Rykachev M.A., (1840/41-1919), meteorologist

Categories / Science. Education/Personalia
RYKACHEV Mikhail Alexandrovich (1840-1919, Petrograd), meteorologist, member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1896, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1917), lieutenant general (1904). He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1865. Two years later he received a post at the Central Geophysical Observatory, which he headed from 1896 to 1913. His works focus on issues of meteorology, geomagnetism and aerostatics. In 1868-73, he made a number of balloon flights for scientific reasons. He also investigated the problem of drinking water supply of St. Petersburg and flooding. In 1897, he launched the warning system to notify the public on expected water rises on the Neva River. In 1904, he chaired the First International Aeronautical Congress. Buried at Smolenskoe Orthodox cemetery. Rykachev's name was given to an island near Taymyr Peninsula.

References: Поташов И. Я. Академик М. А. Рыкачев. Ярославль, 1965.

O. N. Ansberg. Rykachev Mikhail Alexandrovich
Поташов И. Я. Академик М. А. Рыкачев. Ярославль, 1965 Russian Academy of Sciences
Admiral Makarov Sea Academy
Voeykov Main Geophysical Observatory