INFORMATION ON SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION - 1959

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00141R000200680001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
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• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 22, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

GEOPNYS I CAL FEAR ~' I NFORMAT I ON
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PB 13,1632..67
INFOMITION ON SOVIET BLOC INTI RNA'I'IONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION n .1959
D &W 22D 1959
U. S. DEPAETI'iENT OF COI.MERCE
Office of Technical Services
Washington 25, D. L
Published Weekly
Subscription Price $12.00 for the Series
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INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION PROGRAM--
SOVIET-BLOC ACTIVITIES
Table of Contents
1. General
II. Rockets and Artificial Earth Satellites
III. Upper Atmosphere
IV. Gravimetry
V. Oceanography
VI. Arctic and Antarctic
Page
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I. GENERAL
A description is given of a determination of the ellipsoid of the
earth in the general area of Europe, extending from the Mediterranean
Sea to the Arctic Ocean and west of 30 degrees East longitude. A total
of 708 astronomical-geodetic points of the astronomical-geodetic net-
works of 22 countries, represented primarily in the Central European
Network and the Baltic Network, were used for this determination by the
Czechoslovak Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography, and Cartography
during 1956, 1957 and 1958. This represents a continuation of studies
carried out under the direction of A. A. Izatov at the Central Scientific
Research Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Surveying, and Cartography in Mos-
cow.
The determination of the major semiaxis was done by both a transla-
tive and a projective method, the results of which are in satisfactory
agreement. The results obtained in this work are considered a confir-
mation of the validity of using the Krassowski ellipsoid as a reference
ellipsoid.
The ellipsoid parameters are in closest agreement with those derived
by Liebermann (Bull. geod., No 37, 1955)9 which is of particular in-
terest because Liebermann used a completely different method from that
employed here. ("The Dimensions of the Ellipsoid of the Earth from
the European Astronomical-Geodetic Nets," by M. Bursa, Prague; Berlin,
Vermessungstechnik, No !E, Apr 59, pp 77-80, 86)
Interview With Dr Ludmila Paj dusakova-Mrko s ova
Dr Ludmila Pajdusakova-Mrkosova, Czech scientist, gave the follow-
ing information on IGY work in the Institute of Astronomy of the Slovak
Academy of Sciences, in a recent interview.
The Institute of Astronomy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, at its
station on Skalnate Pleso, is conducting work along three lines in ac-
cordance with the IGY program. These works include meteor material re-
search, the observation of artificial earth satellites, and research in
solar activity. The first of these disciplines was brought into the
program in 1959, when the IGY program was continued. in the framework of
"International Geophysical Cooperation." Solar research, as well as ob-
servation of artificial earth satellites, will continue after the IGY is
over. In the IGY program, the station reported the daily sun spot numbers
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Czech Work on Ellipsoid of the Earth From European Astronomic al-Geodetic
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and Crtt.E";.! it:,F? pr.t;:ti::, on e.t?.1, ;enter in Frwioniee.
Mrko , ,t ? the=: L:own..-.Yy ;t?..+. *slt?y.c~n~ ~'i .c7 re.. a,r:h on airg .ow under the
t,Y or~~ r;an and w,~:1.1. ocltit. tip: work,, Ha.r o.'r.-.,i;r,rat,aons will be the
they are teeing ^oridu::.t,ed over a wide area., ex-
..lldJ.nE; from ?C+ degr'r:e:r, So:ath ?l .Lit'.u.de;, through the equator' and as far
north at' .Lr ni nt;
The ';n:;titute of A.strr:nomy j:'.ta!:.i?rn ~:n Lo.mn'.,;ky ;Sti,t h.,^?h began
operation; In hug ma+ae marry ::nn~?.r?..;':l,r:ti.:tit i.n,dtiwvering and
plotting new ontet+ , ::;t ha, pu'.1~..}red t?},?~ r!?`?'t.Et! ,oeli Sk:al.nate P:ieso2
a .map of the nort:hr r'n and no!:.thera to w-W. hanother atlas,, the
Atlas A~.1.1 rata. j .l~C m , P the .~,_ .: .? al;p:~,nE,y or....a psr. of. ~Y.~ sky at +.:lr~: equator but
..rntai.ni ng moi e 'tar. e than the Atle,4 I.;:oe 1 . has r.. ,e r, wn.t?1y been added.
