Poul la Cour - nmm2014.files.wordpress.com of the Poul la Cour Museum. Introduction: The windmill...
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Poul la Cour (1846-1908) THE FIRST DANISH METEOROLOGIST
Transcript of Poul la Cour - nmm2014.files.wordpress.com of the Poul la Cour Museum. Introduction: The windmill...
Poul la Cour(1846-1908)
THE FIRST DANISH METEOROLOGIST
Introduction: The windmill pioneer
“There is a merry wind over Askov
with its free horizon. “We only have
10 days without wind every year,”
the locals say. This is an
exaggeration by the way. But what
a lot of energy passing over Askov,
well, over the whole country,
almost completely free, while the
country imports lots of energy in the
form of coal and pays for it
plentifully.”
From Poul la Cour’s autobiography
(1903). Figures from “Kapitler af
vindkraftens historie” by “The
friends of the Poul la Cour Museum.
Introduction: The windmill pioneer
Johannes
Juul
Gedser-
møllen
(1957)
“There is a merry wind over Askov
with its free horizon. “We only have
10 days without wind every year,”
the locals say. This is an
exaggeration by the way. But what
a lot of energy passing over Askov,
well, over the whole country,
almost completely free, while the
country imports lots of energy in the
form of coal and pays for it
plentifully.”
From Poul la Cour’s autobiography
(1903). Figures from “Kapitler af
vindkraftens historie” by “The
friends of the Poul la Cour Museum.
The phonic wheel
Spectrotelegraphy
The kratostate for energy
smoothening
The use of hydrogen for
wind-energy storage
Introduction: The inventions
Background
Povl-Otto Nissen from: “Friends of the Poul
la Cour Museum” (Poul la Cour Museets
Venner ) http://www.poullacour.dk/
Thanks to May-Britt R. Bundsgaard for finding
this material in the DMI archives!
Starting as a meteorologist
J. C. la Cour
(1838-1898)
N. J. Fjord (1825-1891)
Five year meteoro-
logical
report 1866-1870
Starting as a meteorologist
J. C. la Cour
(1838-1898)
N. J. Fjord (1825-1891)
Five year meteoro-
logical
report 1866-1870
Starting as a meteorologist
J. C. la Cour
(1838-1898)
N. J. Fjord (1825-1891)
Five year meteoro-
logical
report 1866-1870
Investigating the climatology of
Denmark
10-year climatology for
the decade 1861-1870
Investigating the climatology of
Denmark
10-year climatology for
the decade 1861-1870
Critical comments on
climatology: “Every lake,
river, bog, hill, etc. causes
great inhomogeneities
especially in the heat-
conditions; the differences
in the soil surface heat conductivity, soil moisture,
etc. have their effect.”
The influence of forests on temperature
(1870)
Inspiration for starting a Danish
Meteorological Bureau
In 1870 la Cour travelled to Holland to visit Buijs Ballot at the Royal
Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
This inspires la Cour to suggest the founding of a Danish
Meteorological Bureau based on Ballot’s principles of forecasting
Ballot realized that the changes in surface pressure decides the track of
a storm. La Cour: “The forecasting method of Buijs Ballot is so excellent
that it would take many objections to shake it, and I have no fear of
discussing the matter with Mohn, although he may have objections, as
he is not using it.” (HCH)
With telegraphy the observations could be sent twice daily from Danish
stations and once daily from abroad to MI. Warnings could then be sent
out when needed.
Founding of (D)MI
Many good arguments but difficult to get financing…
... Until the storm of December 1871, which the Norwegians were much better prepared for than the Danish! (HCH)
The Copenhagen University did not want to be in charge. (HCH)
La Cour vs Hoffmeyer - the struggle to be the first director of MI.
Why did la Cour stop as a
meteorologist?
In 1878, after having been vice director of MI in 6 years it was over.
In personal letters to his brother he grieved over being merely a clerk (HCH)
Culture difference (military/academic) between La Cour and
Hoffmeyer.
Disappointment over not becoming director (HCH)
Other meteorological works
Article: "Maximum og Minimum i de meteorologiske Iagttagelser ved
Landbohøjskolen 1861-65," Tidsk. f. Physik og Chemi, bind 6; 1867:
321-328.
Article: "Maaling af sammenhængende Skylags Højde," Det kgl.
danske Vidsk. Selsk. Forh., 1871: 75-88.
Book: ”Tyge Brahes Meteorologiske Dagbog,” 1876.
Book: ”Historisk Mathematik,” 1881.
Book: ”Historisk Fysik,” 1896-1901.
Thank you for your attention!
