Pub Date : 2020-07-03DOI: 10.5194/HGSS-11-137-2020
K. Aplin
Atmospheric electricity is a long-established subject, with the discovery of the atmospheric electric field away from thunderstorms and the identification of lightning as electricity both dating from the mid-18th century (Aplin et al., 2008). Systematisation of atmospheric electricity measurements began with the establishment of many geophysical observatories as part of the “magnetic crusade” and the professionalisation of science in the 1830s (e.g. Macdonald, 2018). Although this special issue is focused on the contributions made by observatories, historic atmospheric electricity measurements can be valuable for contemporary science and technology. For example, they can contribute to climatological studies of convective storms (Valdivieso et al., 2019) as well as new insights into space weather (e.g. Aplin and Harrison, 2014) and air pollution (Harrison and Aplin, 2002). Beyond the observatory network, there are numerous other accounts of historical atmospheric electricity observations from across the world. Most are short-lived, some predate the establishment of observatories, and others were made by the amateur scientists of the day. These have been tabulated and are available online (https://glocaem.wordpress. com/historical-datasets/, last access: 1 July 2020); further items to add are welcomed. Some of the observatories with long datasets or that were otherwise historically significant have already been described; for example, the longest known atmospheric electric field time series is from Kew Observatory near London, UK, with a historical account by Macdonald (2018) and scientific analysis by e.g. Harrison (2006). During a recent project, GloCAEM, which produced a worldwide atmospheric electric field database (Nicoll et al., 2019), it became apparent that historic data were available and in principle submittable to the database, but that the sites of and background to these measurements had not been fully described. Historic datasets and observatories are also regularly discussed at meetings of the international COST action CA15211, a European atmospheric electricity networking project. This special issue has been motivated by scientists in the atmospheric electricity community requesting an opportunity to explain the scientific and historical context of their data series. It encourages, but is not limited to, submissions on historical atmospheric electricity measurements focused on the observatories participating in the GloCAEM project and COST action. Broader submissions discussing other atmospheric electricity observatories are also welcomed, with no requirement to be involved with either project. It is anticipated that submissions will describe the history of the observing site and the role of key individuals. The atmospheric electrical observations and techniques should be discussed as well as any other relevant measurements, such as magnetic or meteorological, at the site. Significant events during the observing period and their eff
大气电是一门历史悠久的学科，从18世纪中期开始，人们就发现了远离雷暴的大气电场，并将闪电确定为电(Aplin et al.， 2008)。大气电测量的系统化始于19世纪30年代建立的许多地球物理观测站，作为“磁场运动”和科学专业化的一部分(例如Macdonald, 2018)。虽然这期特刊关注的是天文台的贡献，但历史上的大气电测量对当代科学和技术是有价值的。例如，它们可以有助于对流风暴的气候学研究(Valdivieso等人，2019)，以及对空间天气的新见解(例如Aplin和Harrison, 2014)和空气污染(Harrison和Aplin, 2002)。在天文台网络之外，还有许多来自世界各地的历史大气电观测的其他帐户。大多数都是短命的，有些早于天文台的建立，还有一些是由当时的业余科学家制作的。这些数据已制成表格，可在网上获得(https://glocaem.wordpress)。/ history-datasets/，最后访问日期:2020年7月1日);欢迎进一步增加的项目。一些拥有长期数据集的天文台或在其他方面具有历史意义的天文台已经被描述过;例如，已知时间最长的大气电场时间序列来自英国伦敦附近的基尤天文台，麦克唐纳(2018)对其进行了历史记录，哈里森(2006)等人进行了科学分析。在最近的一个项目GloCAEM中，该项目建立了一个全球大气电场数据库(Nicoll等人，2019年)，很明显，历史数据是可用的，原则上可以提交给数据库，但这些测量的地点和背景没有得到充分的描述。历史数据集和天文台也定期在国际成本行动CA15211会议上进行讨论，CA15211是一个欧洲大气电力网络项目。这期特刊是由大气电力界的科学家们发起的，他们要求有机会解释他们的数据系列的科学和历史背景。它鼓励(但不限于)提交以参与GloCAEM项目和COST行动的天文台为重点的历史大气电测量报告。也欢迎讨论其他大气电力观测站的更广泛的意见书，不要求参与任何一个项目。预计提交的材料将描述观察点的历史和关键人物的作用。应讨论大气电观测和技术以及在现场进行的任何其他有关测量，例如磁或气象测量。还可以描述观测期间的重大事件及其对数据的影响。天文台的数据应与其他地方的数据链接或引用，如果没有，可以包括一些简短的数据摘要。不测量大气电量的其他天文台的报告应提交给平行特刊(https://hgss.copernicus)。http://www.articles/special_issue11.html，最后一次访问:2020年6月30日)，发表在《地球物理研究所和观测站的历史》杂志上(Arora et al.， 2013)。
