ADOLF SCHMIDT's Scientific Progress Until 1902
In Breslau ADOLF SCHMIDT
already had come into contact with geophysics, which later on was to become
the subject of his scientific work. He took part in the analysis of observations
made during the International Polar Year, especially in the field of geomagnetism.
In Gotha the JUSTUS PERTHES
Publishing House helped to develop his interest in geomagnetism and led him
to important scientific research. There he wrote some of his most important
works, dealing with the calculation of the potential of the geomagnetic field.
The results attained in the works were of such far-reaching importance that
he received an invitation to take part in the International Conference on
Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science, held in Bristol in 1898. At that conference
the International Earth Magnetic Commission was founded. ADOLF SCHMIDT's participation led to his early nomination as a professor.
ADOLF SCHMIDT also became known through other scientific publications
during his years in Gotha, so that he was appointed successor of the late
Prof. MAX ESCHENHAGEN as director of the Potsdam Magnetic Observatory in 1902.
It must be mentioned that ADOLF SCHMIDT
not only worked in his very own branch of research, but also published some
work dealing with other geophysical problems. His meteorological research
was particularly noteworthy, first of all his contribution to the competition
of the Königsberg Physical and Economical Society. In 1891 ADOLF SCHMIDT succeeded in solving the given problem, namely to work up the Königsberg ground-temperatures, and so won the prize.