Liviu Constantinescu
Encyclopedia
Liviu Constantinescu was a Romania
n geophysicist, professor of geophysics
, member of the Romanian Academy
. He was the cofounder, together with Sabba S. Ştefănescu
, of the Romanian school of geophysics.
clerics from Transylvania
, Liviu Constantinescu ignored suggestions from family and teachers to become an engineer or teacher and decided to study natural sciences. He earned a master's degree in physics
and chemistry
(1935) and a doctor's degree in physics (1941) from the University of
Bucharest
. After a few years as teaching assistant at the Department of Sciences of his alma mater (1937-1943), he was appointed director of the newly founded Geophysical Observatory Surlari, named today National Geomagnetic Observatory Surlari “Liviu Constantinescu” (1943-1958); this started his career as a geophysicist. He was appointed professor (1949-1975) at a newly created Department of Geophysics, led by Sabba S. Ştefănescu and later by Liviu Constantinescu himself; in parallel, he directed geophysical research at various institutes of earth sciences
of the Romanian Academy (1959-1970). Discriminated politically for his repeated refusal to join the ruling communist party, he was forced into early retirement at age 60 (1975); he came back after the fall of the dictatorship, fifteen years later. In 1990 he was elected full member of the Romanian Academy (he had been a corresponding member since 1963) and president of its Section of Geonomic Sciences (1990-1994). Until his definitive retirement (1995), he devoted himself to rebuilding the Romanian Academy and the geophysical institutions in Romania; he was president of the Romanian National Committee of Geodesy and Geophysics and of the Romanian Society of Geophysics.
Liviu Constantinescu has made important contributions to several domains of pure and applied geophysics: geomagnetism
(normal distribution and secular variation of the main geomagnetic field, general morphology and particularities of magnetic perturbations, magnetotellurics
); handling and interpretation of gravimetric
and magnetometric data (analytic continuation of potential fields, effects of Earth tides, time variation of the gravity field); seismology
and tectonophysics
(focal mechanism
of earthquakes
, seismicity and seismotectonics
, Carpathian
earthquakes, seismicity of the Romanian territory).
He was member of the study group on Seismic methods for monitoring underground explosions at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
(SIPRI) (1968-1970); member and vice-president of the coordination committee of the UNDP/UNESCO
project for the study of the seismicity of the Balkan region (1970-1977). He held important positions in international scientific organizations: vice-president of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
(IUGG) (1969-1971) and member of the Bureau of IUGG (1967-1975); member of the governing council of the International Seismological Centre (1970-1974) and of the council of the European Geophysical Society (1970-1975); vice-president of the European Seismological Commission (1972-1976).
An academic
equally familiar with natural sciences and humanities
, Liviu Constantinescu was a teacher for many. For 25 years, he gave lectures on geomagnetism and magnetic prospecting, gravimetry and gravimetric prospecting, radioactive prospecting, seismology. He was editor and coauthor of the textbook Exploration Geophysics
(Prospecţiuni geofizice) (1964-1965); he wrote the section The Earth (Terra) of the Italian Enciclopedia del Novecento (1975-1990).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n geophysicist, professor of geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
, member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
. He was the cofounder, together with Sabba S. Ştefănescu
Sabba S. Stefanescu
Sabba S. Ştefănescu was a Romanian geophysicist, professor of geophysics, member of the Romanian Academy. He was the cofounder, together with Liviu Constantinescu, of the Romanian school of geophysics.-Biography:...
, of the Romanian school of geophysics.
Biography
Born into an old family of Christian OrthodoxRomanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
clerics from Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Liviu Constantinescu ignored suggestions from family and teachers to become an engineer or teacher and decided to study natural sciences. He earned a master's degree in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
(1935) and a doctor's degree in physics (1941) from the University of
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. After a few years as teaching assistant at the Department of Sciences of his alma mater (1937-1943), he was appointed director of the newly founded Geophysical Observatory Surlari, named today National Geomagnetic Observatory Surlari “Liviu Constantinescu” (1943-1958); this started his career as a geophysicist. He was appointed professor (1949-1975) at a newly created Department of Geophysics, led by Sabba S. Ştefănescu and later by Liviu Constantinescu himself; in parallel, he directed geophysical research at various institutes of earth sciences
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
of the Romanian Academy (1959-1970). Discriminated politically for his repeated refusal to join the ruling communist party, he was forced into early retirement at age 60 (1975); he came back after the fall of the dictatorship, fifteen years later. In 1990 he was elected full member of the Romanian Academy (he had been a corresponding member since 1963) and president of its Section of Geonomic Sciences (1990-1994). Until his definitive retirement (1995), he devoted himself to rebuilding the Romanian Academy and the geophysical institutions in Romania; he was president of the Romanian National Committee of Geodesy and Geophysics and of the Romanian Society of Geophysics.