{"title":"Introduction to the special issue “Atmospheric electrical observatories”","authors":"K. Aplin","doi":"10.5194/HGSS-11-137-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/HGSS-11-137-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Atmospheric electricity is a long-established subject, with the discovery of the atmospheric electric field away from thunderstorms and the identification of lightning as electricity both dating from the mid-18th century (Aplin et al., 2008). Systematisation of atmospheric electricity measurements began with the establishment of many geophysical observatories as part of the “magnetic crusade” and the professionalisation of science in the 1830s (e.g. Macdonald, 2018). Although this special issue is focused on the contributions made by observatories, historic atmospheric electricity measurements can be valuable for contemporary science and technology. For example, they can contribute to climatological studies of convective storms (Valdivieso et al., 2019) as well as new insights into space weather (e.g. Aplin and Harrison, 2014) and air pollution (Harrison and Aplin, 2002). Beyond the observatory network, there are numerous other accounts of historical atmospheric electricity observations from across the world. Most are short-lived, some predate the establishment of observatories, and others were made by the amateur scientists of the day. These have been tabulated and are available online (https://glocaem.wordpress. com/historical-datasets/, last access: 1 July 2020); further items to add are welcomed. Some of the observatories with long datasets or that were otherwise historically significant have already been described; for example, the longest known atmospheric electric field time series is from Kew Observatory near London, UK, with a historical account by Macdonald (2018) and scientific analysis by e.g. Harrison (2006). During a recent project, GloCAEM, which produced a worldwide atmospheric electric field database (Nicoll et al., 2019), it became apparent that historic data were available and in principle submittable to the database, but that the sites of and background to these measurements had not been fully described. Historic datasets and observatories are also regularly discussed at meetings of the international COST action CA15211, a European atmospheric electricity networking project. This special issue has been motivated by scientists in the atmospheric electricity community requesting an opportunity to explain the scientific and historical context of their data series. It encourages, but is not limited to, submissions on historical atmospheric electricity measurements focused on the observatories participating in the GloCAEM project and COST action. Broader submissions discussing other atmospheric electricity observatories are also welcomed, with no requirement to be involved with either project. It is anticipated that submissions will describe the history of the observing site and the role of key individuals. The atmospheric electrical observations and techniques should be discussed as well as any other relevant measurements, such as magnetic or meteorological, at the site. Significant events during the observing period and their eff","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"137-138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46923431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-06-30DOI: 10.5194/hgss-11-135-2020
K. Schlegel
{"title":"Editorial: Ten years of History of Geo- and Space Sciences","authors":"K. Schlegel","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-135-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-135-2020","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:p>\u0000 </jats:p>","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"135-135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48615972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-06-05DOI: 10.5194/hgss-11-123-2020
Afnan Tahir, M. A. Ameen, M. Talha, Ghulam Murtaza, M. Ali, Gohar Ali
Abstract. This work focuses on the progress of space weather monitoring in Pakistan. Pakistan's first geomagnetic observatory was established in Quetta in 1953. However, the beginning of what we would now call space weather services on a formal level took place in 1971, when the national space agency, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), established the country's first ionospheric station. Later, in 1983, a geomagnetic observatory was set up in Karachi with the aim of providing high frequency (HF) support and geomagnetic storm alerts to relevant users. With the progression of time, nations began to prioritize space weather monitoring to ensure the safety and security of technological assets. Therefore, it was considered imperative to upgrade the array of instruments in order to maintain the reliability of operations and the efficient utilization of data to contribute to research at local, regional and global scales. Pakistan has recently established a dedicated space weather monitoring facility known as the Pakistan Space Weather Centre (PSWC). This paper describes the historic evolution of space weather infrastructure in Pakistan and the current contribution of the PSWC.
