Shown with his replica of an ancient “surfboard” when he was honored by the Groundswell Society, an organization dedicated to the global surf-riding community, Scripps alumnus and professor of oceanography Dr. Walter Munk discussed San Diego’s summer swell March 25 at The Bishop’s School.
Titled “Source Waters,” the science lecture filled the auditorium, where La Jollan Munk enlightened his audience with experiences such as living in Samoa (1959) with his late wife, Judith, and two daughters, then ages 3 and 5, while studying the beginnings of waves traced to New Zealand and Australia. His records have been kept for more than 50 years, with the last experiment in 1991.
The Pentagon sent Munk to West Africa in 1942 in order to predict direction of the 6-foot-plus swells that the military would have to overcome in order to land both men and equipment on D-Day. Using these methods, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was advised by Scripps about the unfavorable but possible landing at Normandy. Ike alone made the decision the next day to proceed rather than wait for better weather in another two weeks. It proved to be difficult but not impossible, and as history has proven, quite successful.
The lecture was presented with slides from Munk’s many accomplishments in forecasting the power of storms and the origins of waves. Recounting his experiences was like hearing legends from the seas by one of the pioneers in the field.
” Gerontologist Mera Kelley, www.adventurousaging.com