Shizuo Ishiguro Explained

Shizuo Ishiguro
Birth Date:	1920
Nationality:	Japanese
Education:	University of Tokyo
Occupation:	Oceanographer
Organization:	UK National Institute of Oceanography

Shizuo Ishiguro^{[1] [2]} (1920–2007) was a Japanese oceanographer who studied the dynamics of ocean waves using analog computing. He worked at the Nagasaki Marine Observatory from 1948 to 1960 receiving his doctorate from the University of Tokyo in 1958. His focus was large water oscillations known as “abiki” which occasionally cause ocean flooding in Nagasaki Bay. In 1957, Ishiguro was awarded a UNESCO fellowship to join the UK National Institute of Oceanography to adapt his work for storm surges in the North Sea, such as the serious flood of 1953.^[3]

Analysis of North Sea Flood

The North Sea Flood occurred on the evening of the 31 January 1953 when low atmospheric pressure, high winds and a high spring tide caused the sea level to rise five metres above its usual height. Serious flooding occurred on the east coast of England, the Netherlands, and Belgium. To perform his analysis, Ishiguro constructed an analog computer which relies on the mathematical similarity between the flow of electricity through a network and the flow of water in the sea during a storm-surge.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} The storm surge computer is now on display in the Mathematics: the Winton Gallery of the Science Museum in London as part of an exhibit about mathematical modelling of the sea.^{[8] [9]}

Personal life

Shizuo Ishiguro is the father of Nobel Prize winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro.

References

1. Miyazaki. Syuji. 2020. A Pale View of Shizuo Ishiguro's Research - Abiki, the 1953 North Sea Flood, and Beyond. Forma. 35. 37–39. 10.5047/forma.2020.008 . 242404693 .
2. Oguri. Kazumasa. 2018. Dr. Shizuo Ishiguro. Oceanography in Japan. 27. 5. 189–216. 10.5928/kaiyou.27.5_189. free.
3. Kennard. Claire. Understanding storm surges in the North Sea: Ishiguro's electronic modelling machine. Science Museum Journal. 2022 . 06. 6 . 10.15180/160603 . 132214981 .
4. Rossiter . J.R. . Odd . N.V.M. . 1968 . Computer methods in tidal hydraulics . . en . 39 . 1 . 175–179 . 10.1680/iicep.1968.8183 . 1753-7789 . subscription . 12 May 2024.
5. Ball . D.J. . McDowell . D.M. . 1971 . The dynamic simulation of unsteady frictional flow in tidal estuaries . . en . 50 . 2 . 129–138 . 10.1680/iicep.1971.6110 . 1753-7789 . subscription . 13 May 2024.
6. Ishiguro . S. . 1961 . An electronic analogue method for tides and storm surges, and some applications to the North Sea. . Proceedings of the Symposium on mathematical and hydrodynamical methods of physical oceanography . Hamburg . 265-269.
7. Web site: Understanding storm surges in the North Sea: Ishiguro’s electronic modelling machine . 13 May 2024 . Science Museum Group Journal . en-GB . 10.15180/160603/002.
8. Web site: 2018. MODELLING THE OCEANS: USING MATHS TO PREDICT FLOODS.
9. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8428222/electronic-storm-surge-modelling-machine-storm-surge-model Electronic storm surge modelling machine made by Shizuo Ishiguro