Konstanty Jodko-Narkiewicz
Encyclopedia
Konstanty Jodko-Narkiewicz, also known as Konstanty Narkiewicz-Jodko (1901–1963), was a Polish
geophysicist
who specialized in studying cosmic radiation
. He was also a mountain
eer, Arctic explorer
, and balloonist
.
, gaining a doctorate
in physics
. Professionally he specialized in the study of cosmic radiation
. In the 1930s, he was an assistant at the Physical Institute of Warsaw University.
He found a happy marriage between his career as a physicist and his interest in climbing. For instance, he combined a climbing expedition to the Andes
in 1934 with a project to measure geomagnetic effects on cosmic rays.
Between 1933 and 1939, of the seventeen papers on cosmic-ray physics published in Poland, Jodko-Narkiewicz was author or co-author of twelve.
and Spitsbergen
.
In 1929 he climbed the Iceland
glacier
Langjökull
.
In 1933–1934 he led a Polish expedition organized by the Tatra Society
to the Andes
, beginning with the Cordillera de la Ramada
, a mountain range
in Argentina
. The party included Stefan W. Daszynski, Jan K. Dorawski, Wiktor Ostrowski, Adam Karpiński, meteorologist and equipment designer, and Stefan Osiecki, cameraman, and it made the first ascent
s of Mercedario
, Alma Negra
, Pico Polaco, La Mesa, and Cerro Ramada
, then proceeded south to climb the better-known Aconcagua
, the highest mountain in the Americas
. The Polish Glacier
of Aconcagua was named after this expedition, which originated an alternative route to the peak along the glacier
.
In 1936, with Stanislaw Siedlecki and Stefan Bernadzikiewicz, he took part in a Polish expedition which crossed West Spitsbergen from south to north. Covering 850 kilometres, the three men made the first complete traverse of Spitsbergen.
, Jodko-Narkiewicz and Captain Zbigniew Burzyński
attempted a stratospheric
flight in the hydrogen
balloon
Star of Poland
. Their aim was to reach a height of 30 kilometres, beating the world record for high-altitude flight. They were equipped with a Geiger-Mueller
tube telescope
, intending to measure the variation in intensity of cosmic ray
s at different altitude
s. The balloon caught fire during take-off, while still less than 100 feet above the ground, but the two men were able to land the gondola
safely and were uninjured.
After this, there were no more high-altitude flights in the 1930s.
Jodko-Narkiewicz died at Psary
, in the region of Greater Poland
, in 1963.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
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...
who specialized in studying cosmic radiation
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
. He was also a mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
eer, Arctic explorer
Arctic exploration
Arctic exploration is the physical exploration of the Arctic region of the Earth. The region that surrounds the North Pole. It refers to the historical period during which mankind has explored the region north of the Arctic Circle...
, and balloonist
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
.
Geophysicist
Jodko-Narkiewicz trained in natural sciences and geographyGeography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, gaining a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. Professionally he specialized in the study of cosmic radiation
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
. In the 1930s, he was an assistant at the Physical Institute of Warsaw University.
He found a happy marriage between his career as a physicist and his interest in climbing. For instance, he combined a climbing expedition to the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
in 1934 with a project to measure geomagnetic effects on cosmic rays.
Between 1933 and 1939, of the seventeen papers on cosmic-ray physics published in Poland, Jodko-Narkiewicz was author or co-author of twelve.
Mountaineer
An experienced alpinist, Jodko-Narkiewicz also climbed mountains in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
.
In 1929 he climbed the Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
Langjökull
Langjökull
Langjökull is the second largest ice cap in Iceland , after Vatnajökull. It is situated in the west of the Icelandic interior or Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur....
.
In 1933–1934 he led a Polish expedition organized by the Tatra Society
PTTK
Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze, PTTK, is a Polish non-governmental tourist organization founded in 1950...
to the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, beginning with the Cordillera de la Ramada
Cordillera de la Ramada
The Cordillera de la Ramada The Cordillera de la Ramada The Cordillera de la Ramada (Spanish for "Range of the Shelter", also called Cordón de la Ramada, in which cordón means 'ribbon' or 'rope', is a mountain range in the San Juan province of Argentina, bordering on Chile, forming part of the Andes...
, a mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The party included Stefan W. Daszynski, Jan K. Dorawski, Wiktor Ostrowski, Adam Karpiński, meteorologist and equipment designer, and Stefan Osiecki, cameraman, and it made the first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
s of Mercedario
Mercedario
Cerro Mercedario is the highest peak of the Cordillera de la Ramada range and the eighth highest mountain of the Andes. It is located 100 km to the north of Aconcagua, in the Argentine province of San Juan...
, Alma Negra
Alma Negra
Alma Negra is a mountain in the Cordillera de la Ramada range of the Andes, in Argentina. It has a height of 6400 metres.The first ascent of the mountain was by a Polish expedition in 1934, when a cairn was erected on the summit....
