science

Reino Antero Hirvonen

Reino Antero Hirvonen is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Reino Antero Hirvonen rather than just read about it. In short: Reino Antero Hirvonen (1908–1989) was a famous Finnish physical geodesist, also well known for contributions in mathematical and astronomical geodesy. He worked at first at the Finnish Geodetic Institute under W.A.

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Reference excerpt

Reino Antero Hirvonen (1908–1989) was a famous Finnish physical geodesist, also well known for contributions in mathematical and astronomical geodesy. He worked at first at the Finnish Geodetic Institute under W.A. Heiskanen on gravimetric geoid determination, publishing his dissertation The Continental Undulations of the Geoid in 1934 on the determination of a global geoid model from only 4500 data points. In 1950 he succeeded Heiskanen as Professor of Geodesy at the Helsinki University of Technology. He also took an active interest in astronomy, acting from 1956 to 1964 as a vice president of the Finnish amateur astronomical society Ursa. R.A. Hirvonen participated in the 1930s in the construction of triangulation towers, and measurements, for the first order triangulation of Finland. He also developed over the years many new mathematical algorithms for manual calculations (before the computer era), e.g., for calculating the Gauss-Krüger map projection. In 1947 he led a team of Finnish scientists to Brazil to measure the distance between South America and Africa. (T.J. Kukkamäki was the leader of the team sent to, then, Gold Coast, Africa.) They succeed with measurements using a method based on observing from points in Brazil and Africa. They used the solar eclipse happening that year, which was visible in both Africa and South America. Using long focus film cameras and the most accurate available radio time signals for the solar eclipse measurements, they were able to calculate the distance between Africa and South America to a higher accuracy than ever before: 141 m. 1951–1952 and 1954–1955 Hirvonen lectured in the Department of Geodetic Science at The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio (USA). He educated the students about navigation using the stars as reference points. Later it helped the USA to fly to the moon.

Awards In 1967 he received the Kaarina and Weikko A. Heiskanen Award (Ohio State University).

Publications Hirvonen RA (1934) The continental undulations of the geoid. Ph.D dissertation, Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 19, Helsinki. Kukkamäki TJ, RA Hirvonen (1947) The Finnish solar eclipse expeditions to the Gold Coast and Brazil 1947. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 44, Helsinki Hirvonen RA (1951) The motions of Moon and Sun at the solar eclipse of 1947 May 20. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 40, Helsinki. Hirvonen RA (1960) New Theory of the Gravimetric Geodesy. Publications of the Isostatic Institute of the IAG, 32, Helsinki. Hirvonen RA (1961) The Reformation of Geodesy. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 66 no 5, pp. 1471–1478, doi:10.1029/JZ066i005p01471. Hirvonen RA (1962). On the statistical analysis of gravity anomalies. Publications of the Isostatic Institute of the IAG, 37, Helsinki. Hirvonen RA and H Moritz (1963). Practical computation of gravity at high altitudes. Report No. 27, Inst. Geod. Phot. Cart. Ohio State Univ. Hirvonen RA (1964) Praktische Rechenformeln für die dreidimensionale Geodäsie. Zeitschrift für Vermessungswesen 5, 145-151. Hirvonen RA (1971) Adjustments by Least Squares in Geodesy and Photogrammetry, Ungar, New York. Hirvonen RA (1972) Matemaattinen Geodesia, Teknillisen korkeakoulun ylioppilaskunta, Helsinki. Hirvonen RA (1976) Precise computation of the precession. Publications of the Finnish Geodetic Institute 80, Helsinki.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Reino Antero Hirvonen

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Reino Antero Hirvonen claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Reino Antero Hirvonen before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Reino Antero Hirvonen ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Reino Antero Hirvonen

In research: Reino Antero Hirvonen appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Reino Antero Hirvonen in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Reino Antero Hirvonen is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1908 births, 1989 deaths, Earth scientist stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Reino Antero Hirvonen outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Reino Antero Hirvonen in simple terms?

Why does Reino Antero Hirvonen matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Reino Antero Hirvonen?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Reino Antero Hirvonen.