects of silver iodide on water, leading to the development of cloud seeding devices. In 1949, he demonstrated that rain could form in clouds without freezing, challenging prevailing meteorological beliefs. Vonnegut's subsequent research focused on atmospheric electricity, lightning formation, and convection's role in charge transfer within clouds.
Research and Innovation
In 1952, Vonnegut joined Arthur D. Little. His observations of towering thunderstorms led him to propose a connection between concentrated lightning activity and tornadoes. Throughout his career, Vonnegut invented and developed numerous research tools, holding 28 patents.
Academic Career
Vonnegut became a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University at Albany in 1967. Upon his retirement in 1985, he was named Professor Emeritus.
Awards and Recognition
In 1997, Vonnegut won the Ig Nobel Prize in Meteorology for his paper "Chicken Plucking as a Measure of Tornado Wind Speed."
Personal Life
Vonnegut was married to Lois Bowler Vonnegut, and they had five sons. Lois died in 1971. Bernard's younger brother, Kurt Vonnegut, used him as inspiration for characters in his novels. The fictional "ice-9" in "Cat's Cradle" was influenced by Bernard's cloud seeding work.
Legacy
Bernard Vonnegut died of cancer in 1997. His groundbreaking research advanced the understanding of meteorology, particularly in the areas of cloud seeding and atmospheric electricity. His memory lives on through his contributions to science and the inspiration he provided for future generations of meteorologists.