Front row, left to right: Fanthune Moeng, Simon Chang, Harry and Laura Orville, Bill Kuo, Laron Smith; Second row, left to right: Erin Landguth, Donna Kliche, Chin Ho Moeng, Y. Lin, Mike Yeh; Third  row, left to right:  Tom Warner, R.A. Sarma, Jim Miller, Mark Hjelmfelt, Jeff French, Bob Riggio, Dick Farley; Fourth row, left to right: Curt Hartzell, Joe Dreher, John Eylander, Matt Bunkers, Jason Goehring, Chandan Das

The Harold D. Orville Symposium was held on Saturday, 26 April 2003, to celebrate Dr. Harold D. Orville's more than 40 years of contributions to atmospheric sciences. 

Over the past forty years, we have witnessed significant progress in the understanding of cloud microphysics and cloud dynamics, their interactions and their practical implications. It is now understood that cloud growth and development, and ultimately storm severity, is the result of a complex interplay of cloud microphysical processes, which influence storm thermodynamics and vertical accelerations, and cloud dynamics, acting on a background of atmospheric and topographic environmental conditions. The results of this interplay determine cloud development, the nature of cloud structure, the precipitation type and amount, and storm severity. These in turn, have implications for such issues as: air quality, lightning, precipitation modification, and safety issues related to weather hazards. This progress is obviously a collective effort by many researchers over many decades. However, there is one individual who has played a key role in the many contributions to this field; that is Prof. Harold D. Orville.

 In his forty years’ of research, Prof. Harold D. Orville has worked on a variety of research topics, ranging from the modeling of clouds, flow over topography, cloud microphysics, cloud dynamics, weather modification, to acid rain. In his forty years of teaching at the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences (formerly, Dept. of Meteorology), Dr. Orville has produced many outstanding students. In celebration of Dr. Orville's distinguished career, a special symposium with a focus on cloud modeling and weather modification was organized by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the Office of Naval Research, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. The program consisted of ten invited speakers who provided an overview of progress and current understanding of the state of science in key areas and highlighted critical issues fundamental to future progress.  Thus this symposium will provide mileposts for the current state of scientific understanding and point toward key directions for future investigators. A preprint volume of the presentations is available from the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, 501 E. St. Joseph Street. Rapid City, SD.

A special symposium banquet attended by over 130 of Dr. Orville’s colleagues, former students, family and friends provided a time for celebration and reminiscences.

Orville Open Golf Tournament and Brunch:  Dr. Orville hosted a golf tournament and brunch at the Arrowhead Country Club on Sunday, April 27. Golfers are: Katherine (Orville) Miracle, Harry and Laura Orville, Kathy (Newkirk) Kline, Diane Orville, Ed Boyd, Larry Orville, Jerry Allen, Lee Vierling, Bob Riggio, Jim Miller, Paul Smith, Ron Johnson, Curt Hartzell, Todd Riggio, John Kline, Gary Riley

(Photos courtesy Tom Warner)                   

Last updated: June 23, 2005