A general scientific revolution was taking place in the mid- 1940s, no
small part of which was being played by research meteorologists. At the
successful urging of John von Neumann, a computer of incomparable
capacity for its time was being built, with improved weather forecasting
as one of its main justifications. Within a few short years, the practice of
theoretical meteorological research would be transformed from one characterized only by highly individualistic efforts to one in which a major role
would be played by teams of co-workers using commonly shared highspeed computers to model and experiment with the workings of the atmosphere and its larger climatic system setting.