Carl Strmer: Auroral Pioneer [Paperback]

This biography summarizes the seminal contributions to auroral and space science of Carl St?rmer (1874 - 1957). He was the first to develop precise photographic methods to calculate heights and morphologies of diverse auroral forms during four solar cycles. St?rmer independently devised numerical techniques to determine the trajectories of high-energy charged particles allowed and forbidden in the Earths magnetic field. His theoretical analyses explained cosmic ray access to the upper atmosphere, 20 years before they were identified by other scientists. St?rmers crowning achievement, The Polar Aurora, published when he was 81 years old, stands to this day as a regularly cited guide in graduate-level courses on space physics.
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The authors present the life of this prodigious scientist in relation to the cultural life of early 20th century in Norway and to the development of the space sciences in the post-Sputnik era.

This biography summarizes the seminal contributions to auroral and space science of Carl St?rmer (1874 - 1957), the first to develop precise photographic methods to calculate heights and morphologies of diverse auroral forms during four solar cycles.

Preface.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Carl St?rmers Origins.- 3 St?rmers Auroral Studies.- 4 Mother-of-Pearl-, Noctilucent Clouds, Comets and Metors.- 5 Botanical Interests.- 6 Mathematical Analyses.- 7 Cooperation and conflict with Kristian Birkeland.- 8 St?rmer the Man.- 9 The St?rmer Family.- 10 St?rmers Accomplishments: In Retrospect.- 11 Carl St?rmers publications, biographies, and other sources. Appendix 1 St?rmers Trajectory Analyses.- Appendix 2 Auroral Height and Position Orientations.- Bibliography.- Index of names.

From the book reviews:

The authors give a detailed account of his early life, his parents, and St?rmers growing interest in mathematics, astronomy, and botany. & for those who have seen, or harbour hopes of seeinglĂ$