, Pico Polaco, La Mesa, and Cerro Ramada
Cerro Ramada
Cerro Ramada is a mountain in the Cordillera de la Ramada range of the Andes, in Argentina. It has a height of .The first ascent of the mountain was by a Polish expedition in 1934, when a cairn was erected on the summit....
, then proceeded south to climb the better-known Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at . It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza and it lies west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the...
, the highest mountain in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. The Polish Glacier
Polish Glacier
The Polish Glacier is one of the glacial fields of Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Andes. It was named after the Polish expedition of 1934. Led by Konstanty Jodko-Narkiewicz, the team paved an alternative route to the peak, named the Polish Route, through the glacier....
of Aconcagua was named after this expedition, which originated an alternative route to the peak along the glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
.
In 1936, with Stanislaw Siedlecki and Stefan Bernadzikiewicz, he took part in a Polish expedition which crossed West Spitsbergen from south to north. Covering 850 kilometres, the three men made the first complete traverse of Spitsbergen.
Balloonist
Considering his interests in cosmic rays and mountaineering, it was a natural development for Narkiewicz-Jodko to take to the skies as a balloonist. A high point in this area of his career came on March 29, 1936, when with a scientific colleague he succeeded in taking the balloon Warszawa II (Warsaw II) up to a height of 10,000 metres for the purpose of scientific measurements.The Star of Poland incident
On 14 October 1938, in the Tatra MountainsTatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
, Jodko-Narkiewicz and Captain Zbigniew Burzyński
Zbigniew Burzynski
Zbigniew Burzyński , was a Polish balloonist and constructor of balloons, pioneer of Polish balloons, who twice won the Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning, also beat the world record.-Biography:...
attempted a stratospheric
Stratosphere
The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. It is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. This is in contrast to the troposphere near the Earth's surface, which is cooler...
flight in the hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
balloon
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
Star of Poland
Gwiazda Polski
Gwiazda Polski was a balloon, which, according to the Polish planners, was going to reach the stratosphere, thus beating the 1930s high-altitude world record, established on November 11, 1935 by Albert William Stevens and Orvil Arson Anderson, in the Explorer II balloon...
. Their aim was to reach a height of 30 kilometres, beating the world record for high-altitude flight. They were equipped with a Geiger-Mueller
Geiger–Müller tube
A Geiger–Müller tube is the sensing element of a Geiger counter instrument that can detect a single particle of ionizing radiation, and typically produce an audible click for each. It was named for Hans Geiger who invented the device in 1908, and Walther Müller who collaborated with Geiger in...
tube telescope
Geiger tube telescope
The Geiger Tube Telescope is a scientific instrument that measures the intensities, energy spectra, and angular distribution of energetic electrons and protons in interplanetary space and near Jupiter and Saturn....
, intending to measure the variation in intensity of cosmic ray
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
s at different altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
s. The balloon caught fire during take-off, while still less than 100 feet above the ground, but the two men were able to land the gondola
Gondola (disambiguation)
A gondola is a traditional Venetian rowing boat, best known today for transporting tourists.Gondola may also refer to:-Fixed structures:...
safely and were uninjured.
After this, there were no more high-altitude flights in the 1930s.
Jodko-Narkiewicz died at Psary
Psary, Ostrów Wielkopolski County
Psary is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Sieroszewice, within Ostrów Wielkopolski County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Sieroszewice, east of Ostrów Wielkopolski, and south-east of the regional capital Poznań.The...
, in the region of Greater Poland
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Wielkopolska Voivodeship , or Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998...
, in 1963.
Selected publications
- Konstanty Narkiewicz-Jodko, W walce o szczyty Andów [Battle for the Peaks of the Andes], Warsaw, 1935 (illustrated)
- Konstanty Narkiewicz-Jodko, 'Anregung der Strahlung einiger Metalle durch Quecksilberdampf im Zustand des Nachleuchtens', in Physikalische Berichte, vol. 10 (1929), 1650
- Dr S. L. Ziemecki & Mr K. Narkiewicz-Jodko, 'The Raman-effect in the proximity of the critical point', in Philosophical MagazinePhilosophical MagazineThe Philosophical Magazine is one of the oldest scientific journals published in English. Initiated by Alexander Tilloch in 1798, in 1822 Richard Taylor became joint editor and it has been published continuously by Taylor & Francis ever since; it was the journal of choice for such luminaries as...
(Taylor & Francis, 1930), pp. 299–306 - Konstanty Narkiewicz-Jodko, 'Nachleuchten im elektrisch erregten Hg- Dampf', in Physikalische Berichte, vol. 15, part 1 (1934), 630
- S. Ziemecki & K. Narkiewicz-Jodko, 'Continuous Variation of Cosmic Ray Intensity in the Higher Layers of the Troposphere', in Acad. Polonaise Sciences et Lettres, bulletin no. 7a (July, 1936), pp. 318–326
- K. Narkiewicz-Jodko, 'Specific Ionization Characteristic of Cosmic Rays', in Bulletin international: Sciences mathématiques (Kraków, 1938)