Nicolai Ivanovich Andrusov
Encyclopedia
Nicolai Ivanovich Andrusov (December 19, 1861 – April 27, 1924) was a Russia
n geologist
, stratigrapher, and palaeontologist.
He was born in Odessa
, then a part of Russia
. He studied geology
and zoology
at the Novorossia University in Odessa. He then traveled across Russia and central Europe to collect fossil
specimens.
The Challenger expedition
of 1872–1876 studied processes of the sea floor. In 1889 Andrusov published a review of this expedition in the Mining Journal. He would later perform studies of the geology and sediments of the Caspian Sea
and the Black Sea
.
In 1890-91 he participated in a deep water expedition to the Black Sea
by the Russian Geographical Society. This expedition discovered hydrogen sulfide
in the lower portions of this lake. Andrusov was the first to propose that this substance was created by biological decomposition of life forms (bacteria
) containing sulfurous compounds.
He was married to Nadezhda Genrikhovna Schliemann in 1899, the daughter of the somewhat notorious archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann
. In 1905 he became a professor at the University of Kiev. In 1914 he became a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He emigrated to France in 1920 due to illness. In 1919 he learned about the death of his elder son, and suffered a stroke
which resulted in paralysis
of a leg and an arm. His relatives decided to move him to Paris, where he had an inheritance from his father-in-law
. In 1922 he moved to Praha due to material difficulties, where he died in 1924.
His son Dimitrij Andrusov
became a notable geologist and a member of the Slovakia
n Academy of Sciences.
The wrinkle ridge Dorsa Andrusov
on the Moon
is named after him, as well as the Mid-Black Sea High - Andrusov Ridge.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, stratigrapher, and palaeontologist.
He was born in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, then a part of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He studied geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the Novorossia University in Odessa. He then traveled across Russia and central Europe to collect fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
specimens.
The Challenger expedition
Challenger expedition
The Challenger expedition of 1872–76 was a scientific exercise that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger....
of 1872–1876 studied processes of the sea floor. In 1889 Andrusov published a review of this expedition in the Mining Journal. He would later perform studies of the geology and sediments of the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
and the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
.
In 1890-91 he participated in a deep water expedition to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
by the Russian Geographical Society. This expedition discovered hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
in the lower portions of this lake. Andrusov was the first to propose that this substance was created by biological decomposition of life forms (bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
) containing sulfurous compounds.
He was married to Nadezhda Genrikhovna Schliemann in 1899, the daughter of the somewhat notorious archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann was a German businessman and amateur archaeologist, and an advocate of the historical reality of places mentioned in the works of Homer. Schliemann was an archaeological excavator of Troy, along with the Mycenaean sites Mycenae and Tiryns...
. In 1905 he became a professor at the University of Kiev. In 1914 he became a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He emigrated to France in 1920 due to illness. In 1919 he learned about the death of his elder son, and suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
which resulted in paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
of a leg and an arm. His relatives decided to move him to Paris, where he had an inheritance from his father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
. In 1922 he moved to Praha due to material difficulties, where he died in 1924.
His son Dimitrij Andrusov
Dimitrij Andrusov
Dimitrij Andrusov was a Slovak geologist, member of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. He was first professor of geology on Slovak colleges. He is considered the founder of modern Slovak geology.- Life :...
became a notable geologist and a member of the Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
n Academy of Sciences.
The wrinkle ridge Dorsa Andrusov
Dorsa Andrusov
Dorsa Andrusov is a wrinkle ridge system at in Mare Fecunditatis on the Moon. It is 160 km in diameter and was named after Nicolai Ivanovich Andrusov in 1976....
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him, as well as the Mid-Black Sea High - Andrusov Ridge.