Mikhail Molodenskii

Mikhail Sergeyevich Molodenski (born 3 Junijul / 16 June 1909greg in Epifan ( Tula province ), Russia, .. † 12 November 1991 ) was a Soviet geophysicist and geodetic astronomer.

He graduated from the Moscow University. From 1932 he worked on studies of the theoretical shape of the earth and its external gravity field. To his main scientific task of developing a theory to hypothesis- free determination of the figure of the earth was.

Since it this does not seem possible to measure technical and physical fundamentals - herein Molodenski was in some vigorously dispute with the Austrian Karl leather Steger - he suggested as a reference surface for altitude measurements instead of the geoid before a primarily geometrically defined surface, which was later called Quasigeoid.

In this context, he was instrumental in the scientific and practical justification of the normal heights, which were introduced around the 1960s in the Soviet hegemony area ( Eastern Bloc ).

Because of the theoretical preference to require no partially uncertain density of the Earth's crust for the geoid determination, some western countries have been transferred to the Molodenskischen normal heights. They have, however, compared to a physical level term ( eg dynamic or orthometric height ) has the disadvantage that two points of equal standard height not lie on the same level surface, that is able to flow between them water.

In addition to this great theoretical performance Molodenskis even more fundamental research in the field of geophysics and geodesy go back to him. He received, among others, the State Prize of the USSR and the Lenin Prize.