The Air and Its Secrets—A History of Atmospheric Science
We live at the bottom of an ocean of air, concluded the 17th-century mathematician Evangelista Torricelli after conducting numerous experiments on the weight of the atmospheric column with his newly invented mercury barometer. This vital ocean of air has been and still is the subject of extensive research. A new book by Guy Brasseur, scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and the NSF-National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder (US), looks at this field from a historical perspective. It outlines major scientific advances that have led to the discovery of the physical properties and chemical composition of air, the dynamic properties of the Earth’s atmosphere, the mechanisms that lead to the formation of storms and other weather events, and the natural and anthropogenic processes responsible for climate change, ozone depletion, and air pollution. “The air and its secrets”, originally published in French, is now available in English as an open-access publication.
How did the book come about?
Guy Brasseur: A few years ago, I wrote a book about the history of ozone research. Many people told me they found it useful, so I decided to expand the scope and to provide a historical account of the atmospheric sciences as a whole. I designed the book to have several chapters covering different aspects of atmospheric science, such as air chemistry, meteorology, and climate research. Then, I began my research and started writing. While working on this book over the past three years, I also learned a lot myself.
What motivated the historical approach?
Guy Brasseur: I realized that we usually teach with a top-down approach. In other words, we present the students with known scientific facts, but we don’t necessarily explain how progress has been made, how people have made and corrected mistakes, and how controversies were dealt with. Showing how atmospheric science evolved helps people realize that what we know today is the result of centuries of investigation. When I used this approach with my students, they were very excited.
In the book, I demonstrate how many developments were influenced by the political environment at the time. For example, meteorological forecast services were established in the 19th century to protect the French and British navy fleets from being destroyed by storms. Investigations of the upper atmosphere dynamics and chemistry became possible because of the tremendous progress in rocket and satellite developments made during World War II and during the Cold War. The book goes through periods ranging from Antiquity to present, highlighting key points. I also tried to broaden the perspective on where scientific discoveries have been made. We often focus only on Europe and the US, but many important developments also occurred in Asia, for example. Because I collaborate extensively with Chinese institutions, I am familiar with their contributions, which I included in the book. Clearly, however, I haven't covered everything. The book is not an encyclopedia, but rather an overview of how atmospheric science has evolved in general with a few key spotlights.
Who is your target audience?
Guy Brasseur: The book is written for non-specialists—people who are simply curious about atmospheric science—but it also contains anecdotes and additional information on specific topics for those who like to dig deeper. You can learn a lot from these historical spotlights even as an expert. If you're not a specialist, you will learn not only about the history, but also about meteorology and atmospheric science in general.
What does the cover show and why did you choose it?
Guy Brasseur: You see two scientists, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Jean-Baptiste Biot, as they were measuring atmospheric conditions at an altitude of 7,000 meters during a hot air balloon flight in the early 19th century. They also brought a bird whose vitality they observed to ensure there was enough oxygen. I liked this image because it shows two things. First, observations are important. Second, scientists have to be a bit adventurous. They want to go where nobody has been. That requires some risk-taking for sure.
More information
“The air and its secrets” at EDP Sciences
Contact
Prof. Dr. Guy Brasseur
Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
guy.brasseur@mpimet.mpg.de