{"title":"Evolution of the Pakistan Space Weather Centre (PSWC)","authors":"Afnan Tahir, M. A. Ameen, M. Talha, Ghulam Murtaza, M. Ali, Gohar Ali","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-123-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-123-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. This work focuses on the progress of space weather monitoring in Pakistan. Pakistan's first geomagnetic observatory was established in Quetta in 1953. However, the beginning of what we would now call space weather services on a formal level took place in 1971, when the national space agency, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), established the country's first ionospheric station. Later, in 1983, a geomagnetic observatory was set up in Karachi with the aim of providing high frequency (HF) support and geomagnetic storm alerts to relevant users. With the progression of time, nations began to prioritize space weather monitoring to ensure the safety and security of technological assets. Therefore, it was considered imperative to upgrade the array of instruments in order to maintain the reliability of operations and the efficient utilization of data to contribute to research at local, regional and global scales. Pakistan has recently established a dedicated space weather monitoring facility known as the Pakistan Space Weather Centre (PSWC). This paper describes the historic evolution of space weather infrastructure in Pakistan and the current contribution of the PSWC.","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"123-133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42897199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-05-29DOI: 10.5194/hgss-11-105-2020
K. Aplin, R. Harrison, M. Füllekrug, B. Lanchester, François Becker
Abstract. The scientific career of Michael Rycroft (born in 1938) spans the space age, during which significant changes have occurred in how scientists work, experiment, and interact. Here, as part of his 80th birthday celebrations, we review his career to date in terms of the social and structural changes in collaborative international science. His contributions to research, teaching, and management across solar–terrestrial and ionospheric physics as well as atmospheric and space science are also discussed.
{"title":"A scientific career launched at the start of the space age: Michael Rycroft at 80","authors":"K. Aplin, R. Harrison, M. Füllekrug, B. Lanchester, François Becker","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-105-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-105-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The scientific career of Michael Rycroft (born in 1938) spans the space age, during which\u0000significant changes have occurred in how scientists work, experiment, and\u0000interact. Here, as part of his 80th birthday celebrations, we review\u0000his career to date in terms of the social and structural changes in\u0000collaborative international science. His contributions to research,\u0000teaching, and management across solar–terrestrial and ionospheric physics as well as\u0000atmospheric and space science are also discussed.\u0000","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49271132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. A critical stage in the development of our ability to model and project climate change occurred in the late 1950s–early 1960s when the first primitive-equation atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) were created. A rather idiosyncratic project to develop an AGCM was conducted virtually alone by Cecil E. Leith starting near the end of the 1950s. The Leith atmospheric model (LAM) appears to have been the first primitive-equation AGCM with a hydrological cycle and the first with a vertical resolution extending above the tropopause. It was certainly the first AGCM with a diurnal cycle, the first with prognostic clouds, and the first to be used as the basis for computer animations of the results. The LAM project was abandoned in approximately 1965, and it left almost no trace in the journal literature. Remarkably, the recent internet posting of a half-century-old computer animation of LAM-simulated fields represents the first significant “publication” of results from this model. This paper summarizes what is known about the history of the LAM based on the limited published articles and reports as well as transcripts of interviews with Leith and others conducted in the 1990s and later.
