Biographical entry
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Bright Sparcs
Biographical entry
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Akeroyd, Arthur Gordon (1890 - 1948) |
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| Meteorologist | ||
| Born: 29 August 1890 Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. Died: 25 March 1948 Perth, Western Australia, Australia. | ||
| Arthur Gordon Akeroyd was a renowned meteorologist who initially specialised in marine meteorology, helping plan Antarctic expeditions. Later Akeroyd’s focus shifted to forecasting and he eventually took charge of the weather bureau’s climatology section in Melbourne (Head office). From 1937 until his death in1948, Akeroyd was the Divisional Meteorologist at the Perth office of the Bureau of Meteorology. Arthur Gordon Akeroyd was an advocate for the use of weather science in everyday affairs. |
Career Highlights | ||||||||||||||
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Upon completing his secondary schooling at Mr Krome’s University High School in Melbourne, Arthur Akeroyd worked as a telegraph messenger for the Mooroopna Post Office. In 1907, after the death of his father, Akeroyd and his mother moved to Melbourne. By 1908 Akeroyd was working as a clerk for the Department of Home Affairs. The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology ran a nation wide exam in 1915 to select an assistant meteorologist; Arthur Akeroyd got the highest result and was selected for the position. He was first trained in marine meteorology and helped plan some of the bureau’s Antarctic expeditions. Akeroyd then moved into the climatology and forecasting section where he gained much respect. In 1937 Akeroyd was promoted to take charge of the Bureau’s Western Australian division. He introduced the reporting of accurate daily maximum temperatures and helped move forecasting from educated guesswork to scientific based predictions. During World War II, Akeroyd and the Bureau provided the Air Force with critical weather forecasts to ensure their long-range aircrafts maintained a non-stop air-link between Perth and Ceylon. Arthur Gordon Akeroyd was the Bureau’s media spokesperson and a foundation member of the Professional Officer’s Association of the Commonwealth Public Services.
Chronology
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Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007 Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Disclaimer, Copyright and Privacy Policy Submit any comments, questions, corrections and additions Prepared by: Acknowledgements Updated: 26 February 2007 http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P003218b.htm |