HGSS - recent papers

A 300-year history of understanding and classifying clouds, from a German language perspective

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:37:49 +0200

A 300-year history of understanding and classifying clouds, from a German language perspective
Peter Winkler
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 17, 37–59, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-17-37-2026, 2026
Before the Enlightenment, clouds were described phenomenologically. The vacuum pump’s invention enabled the formation of mist droplets by experiment, prompting questions about why clouds float. Around 1800, early proposals for cloud classification emerged. However, it wasn’t until manned balloon ascents provided detailed atmospheric data that the physical basis of cloud formation became clear, even though accurately depicting clouds in atlases remained challenging for some decades.

The Fate of Y.S. Ma, China's First Female Geologist

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:37:49 +0100

The Fate of Y.S. Ma, China's First Female Geologist
Jian Zhao Yin
Hist. Geo Space. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-6,2026
Preprint under review for HGSS (discussion: open, 0 comments)
In 1944, Ms. Y.S. Ma, the only female geologist in China at the time was killed at the age of 25. This year marks the 82nd anniversary of her tragic death. This article is dedicated to the young scholar who died before achieving her goal, leaving future generations deeply saddened.

Obituary: Bodo Reinisch (1936–2025)

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:37:49 +0100

Obituary: Bodo Reinisch (1936–2025)
Dieter Bilitza
Hist. Geo Space. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-5,2026
Preprint under review for HGSS (discussion: open, 4 comments)
Obituary: Bodo Reinisch (1936–2025).

The founding actor of Türkiye's petroleum geology: Cevat Eyüp Taşman and his legacy in the national energy policies

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:37:49 +0100

The founding actor of Türkiye's petroleum geology: Cevat Eyüp Taşman and his legacy in the national energy policies
Oğuz Mülayim
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 17, 25–35, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-17-25-2026, 2026
This study examines Cevat Eyüp Taşman, Türkiye's pioneering petroleum geologist. Archival research reveals his multifaceted role: architect of systematic oil exploration, leader of the first major discovery, contributor to modern petroleum laws, and public educator.

The first decade (1929–1939) of atmospheric electricity observations at Świder Geophysical Observatory

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:37:49 +0100

The first decade (1929–1939) of atmospheric electricity observations at Świder Geophysical Observatory
Anna Odzimek
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 17, 13–24, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-17-13-2026, 2026
In October 1929, measurements of the atmospheric potential gradient began to be routinely recorded at the Magnetic Observatory in Świder. There was a disruption and loss of the results of these measurements during World War II but the experience shaped the future of the observatory.

Lofty aspirations born of sacrifice – In remembrance of Y. S. Ma, China's first female geologist, and her two colleagues who were murdered at the same time

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:37:49 +0100

Lofty aspirations born of sacrifice – In remembrance of Y. S. Ma, China's first female geologist, and her two colleagues who were murdered at the same time
Jian Zhao Yin
Hist. Geo Space. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-3,2026
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 11 comments)
As China's first scientific institution, Geological Survey of China created many firsts in Chinese geological education, research, and exploration. Unfortunately, following the murder of the geologist Chao by bandits in Yunnan in 1929, in 1944, three more geologists were killed in Guizhou, bordering Yunnan. Among the three were Ms. Ma, the only female geologist in China at the time, and Mr. Hsu and Chen. They were killed on the same day, at the ages of 25, 36, and 28 respectively.

Three historic tide gauge records from Svalbard

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:37:49 +0100

Three historic tide gauge records from Svalbard
Philip L. Woodworth and Thorkild Aarup
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 17, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-17-1-2026, 2026
Three historic tide gauge records from Svalbard were converted from 19th century tabulations into computer files. They are good quality and can be used in modern tidal analysis. We confirmed previous findings on tidal constants and showed how little non-tidal variability in sea level there was at these times. One gauge used had an unusual design but it worked well and so deserves to be known. Biographical information is given on the people who acquired these data.

Geological investigations of the Lizard District, Cornwall, England: 1818–1883

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:37:49 +0100

Geological investigations of the Lizard District, Cornwall, England: 1818–1883
Carl N. Drummond
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 65–79, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-65-2025, 2025
The Lizard District of southern Cornwall is composed of a slab of ancient ocean crust containing rock types otherwise unknown in England. As such, the region has been of great interest to geologists for over two-hundred years. A review of scientific advances through the 19th century highlights the transition from generally field-based to detailed petrographic analyses.

The role of point discharge in the historical development of atmospheric electricity

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:37:49 +0100

The role of point discharge in the historical development of atmospheric electricity
Blair P. S. McGinness, R. Giles Harrison, Karen L. Aplin, and Martin W. Airey
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 51–63, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-51-2025, 2025
Point discharge is an electrical process which occurs naturally in Earth's atmosphere. Like lightning, it has been observed both directly and indirectly for centuries. Several of the milestone investigations in atmospheric electricity have arisen through measuring point discharge. This work gives a history of various investigations involving the phenomenon and explains its central role in developments in atmospheric electricity.

Historical background of Paleo Mega Lake of Rey

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:37:49 +0100

Historical background of Paleo Mega Lake of Rey
Hadi Jarahi and Donya Namdar
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 41–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-41-2025, 2025
This study reveals that a vast ancient lake once covered parts of central Iran, influencing regional culture and settlement. By analyzing old texts, maps, and environmental data, the research reconstructs the lake's size, timeline, and role in history. The findings suggest the lake lasted thousands of years before drying up due to climate shifts, offering new insights into how landscapes shaped early civilizations.