摘要20世纪50年代末至60年代初是我们模拟和预估气候变化能力发展的关键阶段，当时创建了第一个原始方程大气环流模式(AGCMs)。一个相当特殊的开发AGCM的项目实际上是由Cecil E. Leith在20世纪50年代末开始独自进行的。利斯大气模式(LAM)似乎是第一个具有水文循环的原始方程agcm，也是第一个垂直分辨率延伸到对流层顶以上的agcm。这当然是第一个具有昼夜周期的AGCM，第一个具有预测云的AGCM，也是第一个被用作计算机动画结果基础的AGCM。LAM项目大约在1965年被放弃，在期刊文献中几乎没有留下任何痕迹。值得注意的是，最近在互联网上发布的一个半个世纪前的计算机动画模拟了lam模拟的油田，这是该模型结果的第一次重要“发表”。本文根据有限的已发表的文章和报告，以及在20世纪90年代和之后对利思和其他人进行的采访记录，总结了对LAM历史的了解。
{"title":"At the dawn of global climate modeling: the strange case of the Leith atmosphere model","authors":"K. Hamilton","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-93-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-93-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. A critical stage in the development of our ability to model and project\u0000climate change occurred in the late 1950s–early 1960s when the first\u0000primitive-equation atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) were\u0000created. A rather idiosyncratic project to develop an AGCM was conducted\u0000virtually alone by Cecil E. Leith starting near the end of the 1950s. The Leith\u0000atmospheric model (LAM) appears to have been the first primitive-equation\u0000AGCM with a hydrological cycle and the first with a vertical resolution\u0000extending above the tropopause. It was certainly the first AGCM with a\u0000diurnal cycle, the first with prognostic clouds, and the first to be used as\u0000the basis for computer animations of the results. The LAM project was\u0000abandoned in approximately 1965, and it left almost no trace in the journal literature.\u0000Remarkably, the recent internet posting of a half-century-old computer animation\u0000of LAM-simulated fields represents the first significant “publication” of\u0000results from this model. This paper summarizes what is known about the\u0000history of the LAM based on the limited published articles and reports as\u0000well as transcripts of interviews with Leith and others conducted in the 1990s\u0000and later.","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"93-103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44500822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The German Geophysical Society was founded in 1922 as the Deutsche Seismologische Vereinigung. One of the 24 founders of this society was Karl Friedrich Almstedt. Born in 1891 and deceased in 1964, Almstedt represents a generation of academics and scientists who grew up during the decline of the European empires, experiencing the devastations of the two World Wars and the cruelties of the Nazi era as well as the resurrection of academic and cultural life in post-war Germany. A detailed biographical sketch of Karl Almstedt's life is presented through historical notes on his social, political, and scientific environment.
{"title":"Karl Friedrich Almstedt – scientist, teacher, and co-founder of the German Geophysical Society","authors":"K. Glassmeier","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-71-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-71-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The German Geophysical Society was founded in 1922 as the\u0000Deutsche Seismologische Vereinigung. One of the 24 founders of this society\u0000was Karl Friedrich Almstedt. Born in 1891 and deceased in 1964, Almstedt\u0000represents a generation of academics and scientists who grew up during the\u0000decline of the European empires, experiencing the devastations of the two\u0000World Wars and the cruelties of the Nazi era as well as the resurrection of\u0000academic and cultural life in post-war Germany. A detailed biographical\u0000sketch of Karl Almstedt's life is presented through historical notes on\u0000his social, political, and scientific environment.\u0000","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42149675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Bór, G. Sátori, V. Barta, Karolina Szabóné-André, J. Szendrői, V. Wesztergom, T. Bozóki, A. Buzás, Dávid Koronczay
Abstract. The Szechenyi Istvan Geophysical Observatory, also known as the Nagycenk Geophysical Observatory (NCK), was established in 1957. It has been the only measurement site in Hungary where observations of various parameters of the atmospheric global electric circuit are made in the framework of organized research under the umbrella of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). Measurements of the atmospheric electrical potential gradient (PG) and Schumann resonances (SRs) running quasi-continuously in the observatory for decades provide an invaluable source of information for geophysical research. This paper gives an overview on the history of the observatory and particularly on various atmospheric electricity (AE) measurements on-site to commemorate the efforts and excellence of the people who served atmospheric sciences by dedicating their lives to obtaining high-quality, reliable data and scientific achievements at the highest possible level.