The t, t?.~.r~r: ha= 1 e :u h:: gh y pr'a...;,~,d for work: on me t-teor.e. Zurirh;,
the cent. r for thn ob,sNr.'rat.ion of the b.ar vca; ued the
stationrR work. '.n sc.la?: dL,7'?r:vat,.o?l?. Re ;eer?':,h on !rari.ah2e stare is
also dvre:.opi.ng rap:c!ly~
The a .:,. :f a long t~~rrr. nature. Some. ac the
;t.udy of vo.rfat,i.e Ft rr. . %d.i.1. :r.cs. :t't is found that, because of contradictory design
L ecl,x.i :semen t.s '.t. ,..s not possible, cn the basis of theory aone; to draw
l_
fi.na'l. ;on,:l.usiorns on optimal designs., The principles of
d4s:ig.n pr .
.-anted. here-, hoi ev: r, a.rr~ r.. onside c=.d an adequate basis and ;; p.:1. for
developn-wn.t, work: on the further refinement of precision o~9. ~:?1.:. ..n-
strc,me.nt.c. t("A flew Ast?atized Pendulum for Precise Inclination Measure.,
meet: s and. Automatic Stab Stabilization of Lines of Sight," by 0,..Rafm~at:r;
Jena., Jahrb7.,c:h 1958, Part is pp 63-?1833)
Wor1t. of SovietFxedi.t?ionaxy Ships Disr.:uc red by MembercofIn, t!tua.t_of
Y
An artl.~!le cn the equipment of Soviet expeditionary sh:.I.!: and the
conduct of investigations w .th the aid of saientif_c: instrcanen-E appears
in the newspaper Sovetslsiy Flot in response to a r ea.der ? s gaest'?i on . The
article 1 s wr .t ten by I. Stcyanov, chief of the fleet dl:,ri:.s?.on of the
Institute of 0: eano7.cgy, Academy of Sciences t.TSSR.
The Soviet Union has first class, expeditionary ships equipped with
the latest s^i.entifit: apparatus. Plying the oceans and seas are the
ships,, IF" tyaz Ob ` , Lena.; Mikhail Lomonosov, Sedov . Rkaator' and 2,a:rya..
The ship Akademik Kovalevskiy conducted observations in the :Med '-sxranean
Sea. Many r.;se:arch ship's of medium and low tonnage operate on +.he sea.,
surrounding the Soviet'. Un' on and on the numerous inlan:i water r ~r7rairs ,
lakes: - and rivers.
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A wealth of scientific equipntrrt is carried by the research ships
V1.tyaz' and Makliai.l Lomonosov, which belong to the Academy of Sciences
USSR. These have a water displacement of 6,000 tons.
Isere, at the disposal of the scientists are convenient laboratory
:installations for research in the fields of hydrophysics, hydrochemistry
geology, biology, etc. Each ship has up to 16 laboratories, in which
65-70 associates can work simultaneously.
The Vityaz' and the Lomonosov can undertake voyages lasting from
3 to 5 months. During one voyage, they can cover from 15,000 to 20,000
miles.
The experU.tionary ships have an abundance of deck equipment. Winches
of many types, designed and built in the USSR, make it possible to
lower instruments, to ancciur, and to conduct trawling operations at any
depth. The powerful anchor winch on the Vityaz' was built by the staff
of the Dynamo plant in Moscow and the imeni S. M. Kirov plant in Lenin-
g rad. Its cable drum holds h4 kilometers of steel cable, graduating from
14 to 25 millimeters in diameter. The weight of the cable alone is 15
tons.
With the aid of the anchor winch, the ship can conduct many days of
observation anchored at a specific point regardless of the depth. The
Vityaz' made one such deepwater anchoring in the region of Japan, where
the depth of the water was 9,600 meters. The deepwater winch used for
trawling is of similar construction to the anchor winch. With it, trawl-
ing was conducted at depths of 10,690 meters in the Tonga depression
and 10,710 meters in the Mariana Trench. The winch was also used for
obtaining soil cores almost 35 meters long with hydrostatic corers de-
signed by N. N. Sysoyev and Ye. I. Kudinov.
A deep-water oc':an winch was created for lowering instruments to
great depths. Its drum held 12.5 kilometers of cable. Using this winch
various instruments, bottom scoops, coring tubes, etc., were lowered to
the very end of the cable. During one of the Vityaz' voyages, apparatus
for underwater photography, designed by N. L. Zenkevich, was used to
obtain pictures at a depth of over 10 kilometers.
At the disposal of oceanologists are "Okean" type winches which
lower plankton and ichthyological nets, hydrological instruments,
bottom scoops, soil corers, etc.