Liviu Constantinescu has made important contributions to several domains of pure and applied geophysics: geomagnetism
Earth's magnetic field
Earth's magnetic field is the magnetic field that extends from the Earth's inner core to where it meets the solar wind, a stream of energetic particles emanating from the Sun...
(normal distribution and secular variation of the main geomagnetic field, general morphology and particularities of magnetic perturbations, magnetotellurics
Magnetotellurics
Magnetotellurics is an electromagnetic geophysical method of imaging the earth's subsurface by measuring natural variations of electrical and magnetic fields at the Earth's surface. Investigation depth ranges from 300m below ground by recording higher frequencies down to 10,000m or deeper with...
); handling and interpretation of gravimetric
Gravimetry
Gravimetry is the measurement of the strength of a gravitational field. Gravimetry may be used when either the magnitude of gravitational field or the properties of matter responsible for its creation are of interest...
and magnetometric data (analytic continuation of potential fields, effects of Earth tides, time variation of the gravity field); seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
and tectonophysics
Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics, a branch of geophysics, is the study of the physical processes that underlie tectonic deformation. The field encompasses the spatial patterns of stress, strain, and differing rheologies in the lithosphere and asthenosphere of the Earth; and the relationships between these patterns...
(focal mechanism
Focal mechanism
The focal mechanism of an earthquake describes the inelastic deformation in the source region that generates the seismic waves. In the case of a fault-related event it refers to the orientation of the fault plane that slipped and the slip vector and is also known as a fault-plane solution...
of earthquakes
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
, seismicity and seismotectonics
Seismotectonics
Seismotectonics is the study of the relationship between the earthquakes, active tectonics and individual faults of a region. It seeks to understand which faults are responsible for seismic activity in an area by analysing a combination of regional tectonics, recent instrumentally recorded events,...
, Carpathian
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
earthquakes, seismicity of the Romanian territory).
He was member of the study group on Seismic methods for monitoring underground explosions at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
SIPRI
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament...
(SIPRI) (1968-1970); member and vice-president of the coordination committee of the UNDP/UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
project for the study of the seismicity of the Balkan region (1970-1977). He held important positions in international scientific organizations: vice-president of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the scientific study of the Earth using geophysical and geodesic techniques. The IUGG was established in 1919. Some areas within its scope are environmental preservation, reduction of the effects of...
(IUGG) (1969-1971) and member of the Bureau of IUGG (1967-1975); member of the governing council of the International Seismological Centre (1970-1974) and of the council of the European Geophysical Society (1970-1975); vice-president of the European Seismological Commission (1972-1976).
An academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
equally familiar with natural sciences and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, Liviu Constantinescu was a teacher for many. For 25 years, he gave lectures on geomagnetism and magnetic prospecting, gravimetry and gravimetric prospecting, radioactive prospecting, seismology. He was editor and coauthor of the textbook Exploration Geophysics
Exploration geophysics
Exploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics which uses surface methods to measure the physical properties of the subsurface Earth, in order to detect or infer the presence and position of ore minerals, hydrocarbons, geothermal reservoirs, groundwater reservoirs, and other geological...
(Prospecţiuni geofizice) (1964-1965); he wrote the section The Earth (Terra) of the Italian Enciclopedia del Novecento (1975-1990).
External links
Academia Română / The Romanian Academy Observatorul Geomagnetic Naţional “Liviu Constantinescu” (National Geomagnetic Observatory Surlari “Liviu Constantinescu”)- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)
- International Seismological Centre (ISC)
- European Geophysical Society (EGS) / European Geosciences Union (EGU)
- European Seismological Commission (ESC) Enciclopedia del Novecento