Background
Firor was born in Athens, Georgia on October 18, 1927, where his father was a professor of agricultural economics.
Firor was born in Athens, Georgia on October 18, 1927, where his father was a professor of agricultural economics.
After his service, he returned to college and graduated in physics from Georgia Technical in 1949. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in physics from the University of Chicago in 1954, writing his thesis on cosmic rays under John Simpson.
He was Director of the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) from 1961 to 1968, and Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) from 1968 to 1974. His interest in physics and astrophysics began while serving in the army, during which time he was assigned to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He moved from cosmic rays to radio astronomy (particularly of the Sun) when he began work at the Carnegie Institution of Washington"s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism.
Firor died on November 5, 2007, after a long battle with Altzheimer"s disease.
Firor left the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1961 to become Director of the High Altitude Observatory (HAO), a position he occupied until 1968. Whilst HAO Director, Firor led the development of the new Solar Physics Division (Social Democratic Party of Germany) of the American Astronomical Society (Associate of Applied Science), and became the Social Democratic Party of Germany"s founding chairman
In 1968, he became the Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), of which HAO was a scientific division. He served as NCAR Director until 1974, when Francis Bretherton became director
From 1974 to 1980, Firor served as executive director of NCAR, after which he became Director of NCAR"s Advanced Study Program up to his retirement in 1996.
Scientific publications Firor wrote many papers on cosmic rays, radio sources in the universe, the Sun's atmosphere, and solar flares. He also participated in HAO expeditions to observe solar eclipses in New Guinea, Brazil, and Kenya. Later in his career, Firor took a keen interest in the intersection of science and society, and he became one of the earliest and most eloquent spokespeople on the dangers of human-induced climate change, testifying before Congressional committees and addressing a broad variety of audiences.
His book, Our Changing Atmosphere (1990), received the Louis J. Battan Award from the American Meteorological Society. Firor and his second wife, Judith Jacobsen, co-authored The Crowded Greenhouse (2002), on the links between climate change and population growth.