Karl Ledersteger
Encyclopedia
Karl Ledersteger was an important geodesist
and geophysicist
.
After studies of astronomy
, mathematics and geodesy he worked in Germany and later in the National Survey of Austria. Later he set up the scientific department of the Federal Office for Metrology and Survey
(BEV), Vienna. In the 1950s he was appointed as a professor
of geodesy
and astrometry
at the Technical University of Vienna. He was head of many research projects, and author of about 200 scientific articles. Still a standard work of astronomical and physical geodesy
is his textbook of Erdmessung (Vol. V of the series Handbuch der Vermessungskunde, 871 p.) published 1969.
In 1958/59, Ledersteger was the first geodesist in Central Europe who published on the future fields of satellite geodesy
. Other topics of his research were:
Ledersteger was in intensive contact with the scientific community of whole Europe, USA and Russia (e.g. Viktor Ambartsumian, B.Gutenberg, F.Hopfner
, W.Heiskanen, M.Kneissl, Sir Harold Jeffreys
, Vening Meinesz, H.Moritz, A.Prey, H.H. Schmid, E.Wiechert
and S.Zhongolovitch), and he liked scientific discussions at symposia and in journals. For almost 20 years he was chair of ÖKIE
(Austrian Commission for international Geodesy) and a member of many international commissions and research groups, e.g. in IUGG, DGK and scientific academies of Austria, Germany and Hungary.
Ledersteger received a lot of prizes, several doctorates honoris causa and calls to universities. In Vienna he was asked to begin geodetic lectures immediately after World war II; but his professorship was postponed for 10 years because of his participation in NS
surveys 1940-45. His good contacts to colleagues in USA and Russia enabled him to refer or translate some of their works, e.g. an excellent textbook of Magnizki & Browar on theoretical geodesy.
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
and geophysicist
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
.
After studies of astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, mathematics and geodesy he worked in Germany and later in the National Survey of Austria. Later he set up the scientific department of the Federal Office for Metrology and Survey
Federal Office for Metrology and Survey
The Federal Office for Metrology and Survey or BEV is the body responsible in Austria for official surveying, geo-information and weights and measures . It belongs to the Ministry for the Economy, Family and Youth. Its headquarters is in Vienna and it has 67 branches spread across all the Austrian...
(BEV), Vienna. In the 1950s he was appointed as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of geodesy
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
and astrometry
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
at the Technical University of Vienna. He was head of many research projects, and author of about 200 scientific articles. Still a standard work of astronomical and physical geodesy
Physical geodesy
Physical geodesy is the study of the physical properties of the gravity field of the Earth, the geopotential, with a view to their application in geodesy.-Measurement procedure:...
is his textbook of Erdmessung (Vol. V of the series Handbuch der Vermessungskunde, 871 p.) published 1969.
In 1958/59, Ledersteger was the first geodesist in Central Europe who published on the future fields of satellite geodesy
Satellite geodesy
Satellite geodesy is the measurement of the form and dimensions of the Earth, the location of objects on its surface and the figure of the Earth's gravity field by means of artificial satellite techniques—geodesy by means of artificial satellites...
. Other topics of his research were:
- Theory of National survey (Landesvermessung) - and practical computation of the ZEN (Zentraleuropäisches Netz, Berlin ~1940) and of parts of the ED50ED50ED 50 is a geodetic datum which was defined after World War II for the international connection of geodetic networks....
- Theory of equilibriumHydrostatic equilibriumHydrostatic equilibrium or hydrostatic balance is the condition in fluid mechanics where a volume of a fluid is at rest or at constant velocity. This occurs when compression due to gravity is balanced by a pressure gradient force...
figures of Earth and planetPlanetA planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s - IsostasyIsostasyIsostasy is a term used in geology to refer to the state of gravitational equilibrium between the earth's lithosphere and asthenosphere such that the tectonic plates "float" at an elevation which depends on their thickness and density. This concept is invoked to explain how different topographic...
of the Earth's crust and its effect on geoidGeoidThe geoid is that equipotential surface which would coincide exactly with the mean ocean surface of the Earth, if the oceans were in equilibrium, at rest , and extended through the continents . According to C.F...
determination; a main part was published posthumously by his successor Kurt Bretterbauer - the system of vertical deflectionVertical deflectionThe vertical deflection at a point on the earth is a measure of how far the direction of the local gravity field has been shifted by local anomalies such as nearby mountains....
s and the definition of reference ellipsoidReference ellipsoidIn geodesy, a reference ellipsoid is a mathematically-defined surface that approximates the geoid, the truer figure of the Earth, or other planetary body....
s.
Ledersteger was in intensive contact with the scientific community of whole Europe, USA and Russia (e.g. Viktor Ambartsumian, B.Gutenberg, F.Hopfner
Friedrich Hopfner
Friedrich Hopfner was an Austrian geodesist, geophysicist and planetary scientist.As an officer of the Austro-Hungarian Empire he began his scientific work at the Bureau of Meteorology...
, W.Heiskanen, M.Kneissl, Sir Harold Jeffreys
Harold Jeffreys
Sir Harold Jeffreys, FRS was a mathematician, statistician, geophysicist, and astronomer. His seminal book Theory of Probability, which first appeared in 1939, played an important role in the revival of the Bayesian view of probability.-Biography:Jeffreys was born in Fatfield, Washington, County...
, Vening Meinesz, H.Moritz, A.Prey, H.H. Schmid, E.Wiechert
Ernst Wiechert
Ernst Wiechert was a German teacher, poet and writer.-Biography:Wiechert was born in Kleinort near Sensburg , East Prussia.He was one of the most widely read novelists in Germany during the 1930s...
and S.Zhongolovitch), and he liked scientific discussions at symposia and in journals. For almost 20 years he was chair of ÖKIE
Okie
Okie is a term dating from as early as 1907, originally denoting a resident or native of Oklahoma. It is derived from the name of the state, similar to Texan or Tex for someone from Texas, or Arkie or Arkansawyer for a native of Arkansas....
(Austrian Commission for international Geodesy) and a member of many international commissions and research groups, e.g. in IUGG, DGK and scientific academies of Austria, Germany and Hungary.
Ledersteger received a lot of prizes, several doctorates honoris causa and calls to universities. In Vienna he was asked to begin geodetic lectures immediately after World war II; but his professorship was postponed for 10 years because of his participation in NS
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
surveys 1940-45. His good contacts to colleagues in USA and Russia enabled him to refer or translate some of their works, e.g. an excellent textbook of Magnizki & Browar on theoretical geodesy.
External links, sources and literature
- Literature Online, University InnsbruckInnsbruck- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, ca. 20 titles - Karl Ledersteger 70 years, HarvardHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
- K.Ledersteger: Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie (Erdmessung), JEK Band V, chapter 4 (Geoid) and 11 (gravity), J.B.Metzler-Verlag, Stuttgart 1968
- K.Ledersteger, several lectures and reprints (Austrian & German Univ.libraries), ca. 1940 bis 1975
- Péter Biró: 100 éve született Karl Ledersteger (K.Ledersteger 1ooth birthday). Geodézia és Kartográfia, Vol.52/12 (p. 32 ff), Budapest 2000.