Machta, Lester, 1993-10-31

Oral history interview with Lester Machta, 1993. Interviewed by Julius London. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr., 12 minutes of interview missing from side A) : analog, mono + transcript (16 pgs.). AMS 100; two physical versions (one master, one copy). Forms part of American Meteorological Society Oral History Project. Lester Machta begins by mentioning several people who helped him early in his career, and describes the Chanute Field Air Force Observing School under Major McNeal. He describes his graduate work at MIT analyzing ageostrophic winds and his work at the Weather Bureau on AFOAT-1 secret radioactivity studies under Wexler. Machta reflects on his participation in nuclear testing and discusses the Geneva nuclear test ban talks in 1962. He describes his and Dave Keeling's work on the global CO2 budget, then talks about his work at NOAA's Public Health Service Meteorological Unit (now EPA) measuring UVB radiation. He goes on to discuss the development of the Berger-Robertson UVB meter, mentioning his work on the SST, sonic booms, solar radiation and acid precipitation, and his receipt of the Cleveland Abbe award from the American Meterological Socity (AMS).