Alfred H. Woodcock papers,
- Author:
- Woodcock, Alfred H.
- Call Number:
- MSS UA-902.028 local
- Abstract:
- The Alfred H. Woodcock papers include correspondence received from scientists with whom Woodcock worked and collaborated including Duncan Blanchard, U.S. Navy Scientist James Hughes, Chemist James Lodge, and Atmospheric Science Researcher Sean Twomey, as well as carbons of his own correspondence, journal articles and some personal letters (1930-1995). Little correspondence exists for the years 1930-1950. Original data collected by Woodcock, journal articles, record books, and photographs figure in the scientific research files (1937-1986). Woodcock's research and projects covered in this collection include the study of the soaring patterns of marine birds (1931-1942, 1975), his studies of atmospheric sea salt (1950-1965), Project Shower (1954-1957), the alpine environment on the volcano Mauna Kea and Lake Waiau (1956-1975), Woodcock's study of the seaweed Sargassum (1944-1949), the Portuguese Man o' War Physalia (1944-1970), and fog studies (1977-1981). In some files, a given topic may cover many years with significant gaps. Occasionally, several topics are covered within one folder. The research dates given above consist of the years during which primary research was carried out. Other items, such as journal articles and background material may predate the primary research.
- Historical Note:
- Alfred H. Woodcock was born in Atlanta, Georgia on September 7, 1905. He moved to Massachusetts where it came to his attention that the research vessel Atlantis of the then fledgling Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) was looking for hands to sign on for a research cruise. Woodcock did so and rose to the position of chief scientist in 1935. During World War II, he collaborated with the United States Navy to develop smoke screens for allied vessels at sea. After the war, Woodcock continued to work with the Navy studying wind patterns at sea. In 1942, he was employed at WHOI as a research assistant and an oceanographer. From 1949 to 1953, Woodcock published a series of groundbreaking papers on atmospheric sea salt. In the early 1950s, he was involved in Project Shower, investigating the physics and chemistry of warm rain in Hawaii. Woodcock published a paper on the behavior of sea salt in hurricanes in 1958. Woodcock held the position of research associate from 1963 to 1972 at both the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Institute of Geophysics. He conducted atmospheric studies at the dormant volcano Mauna Kea and did research on nearby Lake Waiau. Woodcock also conducted research into the patterns of movement of the Portuguese Man o' War Physalia and continued his research on Sargassum, as well as his studies into Cloud Physics. He retired from the University of Hawaii in 1972, but continued his research into fog in Alaska and at WHOI, on mountain breathing at Mauna Kea and on the environment of Lake Waiau. In 1988, Woodcock was named Scientist Emeritus by WHOI and in 1994, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the American Meteorological Society.
- Physical Description:
- 7.25 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Alfred H. Woodcock papers. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York.
- Subjects:
- Atmosphere Research Hawaii, Atmosphere Research Massachusetts, Cloud physics, Ecology Research Hawaii, Fog Research Massachusetts, Geography Research Hawaii, Geography Research Massachusetts, Geology Research Hawaii, Geology Research Massachusetts, Oceanographic research ships Massachusetts, Oceanography Research Hawaii, Oceanography Research Massachusetts, Precipitation (Meteorology) Measurement, Smoke screens, Volcanoes Hawaii, Weather, Atmosphere Research, Cloud physics, Ecology Research, Fog Research, Geography Research, Geology Research, Oceanographic research ships, Oceanography Research, Precipitation (Meteorology) Measurement, Smoke screens, Volcanoes, and Weather
- Genres/Forms:
- Correspondence. aat, Diagrams. aat, Monographs. aat, Notes. aat, Photographs. aat, and Tables (documents) aat
- Names:
- Woodcock, Alfred H, Bigelow, Henry B. (Henry Bryant), 1879-, Blanchard, Duncan C. (Duncan Cromwell), 1924-, Bowen, E. G, Duce, Robert A., 1935-, Eriksson, Erik, 1917-, Faller, Alan J, Friedman, Irving, 1920-2005, Hughes, James A, Iselin, Columbus O'Donnell, 1904-1971, Knight, Charles A. (Charles Alfred), 1936-, Lodge, James P, Renn, Charles E. (Charles Easterday), 1905-, Schaefer, Vincent J, Twomey, Sean A. (Sean Andrew), 1928-, Bowen, E. G, Iselin, Columbus O'Donnell, 1904-1971, and Schaefer, Vincent J
- Corporate Names:
- American Meteorological Society, State University of New York. Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, C.S.I.R.O. Radiophysics Laboratory, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, International Meteorological Institute in Stockholm, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Geology and Geophysics, United States. Department of Defense. Joint Coordinating Group for Metrology and Calibration, National Science Foundation (U.S.), University of Hawaii (System). School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Colorado. Office of State Geologist, Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, American Meteorological Society, C.S.I.R.O. Radiophysics Laboratory, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, International Meteorological Institute in Stockholm, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Geology and Geophysics, National Science Foundation (U.S.), Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.), State University of New York. Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Geographic Terms:
- Hawaii and Massachusetts
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