Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory

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Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory
Report from the opening in Die Woche (1905)

The Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory is a facility of the German Weather Service with the focus on researching the earth's atmosphere in Lindenberg (near Beeskow ).

history

The Royal Prussian Aeronautical Observatory was inaugurated on October 16, 1905 by Kaiser Wilhelm II himself . The observatory was the successor to the aeronautical observatory in Berlin-Reinickendorf , which worked from 1900 to 1905 and was relocated to Lindenberg for safety reasons (risk to traffic and high-voltage lines). Both observatories were founded by Richard Assmann . He chose Lindenberg because the absence of civil facilities in the landscape between Storkow and Beeskow made it possible to measure the atmosphere with kites at that time.

Since the 100th anniversary on October 16, 2005, it has now been named after its founder: Richard Assmann Observatory.

Winch house and radiation center

From 1905 to 1914 Richard Assmann was the director of the "Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg". In 1907 the first network of aerological stations with 5 pilot stations was created in Germany. The pilot balloon was developed by Otto Tetens at the observatory until 1910 and is still used worldwide as a means of determining the altitude wind . Otto Tetens writes about this in his essay Rubber Pilot Balloons: "... the rubber pilot balloon invented by Privy Councilor Assmann in 1901 ...!". In 1910, a warning service for air drivers was set up, making it the first aviation weather service in the world. In 1913, the first broadcasting stations for transmitting weather reports were set up. Devices to measure ionization, conductivity, dust collectors, compensation pyrheliometers and a radioactivity meter were constructed and used for the first time in the free atmosphere. The ascent of kites, tethered balloons and registration balloons was routine.

From 1914 to 1932 Hugo Hergesell took over the observatory as director. During this time, radiation measuring devices were developed by Robitzsch , moisture measuring devices by Stüve , with which one could examine radio wave preparation. From 1919 a daily weather forecast was drawn up. In 1926, ozone measurements were first carried out in the free atmosphere. In addition, meteorological security for air traffic (aviation weather advice) was installed by broadcasting every hour via a 5 kW transmitter directly to the pilots. In 1929 the first investigations into VHF propagation took place. In 1930 the first radiosonde , developed by Duckert , wirelessly transmitted measurement data to the ground station. Also weather aircraft - specially equipped to collect meteorological data - were used. In 1932 Hergesell resigned from the directorate; the observatory lost its independence and became a department of the Prussian Meteorological Institute (founded in 1847) in Berlin.

From 1932 to 1945 Heinrich von Ficker (until 1934), Wilhelm Marten (until 1935), Harald Koschmieder (until 1942), Eitel Friedrich Herath (until 1945), WA Belinski (1945), Kurt Wittig (1945) were directors of the observatory . From 1935 the observatory belonged to the Reich Weather Service and thus to the Reich Aviation Ministry . The building was reconstructed in 1936. From 1938 there was the calibration center for all radiosondes launched in Germany . In the same year a large tethered balloon was developed for air defense on behalf of the Army Armed Forces Office . There were storm clouds investigated and all meteorological reports from the occupied territories (where 5 antenna masts of 90 m height built it) received and sent.

After the Second World War , a military hospital, a refugee camp and an epidemic hospital were temporarily housed in the observatory. After that, it was put back into service by the Hydrometeorological Service of the USSR; from January 1946 pilot balloons were routinely used again. Until 1946 the name “Observatory Lindenberg” was used, from 1947 the observatory was called “Aerological Observatory Lindenberg”. In 1947 the Freiberg probe and radiothedolites were developed. In the same year, the headquarters of the aerological measurement service was established on the territory of the GDR. Directors were:

  • 1946 to 1949 Paul Beelitz
  • –1950 Max Robitzsch
  • –1969 Paul Dubois (1903–1994)
  • –1990 Peter Glöde (1930–2002)

In 1950 the radiosonde main office was separated from Berlin. A microaerological station was operated on the old transmission masts until 1960. In addition, propagation conditions of electromagnetic waves were investigated. From 1960 the 'Vision Research' department was set up under Günter Mücket (* 1920) to develop measuring devices for measuring and registering atmospheric turbidity factors. Between 1952 and 1956 more and more fetter ascents were carried out under Dubois, from 1960 to 1962 drift balloons were used. In 1955, the Lindenberg multi-channel probe was developed by Rink , which, however, was not transferred to measurement practice. From 1957 to 1959 an altitude wind radar was constructed. However, the radar was not used all the time. In 1958, the 70 cm wavelength was used for the first time in the routine of radiosonde ascent technology by Martin Görsdorf (1912–1983). In the same year, radiothedolites were built for GDR ascent points and the radiosonde measurement technology was further developed in cooperation with scientific institutions in the Soviet Union.

Under Peter Glöde (1969 to 1990), measuring sensors, transmitters and parachutes for rocket probes as well as the software for the direct evaluation of radiosonde ascents were developed by Ekkehard Asseng (1936–1993) and Dier. The radiosonde measurement was fully automated. Contributing to the development of weather satellite reception systems, a 17 cm reception system was built for the Potsdam Central Weather Service. An electronics laboratory was set up by Hans Steinhagen . Correction algorithms for satellite images of the earth's surface were developed. The optical thickness of the atmosphere was systematically measured by Leiterer and Weller. Stolte and Schulz developed transmitters and temperature sensors for the dart probe (on ballistic missiles). The research station in Zingst for rocket launches was set up. The first launch took place in October 1989. A SODAR network was also set up after testing.

  • Ulrich Leiterer (1990),
  • Jochen Schwirner (1991),
  • Joachim Neisser (until 2004),
  • Franz H. Berger (from 2004)

After 1989, new methods of vertical sounding of the atmosphere and their preparation for operational use were applied and evaluated. The state and process variables on the earth's surface and within the atmospheric boundary layer as well as their interpretation and provision for numerical model calculations and for the validation of satellite data were recorded. The atmosphere was monitored for a long time using all of the observatory's measuring devices. In addition, the “common measuring field” in Falkenberg went into operation. Global and sky radiation in different wavelength ranges and the total ozone content over Lindenberg are measured and evaluated.

Branch offices

The branch of the Richard Assmann Observatory is located in Tauche- Falkenberg.

It is used to measure ground temperature, wind direction, air pressure and numerous other meteorological parameters. The Richard Assmann Observatory has a 99 and a 10 meter high measuring mast for this purpose, both of which were made in the form of guyed steel framework structures .

Web links

Commons : Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Otto Tetens: Rubber pilot balloons. In: Results of the work of the Royal Prussian Aeronautical Observatory near Lindenberg. Volume VI, 1911, pages 191-206

Coordinates: 52 ° 12 ′ 35 ″  N , 14 ° 7 ′ 8 ″  E