The geophysical patient

Lynn Poole summarizes some of the fourteen areas of activities taking place during the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 7/1/57 - 12/30/58: aurora and airglow, cosmic rays, geomagnetism, meteorology, solar activity, glaciography, gravity, ionospherics, longitude and latitude, oceanography, rocketry, satellites, seismology, and world days. IGY was timed to coincide with the high point of the eleven-year cycle of sunspot activity. A few of the highlights include Dr. William Markowitz's Moon Camera for measuring precise time, the use of the sea gravimeter to record changes in the earth's gravity, Dr. Harry Wexler's U.S. expedition to Antarctica to study atmospheric circulation and other meteorological phenomena, a recording of "whistlers" or low frequency radio signals caused by lightning flashes, John Simpson's study of primary and secondary cosmic rays, the use of the Baker-Nunn satellite tracking camera, and Dr. James Van Allen's Explorer I orbiting satellite.