{"title":"Measurements of atmospheric electricity in the Széchenyi István Geophysical Observatory, Hungary","authors":"J. Bór, G. Sátori, V. Barta, Karolina Szabóné-André, J. Szendrői, V. Wesztergom, T. Bozóki, A. Buzás, Dávid Koronczay","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-53-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-53-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Szechenyi Istvan Geophysical Observatory,\u0000also known as the Nagycenk Geophysical Observatory (NCK), was established in\u00001957. It has been the only measurement site in Hungary where observations of\u0000various parameters of the atmospheric global electric circuit are made in\u0000the framework of organized research under the umbrella of the Hungarian\u0000Academy of Sciences (MTA). Measurements of the atmospheric electrical potential\u0000gradient (PG) and Schumann resonances (SRs) running quasi-continuously in the\u0000observatory for decades provide an invaluable source of information for\u0000geophysical research. This paper gives an overview on the history of the\u0000observatory and particularly on various atmospheric electricity (AE) measurements\u0000on-site to commemorate the efforts and excellence of the people who served\u0000atmospheric sciences by dedicating their lives to obtaining high-quality,\u0000reliable data and scientific achievements at the highest possible level.","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"53-70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46321506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. This article aims to explain how Ptolemy could have constructed a map of the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea), as described in his Geography, under the assumption that his sources were similar to those that have come down to us. The method employed is based on the comparison of Ptolemy's data with corresponding information from other ancient sources, revealing the most conspicuous similarities and differences between them. Three types of information are considered as possible “constituent elements” of Ptolemy's map: latitudes, coastline lengths, and straight-line distances. It is argued that the latitudes Ptolemy used for the key points determining the overall shape of the Pontus (Byzantium, Trapezus, the mouth of the Borysthenes and the Cimmerian Bosporus, the mouth of the Tanais, etc.) were most likely inherited from earlier geographers (Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, and Marinus). In exactly the same way, Ptolemy's data on the circumference of the Pontus and the length of the coastal stretches between the key points (from the Thracian Bosporus to Cape Karambis, Sinope, Trapezus, and the mouth of the Phasis, etc.) closely correlate with the corresponding estimates reported by other geographers (Eratosthenes, Artemidorus, Strabo, Pliny, Arrian, and Pseudo-Arrian), which implies that Ptolemy drew on similar coastline length information. The shortening of Ptolemy's west coast of the Pontus (from the Thracian Bosporus to the mouth of the Borysthenes) relative to the corresponding distances reported by other sources is explained by his underestimation of the circumference of the Earth. The lengthening of Ptolemy's north-east Pontus coast (from the Cimmerian Bosporus to the mouth of the Phasis) can, in part, be accounted for by his attempt to incorporate the straight-line distances across the open sea reported by Pliny. Overall, Ptolemy's configuration of the Black Sea can be satisfactorily explained as a result of fitting contradictory pieces of information together that were inherited from earlier geographical traditions.
{"title":"The configuration of the Pontus Euxinus in Ptolemy's Geography","authors":"Dmitry A. Shcheglov","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-31-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-31-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. This article aims to explain how Ptolemy could have constructed a\u0000map of the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea), as described in his Geography, under the\u0000assumption that his sources were similar to those that have come down to us.\u0000The method employed is based on the comparison of Ptolemy's data with\u0000corresponding information from other ancient sources, revealing the most\u0000conspicuous similarities and differences between them. Three types of\u0000information are considered as possible “constituent elements” of Ptolemy's\u0000map: latitudes, coastline lengths, and straight-line distances. It is argued\u0000that the latitudes Ptolemy used for the key points determining the overall shape of\u0000the Pontus (Byzantium, Trapezus, the mouth of the Borysthenes and the\u0000Cimmerian Bosporus, the mouth of the Tanais, etc.) were most likely\u0000inherited from earlier geographers (Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, and Marinus).\u0000In exactly the same way, Ptolemy's data on the circumference of the Pontus\u0000and the length of the coastal stretches between the key points (from the\u0000Thracian Bosporus to Cape Karambis, Sinope, Trapezus, and the mouth of the\u0000Phasis, etc.) closely correlate with the corresponding estimates reported by\u0000other geographers (Eratosthenes, Artemidorus, Strabo, Pliny, Arrian, and\u0000Pseudo-Arrian), which implies that Ptolemy drew on similar coastline length\u0000information. The shortening of Ptolemy's west coast of the Pontus (from the\u0000Thracian Bosporus to the mouth of the Borysthenes) relative to the\u0000corresponding distances reported by other sources is explained by his\u0000underestimation of the circumference of the Earth. The lengthening of\u0000Ptolemy's north-east Pontus coast (from the Cimmerian Bosporus to the mouth\u0000of the Phasis) can, in part, be accounted for by his attempt to incorporate\u0000the straight-line distances across the open sea reported by Pliny. Overall,\u0000Ptolemy's configuration of the Black Sea can be satisfactorily explained as\u0000a result of fitting contradictory pieces of information together that were inherited\u0000from earlier geographical traditions.","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":"31-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43733834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The 100th anniversary of the Liverpool Tidal Institute (LTI) was celebrated during 2019. One aspect of tidal science for which the LTI acquired a worldwide reputation was the development and use of tide prediction machines (TPMs). The TPM was invented in the late 19th century, but most of them were made in the first half of the 20th century, up until the time that the advent of digital computers consigned them to museums. This paper describes the basic principles of a TPM, reviews how many were constructed around the world and discusses the method devised by Arthur Doodson at the LTI for the determination of harmonic tidal constants from tide gauge data. These constants were required in order to set up the TPMs for predicting the heights and times of the tides. Although only 3 of the 30-odd TPMs constructed were employed in operational tidal prediction at the LTI, Doodson was responsible for the design and oversight of the manufacture of several others. The paper demonstrates how the UK, and the LTI and Doodson in particular, played a central role in this area of tidal science.
