Joost Businger

Joost Alois Businger (born 29 March 1924) is a Dutch-American meteorologist. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Washington. Businger is best known for his work on atmospheric boundary layer (ABL).

Career

Businger was born in Haarlem, the Netherlands, on 29 March 1924. He obtained his PhD in physics and meteorology from Utrecht University in 1954.[1] As a PhD student he did research on turbulent transfer of heat, mass and momentum in the atmospheric surface layer. He came up with a similar concept around the same time as the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory was founded in the Soviet Union, with the two concepts varying slightly. Businger subsequently spend some time at the Institute of Horticultural Engineering of Wageningen University. At the institute he studied microclimate in greenhouses and the protection of crops from frost by use of sprinklers.[2] Wishing to study atmospheric science further, Businger saw no options to do so in the Netherlands. He thus sent out inquiry letters to different universities in the United States, and in 1956 was hired as research associate by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1][3]

In 1958 Businger was hired assistant professor at the University of Washington. In 1961 he was promoted to associate professor. He became a full professor in 1964.[1] Businger retired from the University of Washington in 1983. He then started working at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and retired fully in 1989.[3]

Businger has been described as one of the first to recognize the scientific and practical importance of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and worked on the development of the sonic anemometer.[2]

Honours and distinctions

Businger was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1980.[4] He was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2001.[5] Businger was awarded the Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal by the European Geophysical Society in 2003, "for his fundamental contributions to the understanding of atmospheric turbulence and boundary layer processes and structure".[6]

Apart from his scientific career Businger is known for his conservation efforts on Guemes Island and Sinclair Island.[7]

References
  1. "Contributors". IEEE Transactions on Geoscience Electronics. 9 (2): 111–112. April 1971. doi:10.1109/TGE.1971.271477.
  2. Henk de Bruin & Frans Nieuwstadt (2005). "Joost Businger-His career in Boundary-layer meteorology in a nutshell". Boundary-Layer Meteorology. 116 (2): 149–159. doi:10.1007/s10546-004-7957-9.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. MJ Andrak (9 April 2004). "Islander Profile: Joost Businger". LineTime. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  4. "Joost Businger". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016.
  5. "Dr. Joost A. Businger". National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  6. "Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal 2003". European Geophysical Society. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. "Businger/Kooiman Conservation Easements". San Juan Preservation Trust. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
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