E. H. Vestine

Biography

Abstract

Ernest Harry Vestine was Professor of Meteorology at University of California, Los Angeles (1966-1968). Other institutional affiliations included RAND Corporation, Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the Canadian Meteorlogical Service. His research interests included geomagnetism and seismic waves.

Important Dates

May 9, 1906Birth, Minneapolis (Minn.).

1931Obtained BSc, University of Alberta, Edmonton (Alta.).

1932 – 1934Meteorologist, Central Office, Canadian Meteorological Service.

1933 – 1934Attended University of Toronto.

1937Obtained PhD in Applied Mathematics, Imperial College London, London (England).

1937Meteorologist, Central Office, Canadian Meteorological Service.

1937 – 1938Instructor in Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Toronto.

1938 – 1956Section Chief, Land Magnetic Survey (1938-1946) and Section Chief, Theoretical Geophysics (1946-1956), Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington (D.C.).

1946 – 1956Consultant on Missile Guidance, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University.

1947 – 1954Consultant, United States Department of Defense.

1954Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1956 – 1957Director, Data Coordination Office, International Geophysical Year.

1956 – 1959Consultant, Battelle Memorial Institute.

1956 – 1968Member, Senior Staff, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica (Calif.).

1957 – 1962Chair, International Committee on the World Magnetic Survey, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.

1959 – 1966Consultant, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1960 – 1966Consultant, National Science Foundation.

1960 – 1968Chair, United States Panel on the World Magnetic Survey, Geophysics Research Board, National Research Council.

1962 – 1968Secretary General, World Magnetic Survey Board, International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.

1966 – 1968Professor of Meteorology, University of California, Los Angeles.

July 18, 1968Death.

Occupation

Geophysicist.

Places

Birth

Minneapolis (Minn.)

Undergraduate Education

Edmonton (Alta.)

Graduate Education

London (England)

Employment

Washington (D.C.)

Santa Monica (Calif.)

Subjects

Geomagnetism.

Geophysics.

Meteorology.

Seismology.

Relationships

People

Family

Reid, Lois Anne

Wife. Married in 1943.

Vestine, Frida Christine Lund

Mother.

Vestine, Henry

Son.

Vestine, Olaf

Father.

Colleagues

Abelson, Philip Hauge

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Berkner, Lloyd V. (Lloyd Viel), 1905-1967

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Bjerknes, J. (Jacob Aall Bonnevie), 1897-1975

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Fleming, J. A. (John Adam), 1877-1956

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Forbush, Scott E., 1904-1984

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Griggs, David, 1911-1974

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Hafstad, Lawrence, 1904-

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Tuve, Merle Antony, 1901-1982

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Van Allen, James A. (James Alfred), 1914-2006

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Wetherill, George West

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Institutions

Major Positions

Canadian Meteorological Service

Meteorologist, Central Office.

Carnegie Institution of Washington. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Section Chief, Land Magnetic Survey and Section Chief, Theoretical Geophysics.

Rand Corporation

Member, Senior Staff.

University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Professor of Meteorology.

University of Toronto. Department of Physics

Attended from 1933-1934 and Instructor in Geophysics and Meteorology.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Battelle Memorial Institute

Consultant.

Imperial College. London

Obtained PhD in Applied Mathematics (1937).

International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy

Secretary General, World Magnetic Survey Board.

International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958

Director, Data Coordination Office.

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

Chair, International Committee on the World Magnetic Survey.

Johns Hopkins University. Applied Physics Laboratory

Consultant on Missile Guidance.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Chair, United States Panel on the World Magnetic Survey, Geophysics Research Board.

National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Consultant.

United States. Department of Defense

Consultant.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Consultant.

University of Alberta. Department of Physics

Obtained BSc (1931).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

E. H. Vestine papers, 1932-1968.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Ernest Harry Vestine papers, 1894-1950 (bulk 1942-1947).

Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Library and Archives

Carnegie Institution of Washington

5241 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA

Subject

Sydney Chapman papers, 1860-1972.

Elmer R. Rasmuson Library. Alaska and Polar Regions Department. Archives and Manuscript Collections.

University of Alaska

Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA

Published Resources

Subject

"Ernest Harry Vestine: 1906-1968", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences