Rudolf Spitaler (climatologist)
Rudolf Ferdinand Spitaler (born January 7, 1859 in Bleiberg , Carinthia , † October 16, 1946 in Lübenheen , Mecklenburg ) was an Austrian meteorologist , astronomer and physicist .
Life
After graduating from high school in Villach , Spitaler studied philosophy , mathematics, physics, astronomy and meteorology at the University of Vienna from 1879 to 1883 . He then worked from 1883 to 1892 as an assistant at the Vienna University Observatory . Among other things, he made drawings and photographs there on the 68 cm refractor, one of the world's largest lens telescopes. In 1892 he received his doctorate in philosophy. In November 1890 he discovered the periodic comet 113P / Spitaler, which was later named after him .
From 1892 to 1901 he worked as an adjunct at the observatory of the German Karl Ferdinand University in Prague , where he concentrated on the investigation of the physical and chemical properties of stars, planets and interstellar matter. He later specialized in the physical properties of the earth in general, including the water and air cover.
In 1895 he completed his habilitation at the Karl Ferdinand University for astronomy and meteorology and was appointed associate professor in 1901 and full professor in 1909.
From 1895 to 1901 he also worked as an honorary lecturer in astronomy and meteorology at the German polytechnic institute in Prague. From 1901 to 1929 he was professor of cosmic physics at Karl Ferdinand University. He was also the first director of the Milešovka ( Donnersberg ) meteorological station , which was established in 1904 and was built in 1904 at the suggestion of Reginald Czermack , an important fire service manufacturer and pioneer for Austria.
During or after the end of World War II , he fled to Mecklenburg, where he died soon after his arrival.
His sons were the chemist Rudolf Spitaler (1894–1960), born in Prague in 1894 , who produced model buildings from 1946 under the brand name “ RS (Dr. Rudolf Spitaler) ”, and the tax lawyer Armin Spitaler (1898–1963).
Fonts
- Drawings and photographs on Grubb's refractor of 68 cm (27 inch) opening in the years 1885 to 1890 (1891)
- Orbit determination of comet 1851 III (Brorsen) (1894)
- Periodic shifts in the center of gravity of the earth (1905)
- The axial fluctuations of the earth as the cause of the triggering of earthquakes (1913)
- The Climate of the Ice Age (1921)
literature
- Obituary for Professor Dr. Rudolf Spitaler. In: Meteorologische Rundschau. Volumes 3–5, Springer, 1950.
- Portrait gallery of the Astronomical Society. Published by Astronomical Society Germany. Tullberg, 1904, p. 57 (with photo).
- Journal of Glacier Science and Glacial Geology. Volume 2, Universitäts-Verlag Wagner, 1953, p. 151.
- J. Brabencová: Hospital Rudolf. In: Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 13, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2007–2010, ISBN 978-3-7001-6963-5 , p. 34 f. (Direct links on p. 34 , p. 35 ).
Web links
- Literature by and about Rudolf Spitaler in the catalog of the German National Library
- Publications by R. Spitaler in the Astrophysics Data System
supporting documents
- ^ History of the observatory. January 30, 2012, archived from the original on October 15, 2008 ; accessed on April 26, 2016 (English).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Spitaler, Rudolf |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Spitaler, Rudolf Ferdinand (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Austrian meteorologist, astronomer and physicist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 7, 1859 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bleiberg , Carinthia |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 16, 1946 |
| Place of death | Lübenheen , Mecklenburg |