Alexander Buchan (meteorologist)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Buchan FRS FRSE(11 April, 1829, Kinnesswood
, Portmoak
– 13 May, 1907, Edinburgh
) was a Scottish meteorologist, oceanographer and botanist, credited with establishing the weather map
as the basis of weather forecasting
. He also proposed the theory of Buchan Spells.
He was Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society
for 47 years, from 1860 until his death, editor of the Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society, a member of the Council of the Meteorological Office, and curator of the library of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
. He was instrumental in establishing the Ben Nevis
observatory. Buchan prepared meteorological and oceanographic reports for the Challenger Expedition
.
He received the Makdougall-Brisbane prize (1876) and the Gunning Victoria Jubilee prize (1893) of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was the first recipient of the Symons Gold Medal of the Royal Meteorological Society
.
Buchan was educated at the Free Church College
in Edinburgh, and at Edinburgh University.
Kinnesswood
Kinnesswood is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies to the east of Loch Leven, on the A911 road, below Bishop Hill in the Lomond Hills. It is approximately 4 miles west of Glenrothes and 4 miles east of Kinross....
, Portmoak
Portmoak
Portmoak is a parish in Kinross-shire; consisting of a group of settlements running north to south they are Glenlomond, Wester Balgedie, Easter Balgedie, Kinnesswood, Kilmagadwood and Scotlandwell....
– 13 May, 1907, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) was a Scottish meteorologist, oceanographer and botanist, credited with establishing the weather map
Weather map
A weather map displays various meteorological features across a particular area at a particular point in time. Such maps have been in use since the mid-19th century and are used for research and weather forecasting purposes. Maps using isotherms show temperature gradients, which can help locate...
as the basis of weather forecasting
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
. He also proposed the theory of Buchan Spells.
He was Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society
Scottish Meteorological Society
The Scottish Meteorological Society was founded in 1855 with private funding, particularly from wealthy landowners who wished to compile meteorological records in order to improve agriculture....
for 47 years, from 1860 until his death, editor of the Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society, a member of the Council of the Meteorological Office, and curator of the library of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
. He was instrumental in establishing the Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
observatory. Buchan prepared meteorological and oceanographic reports for the Challenger Expedition
Challenger expedition
The Challenger expedition of 1872–76 was a scientific exercise that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger....
.
He received the Makdougall-Brisbane prize (1876) and the Gunning Victoria Jubilee prize (1893) of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was the first recipient of the Symons Gold Medal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society traces its origins back to 3 April 1850 when the British Meteorological Society was formed as a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general...
.
Buchan was educated at the Free Church College
Free Church College
The Free Church College is a theological seminary in Edinburgh connected to the Free Church of Scotland. It traces its origins back to the foundation of New College, Edinburgh at the time of the Disruption of 1843...
in Edinburgh, and at Edinburgh University.