Thanks to new instruments and perfected observational techniques,
Soviet scientists can, in briefer periods of time study larger areas and
gather data enabling them to obtain precise results and make important
generalizations. The velocities and directions of currents are measured
with Yu. K. Alekseyev-type self-recording devices. These light and
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can operate at depths of more tha::7 1.,500 meters
tle lee r,.ud. oJ. a .month, Thec;e self recorders are considered. the best
r~ ti~?, w()r.?.!.d.. T:oc Vit,yaz' recently completed its 29th voyage,, during
t,h._h a new model of the automatic current recorder for use at. depths
i ?, 50() me tt_ ro wa,s tested. The Alekseyev instruments can be used
only while the ship is standing at anchor or while drifting. Soviet
scientists developed the electromagnetic current meter [EM:rT] for
measuring; the velocity and direction of currents while under way.
A group of engineers of the Institute of Qceano.*Logy and the A.11
Union S::ient:?fy.,, Research Institute of the Fish Economy and Ocean-
ography {VNIRO) developed e1ectronic instruments.; w t?h the a.id of
wh.i.nh the trawl can be observed from on board the ship. This i.nst?ru..
m,nt incr.:ases the effectiveness of the fishing industry.
The Investigation of bottom relief is a basic part of oceano-
l,raphS.^ work, During :recent, years,, Soviet ships have made continuous
re^ord- of bottom relief over hundreds of thousands of kilometers
The data collected made it possible to compile new batymetri.c: charts
which are a? ^oneidsrabl.e improvement over the old ones. Studies of.
1.2 of the "1.5 greater> t known depths of the Fay: i.fic, conducted by Soviet
s^i.an?.'~sl.s on the Vityaz', led to fixing the greatest of all known
depths at 1_1,0,34 meters..
Sps ci.al sonar fish :locators greatly facilitate the detection of
schools and increaF.e c::at.chees.
Navi.gationa.1 inst.rr:unents on the ship, are used in a number of oases
for r_oncluctir'g investigations. Into the circuit of the automatic elec-
uroconta~:t c~zrrenf:?.re orders, developed by Ye. 1. Kudinov, an associate
of the lr;. ~: ; ,`.>te of Oceanology., a gyrocompass repeater J ..q conne^ted,
making it b:!..e to obtain the true direction of the currents on the
tape? he a . of buoy stations was recently introduced into practice
in hydrological inveet igat ions.. Automatic self-recorders suspended fr:tm
"h e buoy e.stab, ish the speed and direction of currents at different,
level.f,? Ship's radar and radio also ai,.J& the sc?entis't,-n in their ',Tork
on observations of drifting or .anchored. buoy stations,
An exnedi.tionary ship is also a meteorological stattion. The
].at-e.; t models of meteoro.logical. equipment., including chip remote sta??
t ions. , are carried on board the Vityaz ? and the Lomonc s v
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The small resear ships are equipped with numerous instruments.
The Akademik S. Vavil with a, displacement of 360 tons, carries three
ocean winches, a deep er anchoring device, gyrocompass, radar, four
fa.thometera, etc, The work on the ships, small floating laboratories,
sometimes involves gr . difficulties. The voyage of the expeditionary
ship Geolog in Anadyr Bay and the Bering Sea is a good example of
this. This ship, with displacement of 54 tons, under the command
of Capt A. M. Kavdeykii traveled about 4,000 miles under the most dif-
ficult navigational co itions. Many scientific observations were con-
tucted however.
Much of the mated
collected during the IGY has just now been
published, but it may ca'ely said that the work performed by Soviet
a
expeditionary ships h given important results. Several discoveries
made it possible to ar ve at highly significant conclusions. The
rather rapid displacern t of the waters in deep-water depressions, which
was established by Vi Bogorov and Ye. M. Kreps, corresponding members
of the Academy of Sce es USSR, reveals as fully unsubtantiated and
impractical the US pro sal to use these depths for the disposal of
radioactive wastes.
The scope of oce graphic investigations in the Soviet Union has
rnadered each year, s s Stayanov. An ever-growing number of ships
lying the pennant of Academy of Sciences USSR is engaging in these
perations. New scien is research stations are being built on the
sea coasts, rivers, 1 s, seas, etc., and oceanographic instruments
and research technique are being perfected. All new detachments of
Soviet scientists and sailors are united in the important work of master-
ing the secrets of the as and oceans :r ',.e interests of the national
economy and navigation These men are now taking part in the investiga-
icns according to the "International Geophysical Cooperation" program.
