Reino Antero Hirvonen
Encyclopedia
Reino Antero Hirvonen was a famous
Finnish
physical geodesist, also well known for
contributions in mathematical and astronomical geodesy.
He worked at first at the Finnish Geodetic Institute
under W.A. Heiskanen on gravimetric geoid determination. In 1950 he succeeded
Heiskanen as Professor of Geodesy
at the Helsinki University of Technology
.
He also took an active interest in astronomy, acting from 1956 to 1964 as a
vice president of the Finnish amateur astronomical society Ursa
.
Hirvonen R.A. participated in 1930s building and measuring the Finnish landscape to higher accuracy than before by building triangulation measuring towers and developing new mathematical algorithms for the manual calculations (before the computer era).
In 1947 he led the team of Finnish scientist to Brazil to measure the distance between South America and Africa. (Kukkamäki was leader of the team sent to Africa.) They succeed with measurements using a triangulation method based on measuring points in Brazil and Africa. The third point of the triangle was the solar eclipse happening that year, which was visible in both Africa and South America. Using the most accurate timing available signals for the solar eclipse measurements, they were able to calculate the distance between Africa and South America to a higher accuracy than ever before.
1951–1952 and 1954–1955 he lectured in the Department of Geodetic Science at The Ohio State University
, in Columbus, Ohio (USA). He educated the students about navigation using the stars as reference points. Later it helped the USA to fly to the moon.
).
Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
physical geodesist, also well known for
contributions in mathematical and astronomical geodesy.
He worked at first at the Finnish Geodetic Institute
Finnish Geodetic Institute
The Finnish Geodetic Institute is a Finnish research institute specializing in geodesy and geospatial information science and technology. It is located in Masala, Kirkkonummi.-History:...
under W.A. Heiskanen on gravimetric geoid determination. In 1950 he succeeded
Heiskanen as Professor 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...
at the Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
.
He also took an active interest in astronomy, acting from 1956 to 1964 as a
vice president of the Finnish amateur astronomical society Ursa
Ursa (Finland)
Ursa Astronomical Association is the largest astronomical association in Finland. Ursa was founded on 2 November 1921. Founding members include a renowned Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä. In 1926 Ursa established the Ursa Observatory in Kaivopuisto district of Helsinki. Ursa's primary functions...
.
Hirvonen R.A. participated in 1930s building and measuring the Finnish landscape to higher accuracy than before by building triangulation measuring towers and developing new mathematical algorithms for the manual calculations (before the computer era).
In 1947 he led the team of Finnish scientist to Brazil to measure the distance between South America and Africa. (Kukkamäki was leader of the team sent to Africa.) They succeed with measurements using a triangulation method based on measuring points in Brazil and Africa. The third point of the triangle was the solar eclipse happening that year, which was visible in both Africa and South America. Using the most accurate timing available signals for the solar eclipse measurements, they were able to calculate the distance between Africa and South America to a higher accuracy than ever before.
1951–1952 and 1954–1955 he lectured in the Department of Geodetic Science at The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, in Columbus, Ohio (USA). He educated the students about navigation using the stars as reference points. Later it helped the USA to fly to the moon.
Awards
In 1967 he received the Kaarina and Weikko A. Heiskanen Award (Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
).
Publications
- Hirvonen RA (1934) The continental undulations of the geoid. Ph.D dissertation, Publications of the Finnish Geodestic Institute 19, Helsinki.
- Kukkamäki TJ, RA Hirvonen (1947) The Finnish solar eclipse expeditions to the Gold Coast and Brazil 1947. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 44, Helsinki
- Hirvonen RA (1951) The motions of Moon and Sun at the solar eclipse of 1947 May 20th. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 40, Helsinki.
- Hirvonen RA (1960) New Theory of the Gravimetric Geodesy. Publications of the Isostatic Institute of the IAG, 32, Helsinki.
- Hirvonen RA (1962). On the statistical analysis of gravity anomalies. Publications of the Isostatic Institute of the IAG, 37, Helsinki.
- Hirvonen RA and H Moritz (1963). Practical computation of gravity at high altitudes. Report No. 27, Inst. Geod. Phot. Cart. Ohio State Univ.
- Hirvonen RA (1964) Praktische Rechenforme1n für die dreidimensionale Geodäsie. Zeitschrift fuer Vermessungswesen 5, 145-151.
- Hirvonen RA (1971) Adjustments by Least Squares in Geodesy and Photogrammetry, Ungar, New York.
- Hirvonen RA (1976) Precise computation of the precession. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 80, Helsinki