Pavel Molchanov

Pavel Alexandrovich Molchanov ( _ru. Павел Александрович Молчанов) (OldStyleDate|February 18|1893|February 6 in Volosovo, Imperial Russia — October 1941, Leningrad, USSR) was a Soviet Russian meteorologist, who invented and launched for the first time radiosonde.

He graduated from Petersburg University in 1914, worked in the Main Physical (Geophysical) Observatory in Pavlovsk between 1917 and 1939 and then at the institute of civil air fleet in Leningrad. He studied possibilities of applying aerological data to the weather forecast. Molchanov constructed meteorographs, carried by sondes and aircraft and improved pilot observation technique. He invented radiosonde, that was launched for the first time on January 30 1930. [cite web|work=Weather Doctor Almanac|title=BALLOONS SAMPLE THE WEATHER|date = July 2005|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2005/alm05jul.htm] [cite book|title=Climates & Weather Explained.|author=Kirk. Martinez, |coauthors=Jane K. Hart, Edward Linacre, Bart Geerts|publisher=Routledge (UK)|year=1997|pages=p. 17|id=ISBN 0415125200|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415125200&id=nU8P_Q8S7l8C&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&ots=b1bYiESFzV&dq=radiosonde+Molchanov&sig=0UYBU0xUOMbiyPFa95dkt2RzP7U] Named "271120", it was released 13:44 Moscow Time in Pavlovsk, USSR from the Main Geophysical Observatory and reached a height of 7.8 kilometers measuring temperature there (-40.7 °C). 32 minutes after the launch radiosonde sent the first aerological message to the Leningrad Weather Bureau and Moscow Central Forecast Institute. In July 1931, conducting programme of the International Polar Year, German scientists invited him to take part in an expedition into the Arctic onboard LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" and launch his radiosondes in polar latitudes. Twelve sondes were prepared for that purpose at Pavlovsk Observatory under Molchanov's leadership and successfully launched, conducting the first aerological observations in the Arcticcite web|work=Central Aerology Observatory|title=75th anniversary of starting aerological observations in Russia|language = Russian|url=http://cao-ntcr.mipt.ru/К%2075%20летию.htm] Molchanov also participated in first Soviet stratospheric balloon ascents (1933-34).

Since 1935 serial production of radiosondes was started in Leningrad. Molchanov's radiosonde construction was so perfect technically, that it was used until 1958 without any significant changes, providing sufficient accuracy of measurements, regularity and stability.

Molchanov died during the Great Patriotic War. Soviet Oceanographic Ice-Class Research Vessel "Professor Molchanov", operated since 1983, was named in his honor.

References

*Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd edition, entry on "Молчанов", available online [http://slovari.yandex.ru/art.xml?art=bse/00049/16400.htm here]