| Tetsuya Theodore Fujita | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 23, 1920 Kitakyūshū, Japan |
| Died | November 19, 1998 (aged 78) Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Residence | Japan, United States |
| Citizenship | Japan, United States (1968) |
| Fields | Meteorology |
| Institutions | University of Chicago |
| Alma mater | Kyushu Institute of Technology (B.S., 1943) Tokyo University (Sc.D., 1950) |
| Known for | tornadoes, microbursts, mesoscale meteorology, Fujita scale |
Tetsuya Theodore "Ted" Fujita (藤田 哲也 Fujita Tetsuya, October 23, 1920 – November 19, 1998) was a prominent severe storms researcher. His research at the University of Chicago on severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and typhoons revolutionized knowledge of each.
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Fujita was born in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He studied at Kyushu Institute of Technology and was an associate professor there until 1953 when he was invited to the University of Chicago after a professor there became interested in his research.
Fujita is recognized as the discoverer of downbursts and microbursts and also developed the Fujita scale,[1] which differentiates tornado intensity and links tornado damage with wind speed.
Fujita's best-known contributions were in tornado research—he was often called "Mr. Tornado" by his associates and by the media.[2] Much of what we now know about tornadoes was either discovered or advanced by his efforts. In addition to the Fujita scale, he was a pioneer in the development of tornado overflight and damage survey techniques, which he used to study and map [3] the paths of the 2 tornadoes that hit Lubbock, Texas on May 11, 1970. He established the value of photometric analysis of tornado pictures and films, to establish wind speeds at various heights at the surface of tornado vortices.[4] Fujita was also the first to widely study the meteorological phenomenon of the downburst, which can pose serious danger to aircraft. As a result of his work, pilot training worldwide routinely uses techniques he pioneered to provide instruction to students.[5]
In another major addition to tornado knowledge, he was instrumental in developing the concept of multiple vortex tornadoes, which feature multiple small funnels (suction vortices) rotating within a larger parent cloud. His work established that, far from being rare events as was previously believed, most powerful tornadoes were composed of multiple vortices. He also advanced the concept of mini-swirls in intensifying tropical cyclones.
A master of mesoscale analysis throughout his career, it was his independent development of advanced techniques as a young scientist in Japan that prompted Horace Byers to invite him to the University of Chicago upon overviewing his work. He continued to advance mesoscale meteorology with a keen ability to glean details and synthesize vast information in developing revolutionary theories.
The American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) symposium held in January 2000 honored the life work of Fujita.[6] Usually, these symposia are organized posthumously, but of such great importance was the work of Fujita, this one was approved in October 1998 by the AMS Council while he was still alive, although he died one month later.