William Ferrel

American meteorologist. He contributed to theoretical meteorology and the theory of atmospheric general circulation. Born into a poor farming family in Pennsylvania, he self-educated and enrolled at Marshall University in the same state, but dropped out due to lack of financial support. After saving money as a schoolteacher for two winters, he transferred to Bethany College, where he graduated. In 1857, he became an engineer at the Nautical Almanac Bureau and conducted research on astronomy and tides. In 1879, he was invited to the Signal Bureau and devoted himself to meteorology research. His theory of atmospheric general circulation is best known for his research, and the mid-latitude circulation that arose as an indirect circulation is now known as the Ferrel circulation. His technical comprehensive reports, such as A Popular Treatise on Winds (1889), were widely read at the time.

[Nemoto Junkichi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アメリカの気象学者。理論気象学、大気大循環論などに貢献した。ペンシルベニア州の貧しい農家に生まれ、独学して同州のマーシャル大学に入学したが学資が続かず退学、ふた冬ほど学校の教師をして貯金したのちベサニー大学に移って卒業した。1857年、航海暦局技師となり天文や潮汐(ちょうせき)の研究などを行った。1879年に信号局に招かれ、気象学の研究に専念した。彼の研究では大気大循環論がもっともよく知られ、間接循環として生じた中緯度循環は現在フェレル循環とよばれる。また『風読本』A Popular Treatise on Winds（1889）ほかの専門的総合報告書は当時広く読まれた。

［根本順吉］

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