Augie Auer
Encyclopedia
August H. "Augie" Auer Jr (10 June 1940 – 10 June 2007) was an atmospheric scientist and meteorologist
in New Zealand
.
As a boy growing up in St. Louis, Missouri
, Auer was reportedly fascinated by weather. After a freak winter storm caused havoc in his home town, he decided to become a meteorologist. He studied meteorology at Colorado State University
before getting a job at the University of Wyoming
.
Auer was a Professor of Atmospheric Science
at the University of Wyoming for 22 years. A land use typing method to classify land as urban or rural, based on work he published in 1978, is used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
and by the Jamaica
n National Environment and Planning Agency. His most frequently cited research paper involves ice crystals in clouds.
In 1990, Auer emigrated to New Zealand, becoming Chief Meteorologist for the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
from 1990 to 1998. He also presented the weather forecast on TV3 News for several years, often preferring to use colloquialisms instead of technical jargon.
Auer was frequently quoted in the New Zealand press regarding weather and climate issues, and was regarded in New Zealand as a "well-known and colourful meteorologist".
In 2006, he helped found the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition
in order to argue claims about man-made global warming, leading the MetService to publicly disavow the views of their former Chief Meteorologist.
Following the transfer of "climate science" issues from the then New Zealand Meteorological Service into the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) in 1992, Augie become critical of its statements, including those of former associate Jim Salinger
.
In a 19 May 2007 interview with The Timaru Herald newspaper, Auer said a combination of misinterpreted and misguided science, media hype, and political spin had created the current hysteria and it was time to put a stop to it, adding "It is time to attack the myth of global warming." According to Auer:
On 10 June 2007, Auer died suddenly while dining with family in Melbourne
, Australia
, while celebrating his 35th wedding anniversary
and his 67th birthday.
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
As a boy growing up in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Auer was reportedly fascinated by weather. After a freak winter storm caused havoc in his home town, he decided to become a meteorologist. He studied meteorology at Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
before getting a job at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
.
Auer was a Professor of Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather...
at the University of Wyoming for 22 years. A land use typing method to classify land as urban or rural, based on work he published in 1978, is used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
and by the Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n National Environment and Planning Agency. His most frequently cited research paper involves ice crystals in clouds.
In 1990, Auer emigrated to New Zealand, becoming Chief Meteorologist for the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited was established as a State-Owned Enterprise in 1992. It employs about 215 staff and its headquarters are in Wellington, New Zealand...
from 1990 to 1998. He also presented the weather forecast on TV3 News for several years, often preferring to use colloquialisms instead of technical jargon.
Auer was frequently quoted in the New Zealand press regarding weather and climate issues, and was regarded in New Zealand as a "well-known and colourful meteorologist".
In 2006, he helped found the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition
New Zealand Climate Science Coalition
The New Zealand Climate Science Coalition is an organisation based in New Zealand which has the aim of refuting what it believes are unfounded claims about anthropogenic global warming.-Beginnings:...
in order to argue claims about man-made global warming, leading the MetService to publicly disavow the views of their former Chief Meteorologist.
Following the transfer of "climate science" issues from the then New Zealand Meteorological Service into the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research or NIWA , is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. Established in 1992, NIWA conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences...
(NIWA) in 1992, Augie become critical of its statements, including those of former associate Jim Salinger
Jim Salinger
M. Jim Salinger is an Auckland-based climate change scientist who formerly worked for the Crown Research Institute NIWA ....
.
In a 19 May 2007 interview with The Timaru Herald newspaper, Auer said a combination of misinterpreted and misguided science, media hype, and political spin had created the current hysteria and it was time to put a stop to it, adding "It is time to attack the myth of global warming." According to Auer:
On 10 June 2007, Auer died suddenly while dining with family in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, while celebrating his 35th wedding anniversary
Wedding anniversary
-Official recognition:In the Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that...
and his 67th birthday.