{"title":"Tide prediction machines at the Liverpool Tidal Institute","authors":"P. Woodworth","doi":"10.5194/hgss-11-15-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-11-15-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The 100th anniversary of the Liverpool Tidal Institute (LTI) was\u0000celebrated during 2019. One aspect of tidal science for which the LTI\u0000acquired a worldwide reputation was the development and use of tide\u0000prediction machines (TPMs). The TPM was invented in the late 19th\u0000century, but most of them were made in the first half of the 20th\u0000century, up until the time that the advent of digital computers consigned\u0000them to museums. This paper describes the basic principles of a TPM, reviews\u0000how many were constructed around the world and discusses the method devised\u0000by Arthur Doodson at the LTI for the determination of harmonic tidal\u0000constants from tide gauge data. These constants were required in order to\u0000set up the TPMs for predicting the heights and times of the tides. Although\u0000only 3 of the 30-odd TPMs constructed were employed in operational tidal\u0000prediction at the LTI, Doodson was responsible for the design and oversight\u0000of the manufacture of several others. The paper demonstrates how the UK, and\u0000the LTI and Doodson in particular, played a central role in this area of\u0000tidal science.\u0000","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2020-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47338150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-10-25DOI: 10.5194/hgss-10-269-2019
Rūta Puzienė
Abstract. The determination of parameters of the Earth's ellipsoid is quite a difficult task that gives no rest to scientists to this day. One of the more famous works is the Struve Geodetic Arc, which was stretched from the Black Sea to the Arctic Ocean by employing the method of a triangulation network and which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. However, until this project was implemented, many steps of scientific and technological advancement had to be taken, the entirety of which created the conditions for the realization of this project. A study of the method of triangulation measurements, the development of geodetic devices, the state politics of the Russian Empire in the 17th–19th centuries in the field of geodesy, and the development of triangulation during this period are presented in the article. Moreover, a study of the origins of the Struve Geodetic Arc project that led to such a grand result is conducted. The obtained results reveal that certain factors predetermined the favourable conditions for the successful execution of the project of this geodetic arc.
{"title":"The Struve Geodetic Arc: the development of the triangulation, technical possibilities, and the initiation of the project","authors":"Rūta Puzienė","doi":"10.5194/hgss-10-269-2019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-10-269-2019","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The determination of parameters of the Earth's ellipsoid\u0000is quite a difficult task that gives no rest to scientists to this\u0000day. One of the more famous works is the Struve Geodetic Arc, which was stretched from\u0000the Black Sea to the Arctic Ocean by employing the method of a triangulation\u0000network and which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. However, until\u0000this project was implemented, many steps of scientific and technological\u0000advancement had to be taken, the entirety of which created the conditions\u0000for the realization of this project. A study of the method of triangulation\u0000measurements, the development of geodetic devices, the state\u0000politics of the Russian Empire in the 17th–19th centuries in the field of\u0000geodesy, and the development of triangulation during this period are\u0000presented in the article. Moreover, a study of the origins of the Struve\u0000Geodetic Arc project that led to such a grand result is conducted. The\u0000obtained results reveal that certain factors predetermined\u0000the favourable conditions for the successful execution of the project of\u0000this geodetic arc.\u0000","PeriodicalId":48918,"journal":{"name":"History of Geo- and Space Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2019-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47321039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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