The successful fL lJiient of the Seven Year Plan, designated by
he 21st Party Congres , will make it possible to fit out Soviet expedi-
.,nonary shins with more highly perfected scientific apparatus,
1"Fcr investigations on the Seas and Oceans," by I. Stayanov, chief of
the fleet division of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences
USSR; Moscow, Sovetskiy Flot, 24 Mar 59)
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VI? ARCTIC AND .ANTARCTltC
Soviet Scientific: Ex editiono~i.n~the Arctic
Soviet scientists in the Arctic are now conducting complex scien-
tific research to improve navigation facilities on the Northern Sea
Route.
An air expedition, group sponsored by the Arctic and Antarctic
Institute and headed by V. Kanaki, has been carrying out landings on
the ice in various points of the Central Arctic. Members, of the group
have established drifting automatic radiometeorological stations and
radio beacons and have conducted complex oceanographic observations.
Over a month has passed since a hydrographic expedition of
Olavsevmorput? (Main Administration of the Northern Sea Route), headed
by I. Chev,;kalov, started working on Severnaya Zemlya. Polar workers
with the help of airplanes., oversnow vehicles, and dogsleds, will cover
the most remote points of the archipelago during their, explorationa.
Another hydrographic expedition, headed by P. Mtkhaylenko, is Con-
tinuing research activities, which were begun earlier on Zemlya 'rRlntsa
Iosifa. The work is being conducted in the straits ?xd )n Ja number oAf
islands, including Oatrov Kheyua.
A new group of scientists left ]Leningrad recently for the An:tiN.
This group includes Doctor of P,oyc;I omathematical Sciences N. K,sozyrev,
astronomer of the Pulkovo Observatory, who recently discovered signs
of volcanic activity on the moon. Before leaving for. the Arctic,
Kozyrev stated that he had been given the opportunity of verifying, in
the northern latitudes, the theories concerning the e:Kiatence of aeym.
metric forces active on the surface of the earth. These fcr,_es, which
are alvaye directed along the earth? s axle, we .re studied by Xozyrev in
the temperate zones of the Eastern hemisphere? Now he. WILL be able. to
measure them in the Central Arctic Basin.
Kozyrev and his assistant,, astronomer V. Lybeyeh, with the help of
a special portable instrument designed by them, vill conduct the Sec essary
scientific research in different high - l.at ttude regivns0 t'"To, day in the
Arctic"; Moscow, Vc?dnyy Transpoorw, 23 Apr' 59)
Study of IceberRa Aid's Navigation
On 22 December 1958, when the fib ? was on its way to the An t ~r : ti c
and reached the 49th degree S, the first Iceberg was sn.sauntered. Mare:
and more icebergs appeared acs the ship sailed fur her souz+h. XLn a tee.
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days, at any time of the day or night, one could count from 30 to 80 ice-
bergs simultaneously floating around the ship. The icebergs are the most
typical element of the Antarctic water scene and are closely related to
numerous phenomena taking place in the atmosphere and in the sea.
With the help of radar, it was possible to register every single
iceberg during the period of navigation in the ice zone. These observa-
tions provided valuable data concerning the principal routes of ice-
bergs, the regions of their most intensive foination, the boundaries of
their distribution, and the duration of their existence.
Observations of this type are of great interest for the solution
of such an important gcophyuical problem as the balance of matter in
the huge ice sheet covering the antarctic continent.
Information of the characteristics of distribution and movement of
icebergs is one of the major conditions in ensuring safety of navigation
in Antarctic waters. However, the icebergs in the Antarctic are not
only a navigational hazard. The floating icebergs may be used widely
by navigators in solving many important problems. For example, since
the speed of movement of the large icebergs is generally not very great,
and their transfer from one place to another during short periods of
time is often very close to the computations made by navigators, the
Ob' constantly made use of the floating icebergs to determine the loca-
tion of the ship. During navigation in Antarctic waters, where the
weather is always cloudy, with frequent fog or snowfall, the ship
frequently had to change its course; while it was impossible at such
times to use the log because of the ice, the indicated method of ice-
berg observation gave excellent results.
Icebergs may serve navigators also in the event ships have to
force their way throu&, closely packed drift ice. Since the icebergs
are deeply immersed in the water, they move mainly under the influence
of the current, while sea ice moves according to the wind. In the
event of strong wind, sea ice movez faster and areas of open water
form in the lee of icebergs, which have been called "water shadows."
If the icebergs are large in size and there is a great number of them,
the "water shadows" blend into each other and form huge polynyas,
extending over many miles. These polynyas are very darable and can be
used successfully to overcome heavily packed ice.
