Ivan Ray Tannehill

Born in 1890 and active during the first half of the twentieth century, Ivan Ray Tannehill was an American meteorologist and science writer closely associated with the U.S. Weather Bureau. He wrote for both specialists and general readers, with a gift for making large weather systems feel understandable and immediate.

His books include The Hurricane Hunters and Drought: Its Causes and Effects, along with other accessible works on weather for non-expert audiences. One later description of his work identifies him as Head of Reporting and Forecasting at the U.S. Weather Bureau, which fits the practical, explanatory tone of his writing.

Tannehill died in 1959, but his books still give a vivid picture of how meteorologists once studied storms, drought, and forecasting. For listeners interested in classic popular science, his work offers both history and a strong sense of the drama of the natural world.