WMOD00311

• Title: Harold D. Orville Symposium - Forty Years of Modeling Clouds and Weather Modification
• Date: 4/26/2003
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

Dr. Orville became a leader in the application of
numerical cloud modeling to the simulation of cloud
seeding processes. The first journal publication dealing
with glaciogenic cloud seeding appeared in 1980, and
many followed. Work expanded to cover seeding for
precipitation enhancement from both summer convec-
tion and winter orographic storms, and for hail suppres-
sion. Recent years saw the addition of hygroscopic-
seeding simulations. Important surveys of the role of
numerical cloud modeling in weather modification ap-
peared in 1990 and 1996.

There were various branches along the way, usu-
ally closely related to problems of the day. This in-
cluded work on microbursts and the relative importance
of precipitation loading versus subcloud evaporation;
moisture plumes and the associated clouds generated by
cooling towers; marine boundary layer clouds; the pos-
sible effects of widespread carbon black dust on en-
hancing convection; and acid rain. An investigation of
the use of cloud models in a near-real-time forecasting
mode was a progenitor of things that are likely to be-
come routine practice in the foreseeable future.

The contributions of Harry's colleagues and stu-
dents to all this work deserve recognition here. Richard
Farley and Fred Kopp have been longtime key players
and keepers of the corporate memory concerning the
multidimensional models. John Hirsch maintained the
one-dimensional, steady-state model that was used for a
variety of purposes. Phillip Chen, briefly, and Timothy
Chiu, too briefly, also contributed and later John Hels-
don took on the simulation of atmospheric electricity
processes in clouds. The 45 or so students played a ma-
jor role, as Harry (like most good academics) recog-
nizes that the students do most of the real work in a
successful research program. All this led to more than
80 refereed publications, with many more conference
papers and other scientific works.

2. Academics

Dr. Orville rose through the academic ranks from
Assistant to Associate to full Professor in the Depart-
ment of Meteorology (later Atmospheric Sciences) at
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He
taught courses in dynamic and physical meteorology.
He became head of the department in 1974, when Dr.
Schleusener became Vice President of the School, and
served over 20 years before retiring from fulltime duties
in 1996. He headed the Numerical Models Group in the
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences throughout that time.
He also served as Interim (academic) Vice President of
the School of Mines in 1987 and again in 1993. He was
designated Distinguished Professor of Meteorology at

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the time of inception of the Distinguished Professor
program in 1986.

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Harry's interest in and support for students contin-
ued throughout his career. He supervised the thesis
research of some 45 M.S. and 1 PhD student. He coun-
seled and encouraged the students, and material from
more than half of their theses has appeared in journal
publications. Students were often lead authors on publi-
cations from the Numerical Modeling Group. Besides
his academic support, most meteorology graduate stu-
dents from the School of Mines will recall the holiday
dinner gatherings (with ping-pong matches) that the
Orvilles held, especially hosting students from abroad
that were not able to return home during holiday breaks.
In later years, Harry, together with Nancy Knight, con-
ducted Research Experience for Undergraduate pro-
grams for students from various universities, in con-
junction with field research projects in North Dakota.
Through the Harold and Laura Orville Graduate Fel-
lowship, this legacy of support for students continues.

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3. Family and Personal Activities

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Since the students have been almost literally a
part of the Orville family, this seems a good place to
discuss these matters. Harry and his wife of nearly 50
years, Laura, have four children, three sons and a
daughter, and six grandchildren. As the children were
growing, Harry was active as a Boy Scout leader and
Little League baseball manager. He encouraged their
education, all having graduated from university (three
in scientific fields, though none in meteorology). In
celebration of his 70th birthday, the whole family re-
cently traveled to Hawaii for a week of sun and sea
(and golf).

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Harry continues a lifelong interest in sports
and athletics. A boxer in college (something few mete-
orologists can match), he played basketball, softball,
and volleyball on faculty teams at the School of Mines.
The volleyball activities continued into the 1990s, and
most former students will recall the intense fac-
ulty/student matches at departmental picnics. He plays
some tennis, but it is the golf bug that has taken the
most serious hold: since taking up the sport in the
1970s, he has become a dedicated golf enthusiast.
Though his handicap is not for public distribution, he
received the 2002 award from his club for the most
completed rounds (99) during the season.

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4. Professional Activities

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Harry served his primary professional society,
the American Meteorological Society, in various ca-
pacities. He was an AMS councilor and member of the

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