Background
Cline, Isaac Monroe was born on October 13, 1861 in Madisonville, Tennessee, United States. Son of Jacob Leander and Mary Isabel (Wilson) Cline.
Cline, Isaac Monroe was born on October 13, 1861 in Madisonville, Tennessee, United States. Son of Jacob Leander and Mary Isabel (Wilson) Cline.
Bachelor of Arts, Hiwassee College, Tennessee, 1882, A.M., 1885. Doctor of Medicine, University of Arkansas, 1885. Doctor of Philosophy., Texas Christian U., 1896.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Tulane University, 1934.
Entered United States Weather Service, 1882. In charge of observation stations Fort Concho, Texas, and Abilene, Texas, 1885-1889. In charge of Galveston, Texas, cotton region center, 1889.
Organized Texas Section, Climatological Service, Weather Bureau, United States Department of Agriculture, 1889-1891 and was local forecaster and section director, Texas section, 1891-1901. Introduced in Weather Bureau 1894 issue of special forecasts stating the lowest temperature indicated to occur in the next 24 to 36 hours for protection of sugar cane, berries, fruits and vegetation. Visited Yucatan, 1898-1899.
Established weather stations for use in issue of warnings for guidance of the United States fleets in West Indian waters. Inaugurated flood warning service for Brazos and Colorado Rivers, Texas, and on breaking of reservoir dam at Austin, Texas, 1900, sent telegrams throughout lower Colo, bottoms which caused people to move out and prevented great loss of life and property. Warned people of Galveston in connection with hurricane, 1900.
Resulted in saving of thousands of lives. In charge forecast center at New Orleans, since 1901. Negotiated an exchange of weather reports between Mexico and United States Weather Service.
Introduced into the Weather Bureau in 1903 the issue, three to four weeks in advance, warnings for the unprecedented floods in the lower Mississippi River. In great flood of 1927, issued warnings for first time in history for an overland flood stating the area which the water would cover and depth which would be reached over an area 200 miles in length and 50 miles in width. As a result of these warnings more than 200,000 people were moved to places of safety before the flood could reach them and great loss of life was prevented.
Honorary Herbert Hoover, personal reprinted of President Coolidge, in a letter praised warnings. Presented by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company with a bronze tablet. Presented by people of New Orleans with a silver amphora in recognition of his service during flood.
Author of many bulletins and published articles on climate of the Southwest, its effect on health and on agriculture, “Summer Hot Winds on the Great Plains,” “Relation of Storm Tides to the Center and Movement of Tropical Hurricanes” (a contribution to the knowledge and forecasting of hurricanes), “Tropical Cyclones’ (Introducing the integration method for the first time in study of storms, and presenting new conclusions which define and describe cyclone characteristics), 1926. Storms, Floods and Sunshine (giving important and interesting happenings in the United States Weather Service during its first sixty years), 1945 revised third edition, part I, Memoirs. Part II Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones.In Mississippi flood of 1927 issued flood warnings predicting area and depth 2 weeks in advance of arrival of flood and for this work was commended by President Hoover, and presented by Southern Pacific Company with bronze tablet eugolizing work. Has made a special study of art and has brought together a notable collection of American paintings and antique oriental bronzes. Bronze bust placed permanently in the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art by citizens of New Orleans.
Fellow American Meteorological Society (president 1934-1935), New Orleans Academy of Sciences (president 1934-1935), American Geography Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Member National Institute Social Sciences, Pi Gamma Museum Delaware 2d Pan-American Scientific Congress, Washington, 1915. Member Union Goedesique et Geophysique, Commission pour l’Etude des Raz de Maree.
Honorary curator of paintings, Louisiana State Museum. Club: National Arts (New York).
Married Cora M. Ballew, March 17, 1887 (died September 8, 1900). Children: Allie May (wife of Ernest E. B. Drake), Rosemary (Mistress Vora Williams), Esther Ballew (Mistress Albert Allen Jones).