Napier Shaw
Encyclopedia
Sir William Napier Shaw FRS, (March 4, 1854 - March 23, 1945), was a British
meteorologist. He introduced the air pressure
unit millibar, as well as the tephigram
, a diagram of temperature
changes.
Shaw was born in Birmingham
. He studied at the University of Cambridge
, where he later, between 1877 and 1906, taught physics. In 1891, he was elected to the Royal Society
. In 1915 he was knighted, and in 1923 he was awarded a Royal Medal.
In 1909, he introduced the millibar unit, which was internationally adopted in 1929. In 1915, he developed the tephigram
. Shaw also studied air pollution
, publishing his book The Smoke Problem of Great Cities in 1925.
Shaw died in London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
meteorologist. He introduced the air pressure
Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
unit millibar, as well as the tephigram
Tephigram
A tephigram is one of four thermodynamic diagrams commonly used in weather analysis and forecasting. The name evolved from the original name "T-\phi-gram" to describe the axes of temperature and entropy used to create the plot...
, a diagram of temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
changes.
Shaw was born in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. He studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he later, between 1877 and 1906, taught physics. In 1891, he was elected to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. In 1915 he was knighted, and in 1923 he was awarded a Royal Medal.
In 1909, he introduced the millibar unit, which was internationally adopted in 1929. In 1915, he developed the tephigram
Tephigram
A tephigram is one of four thermodynamic diagrams commonly used in weather analysis and forecasting. The name evolved from the original name "T-\phi-gram" to describe the axes of temperature and entropy used to create the plot...
. Shaw also studied air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, publishing his book The Smoke Problem of Great Cities in 1925.
Shaw died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.