The South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences has its roots in a period of growing national interest in weather, climate and atmospheric research in South Africa. In the early 1980s, atmospheric science was expanding through national research programmes, well-attended symposia and increasing collaboration between scientists working on weather, climate, air pollution, cloud physics, physical oceanography and related fields (Lutjeharms, 1984; Lutjeharms and Roos, 1999).

​​

A key moment came in October 1983, when a national Symposium on Atmospheric Sciences was held at the CSIR conference centre in Pretoria. The strong attendance and broad scientific interest at this meeting led to the view that the time was right for a formal national society. A committee was established to launch what became the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences, also known in Afrikaans as the Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging vir Atmosferiese Wetenskappe (Lutjeharms, 1984; Lutjeharms and Roos, 1999).

From the outset, the Society’s purpose was to promote interest in all branches of the atmospheric sciences, encourage research and training, and strengthen cooperation between institutions and organisations active in the field. The Society also recognised atmospheric science in a broad sense, including weather, climate, air pollution, cloud physics, upper-air physics, physical geography and physical oceanography (Lutjeharms, 1984).

​

One of the Society’s earliest and most important activities was the establishment of regular scientific meetings. Its annual congresses soon became a central meeting place for South African atmospheric scientists, providing a forum where researchers could present results, exchange ideas and build professional networks. By the early 1990s these congresses had become a visible showcase of the scope and quality of atmospheric science in South Africa, drawing participants from universities, the Weather Bureau, the CSIR, Eskom, government departments, research councils and colleagues from elsewhere in Africa (Lutjeharms and Van Heerden, 1994; Lutjeharms and Roos, 1999).

​

Over the decades, the Society has reflected both the strengths and the challenges of atmospheric science in South Africa. Its meetings documented shifts in research focus, including the growing importance of climate variability, ENSO, numerical modelling, ocean–atmosphere interactions, forecasting, radar, air pollution and mesoscale weather systems. They also highlighted the vital role played by universities, national services and research institutions in sustaining the discipline (Lutjeharms, 1999; Lutjeharms and Roos, 1999).

​

Today, SASAS continues this founding mission: to support atmospheric science in South Africa, to connect researchers, practitioners and students, and to provide a professional home for those working to understand the atmosphere and its importance to society.

 

Sources

Lutjeharms, J.R.E. 1984. ’n Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging vir Atmosferiese Wetenskappe. SA Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 3(2), p. 80.

​

Lutjeharms, J.R.E. 1999. Vooruitgang in Suid-Afrikaanse weerkunde. South African Journal of Science, 95, p. 4.

 

Lutjeharms, J.R.E. and Roos, D. v.d.S. 1999. ’n Dekade jaarkongresse van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging vir Atmosferiese Wetenskappe. SA Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 18(2), pp. 69–72.

​

Lutjeharms, J.R.E. and Van Heerden, J. 1994. ’n Terugblik op tien jaar van atmospheriese navorsing in Suid-Afrika. South African Journal of Science, 90, p. 260.