In navigational practice, it is extremely important to establish
a relation between the icebergs and the drifting sea ice. Under certain
conditions, icebergs have an enormous effect on the nature and dis-
tribution of sea ice, as they may speed up the breaking of shore ice
and its being carried out to sea, or on the other hand, they may act
as a barrier preventing the shore ice from moving out.
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The ice reconnaisatine e and research work conducted on the Ob'
naturally could not cover all the problems posed by science and naviga-
tional practice, Together with the research results of previous Soviet
Antarctic expeditions, this material must be considered. as a continua..
tion of the systematic work being done in studying the ice regime of
Antarctic waters. ("Iceber s in the Service of Navigation"; Moscow,
Vodnyy Transport, 18 Apr 59)
Beginning of Antarctic Winker Season
The polar night in the interior of Antarctica has set in. On
22 April) the sun appeared for the last time in the region of the
south geomagnetic pole. The polar scientists wintering at Station
Vostok will not oee the sun again for 4 monts. The Antarctic winter
is already making itself felt on the high-mountain ice plateau where
Station Vostok is located. Ye. Yevseyev, meteorologist, recently
recorded an air temperature of minus 72.1 degrees Centigrade.
A group of members of the glaciological detachment flew east, from
Mirnyy to do field research. The LI-2 plane, piloted by P. Rogov,
landed the scientists on the Shackleton Ice Shelf. From there, the
plane was to carry the party to the ice cupola of Mill Island, located
in the same region.
The group arrived on Shackleton Ice Shelf during the daytime.
Complex research activities were conducted at this place during a 224-
hour period: two test holes were drilled, core samples oi" ice were
taken, and other work was carried out.
A heavy snowstorm began unexpectedly during the night. The wind
velocity reached 40 meters per second, and the plane was unable to take
off for Mirnyy. The purga continued for 5 days. During a hurricane-
force wind, the men had to chop holes through the ice and the plane
was anchored in the ic:e. When the storm died down temporarily., the
party returned to Mirnyy.
Interesting observations were conducted by A. Kapitaa and L. arum
shchev, g].aciologisto, on the ice cupola of Drygalski Island, located
in Davis Sea north of Mirnyy. ("The Sun .Bac Appeared for the Last Time";
Moscow, Vodnyy Transport, 23 Apr' 59)
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New Antarctic Traverse Is in Progress
A group of members of the Fourth Antarctic Expedition is at present
undertaking a sled-tractor traverse into the interior of Antarctica.
The scientific research train consists of two "Pingvin" caterpillar
tractors towing two sledges with equipment. One of the tractors is equipped
with navigational instruments and a radio set.
Seven polar specialists are taking part in this traverse, including
A. Khoman'ko, V. Makarov, and V. Ivanov, ocientific associates of the
Institute of Physics of the Earth; Academy of Sciences USSR; V. M.
Lyubarets, radio technician; and M. Petrov and B. Shafaruk, mechanics
and drivers. The expedition is headed by S. Sheglov, geophysicist. The
group is conducting scientific observations under the prcgram of the
IOC-1959 in the fields of geodesy, gravimet ry, meteorology, glaciology,
and geography. The traverse is scheduled to take slightly over 2 months.
On 24 April, the scientific research train was located 63 kilometers
south of Mirnyy. The weather was extremely unfavorable, as there were
snowstorms and temperatures of minus 20-25 degrees Centigrade. ("Traverse
of 'Pingvin' Vehicles"; Moscow, Voc:nyy Transport, 25 ft.pr 59)
Czech Scientist Returns from Antarctic
Antonin Mkros, the Czech scientist, returned from the Antarctic on
the Ob'. Be had worked for 16 months as a member of the Third Continental
Antarctic Expedition, conducting scientific research at the Mirnyy observ-
atory; he also took part in a sled-tractor traverse into the interior,
helped the Soviet polar workers and seamen in setting up the new station
Lazarev, and conducted field research in the mountains of Queen Maud Land.
On his return, the Czech scientist visited the office of Glavsevmor-
put', accompanied by Stanislav Bartl, special correspondent of the Czech
youth paper M].ada Fronta, wno also made a voyage to the Antarctic on the
Ob'. Before returning home, Antonin Mkros and Stanislav Bart]. asked
that greetings be forwarded to their friends, the Soviet polar scientists
and seamen. ("Sincere Greetings to the Polar Workers"; Moscow, Vodnyy
Transport, 28 Apr 59)
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