Paul J. Crutzen – interactions with friends and colleagues

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:37:49 +0200

Paul J. Crutzen – interactions with friends and colleagues
Rolf Müller, Lennart Bengtsson, John Birks, John Burrows, Ruprecht Jaenicke, and Richard S. Stolarski
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 31–40, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-31-2025, 2025
This paper reports a few anecdotes from the life of Paul J. Crutzen that were contributed by friends and colleagues. Taken together, these anecdotes should shed some light on the person that Paul was, as this is perhaps sometimes obscured when focusing solely on his many scientific achievements.

Revisiting the fall of the Veramin meteorite

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:37:49 +0200

Revisiting the fall of the Veramin meteorite
Dan Holtstam and Ataollah Hassani
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 23–29, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-23-2025, 2025
The meteorite "Veramin" fell in Persia ca. 1880. In the records, there are ambiguities about the event and the available sources were scrutinized in this review. The current official name, coined by meteoricist A. Brezina, is not supported by Iranian sources. A key document is a rediscovered label with the main mass of the meteorite. The indicated place of the event, probably occurring in February–April 1880, is Booghin of in the historical Zarand district, 100 km NW from Veramin (Varamin).

Aurora records in the Spanish newspaper Extremadura for the period 1923–2017

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:37:49 +0200

Aurora records in the Spanish newspaper Extremadura for the period 1923–2017
Constantino Sánchez Romero, Lucía Díaz-Condiño, Irene Tovar Hernández, Alejandro Jesús Pérez Aparicio, Víctor Manuel Sánchez Carrasco, María Cruz Gallego Herrezuelo, and José Manuel Vaquero
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 13–22, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-13-2025, 2025
This article collects and analyzes reports of auroras published in the Extremadura newspaper from 1923 to 2017. We identified 31 news items describing these events, including major auroras in 1926, 1938, 1957, and 1991. This research highlights the value of newspapers in reconstructing past solar activity.

Contribution to the knowledge of early geotechnics during the 20th century: Laurits Bjerrum

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:37:49 +0100

Contribution to the knowledge of early geotechnics during the 20th century: Laurits Bjerrum
Gonzalo Guillán-Llorente, Belén Muñoz-Medina, Antonio Lara-Galera, and Rubén Galindo-Aires
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 16, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-16-1-2025, 2025
Karl Terzaghi reached out to Laurits Bjerrum in 1954, impressed by his paper on Norwegian quick clays' stability. At 36, Bjerrum, already a PhD and NGI director, emphasised practical research integration, influenced by centres like Imperial College London. He advocated for soil mechanics in civil engineering education and founded its chair in 1960. Bjerrum left a lasting legacy, earning international acclaim for his NGI work and collaborations with geotechnicians like Terzaghi and Casagrande.

Historical evolution of the geomagnetic declination at the Royal Observatory of Madrid

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:37:49 +0100

Historical evolution of the geomagnetic declination at the Royal Observatory of Madrid
Jose Manuel Tordesillas, Francisco Javier Pavón-Carrasco, Alberto Nuñez, and Ana Belén Anquela
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 81–94, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-81-2024, 2024
In December 2021, the agonic line crossed the Royal Observatory of Madrid on its westward drift. The previous crossing by the agonic line, drifting eastward, is not accurately dated because declination measurements of that time are scarce. After collecting the data obtained in the Iberian Peninsula over the last 500 years and reducing them to ROM coordinates, a geomagnetic declination curve was generated. As a result, the previous cross ing been the agonic line was dated around the year 1652.

Lightning and thunder explanations in encyclopedias – from ancient Greece to Wikipedia

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:37:49 +0200

Lightning and thunder explanations in encyclopedias – from ancient Greece to Wikipedia
Kristian Schlegel
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 71–80, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-71-2024, 2024
The explanation of thunder and lightning in encyclopedias from ancient times to Wikipedia is described and discussed.

History of the Potsdam, Seddin and Niemegk geomagnetic observatories – Part 3: Niemegk

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:37:49 +0200

History of the Potsdam, Seddin and Niemegk geomagnetic observatories – Part 3: Niemegk
Hans-Joachim Linthe
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 45–69, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-45-2024, 2024
The DC-powered service of the Berlin suburban railways disturbed the observations in Potsdam and Seddin. A suitable location for the establishment of a new observatory was found near the small town of Niemegk. The "Adolf-Schmidt-Observatorium für Erdmagnetismus Niemegk" was officially opened on 23 July 1930, Adolf Schmidt’s 70th. The observations started on 1 January 1932. The Niemegk measurement series spans 92 years, only interrupted at the end of World War II.

Book review: My Life in Space Exploration by G. Haerendel

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:37:49 +0200

Book review: My Life in Space Exploration by G. Haerendel
Louis J. Lanzerotti
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 43–44, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-43-2024, 2024

Book review: Scientific Debates in Space Science by Warren David Cummings and Louis J. Lanzorotti

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:37:49 +0200

Book review: Scientific Debates in Space Science by Warren David Cummings and Louis J. Lanzorotti
Huixin Liu
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 41–42, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-41-2024, 2024

Conjugate aurora observations by the Gjøa and Discovery expeditions

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:37:49 +0200

Conjugate aurora observations by the Gjøa and Discovery expeditions
Alv Egeland
Hist. Geo Space. Sci., 15, 27–39, https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-15-27-2024, 2024
During the Gjøa and Discovery expeditions (1901–1906), weak geomagnetic signatures were observed simultaneously with visual polar cap auroras. Main types are transpolar arcs, poleward-moving substorm arcs, and Sun-aligned arcs. The first two are infrequent, while the last one occurs often. They appear like the regular magnetic solar Sq variation. It is suggested that they are embedded in polar rain and dependent on the density and energy of photoelectrons.