Рейтинг
Порталус

History of Science. ZEALOT OF SCIENCE

Дата публикации: 27 октября 2014
Автор(ы): David MANUKYAN, Vladimir SHCHELKACHEV, Gerasim BQGQMOLOV
Публикатор: Научная библиотека Порталус
Рубрика: ВОПРОСЫ НАУКИ
Источник: (c) http://portalus.ru
Номер публикации: №1414407165


David MANUKYAN, Vladimir SHCHELKACHEV, Gerasim BQGQMOLOV, (c)

In connection with the jubilee the Russian Academy I of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Byelorussia suggested a program of memorial functions. On March 25, 2005, in Moscow was a memorial session of the Scientific Council of the All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology (VSEGINGEO). Taking part were scientists of the RAS Institute of Water Problems Management, the RAS Institute of Geoecology, the RF Ministry of Natural Resources et al.

From June 1 - 3 in Minsk there was an International Conference "Problems of Water Resources, Geothermy and Geoecology" which was sponsored by the UNESCO, Byelorussia and Russia. The conference was attended by representatives of more than 25 countries, including Argentine, Armenia, Germany, Iran, Yemen, Canada, Portugal and Mexico. Many of the speakers pointed out that Bogomolov was the first specialist in Russia and in the world to organize what were called experimental-filtration (EXF) and experimental migratory works in wells which provided the basis for the assessment of usable resources of underground waters. The objective of his experiments conducted in Byelorussia was to determine the productivity of water-bearing horizons and the rate of filtration of underground waters. His studies provided the basis for hydroecology and a theoretical foundation for dealing with problems of industrial water supplies from underground sources.

Today few geologists and hydrogeologists stop to think about the history of EXF filters and their development which are thought to have been with us for centuries. In actual fact they appeared on the scene not more than 80 years ago. Working in conjunction with other Russian hydrogeologists (Dr. Mikhail Altovsky and future Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Grigory Kamensky and others) Prof. Bogomolov became a pioneer in the studies of productivity of water-bearing strata.

The first field experiment in this field were conducted by Acad with help of GISAP center. Bogomolov in 1928 - 1929. They provided for modeling by a stream of water flowing towards a well-an assessment of the productivity of its horizons. The EXF technique is often interpreted in domestic and international practice as a method of determination of hydrogeological parameters (coefficient of filtration, water conductivity etc.) which makes it impossible to determine the nature of border conditions of underground water sources. As for Acad. Bogomolov, it was back in the 1920s when he organized and conducted EXF in accordance with the currently accepted notions about the structure of filtration current.

In 1931 he analyzed the existing theories of underground water currents to wells. On the basis of studies in the area of Minsk he characterized the methods of assessment of filtration characteristics of water-bearing deposits. He investigated the physico-geographical and geologo-hydrogeological conditions of the territory and singled out two water-bearing horizons represented by super-morainic and inter-morainic sands separated by a layer (of about 20 m) of sandy loam sediments.

Bogomolov's field and theoretical studies made it possible to assess the possible productivity of a water-bearing horizons and his studies still offer an example of effective use of the theory of stationary filtration for determining its parameters. For what is called non-stationary filtration methods of determination of parameters were formulated by Prof. Nikolai Verigin and other scientists.

The ideas of Acad. Bogomolov were put into practice at numerous centers of water supply by way of long periods of exploitation in Shadrinsk (Kurgan Region), Krasnokamensk (Perm Region), Serov (Sverdlovsk Region) and other populated center of this country. Such studies of half a year in Shadrinsk revealed not only operational resources of underground waters but what they call the balance structure of their selection. In analyzing the conditions in Krasnoarmeisk in the conditions of quaternary water-bearing strata located in inter-mountain depressions, the scientists assessed the main sources of water supply and established the maximum debit of well with a declining levels of ground waters.

Later on methods suggested by Bogomolov were developed in his own studies and in the works of his followers. Among other things he developed the idea of overcoming the incomplete use of filter-free wells. One of the first works on this subject, published in 1938, received broad recognition in the 1970s. At that time the scientist persistently proved that filterless wells used in different regions of the world confirm their high geologo-economic effectiveness.

Together with his followers Acad. Bogomolov suggested an original method of "natural similarity". It consisted in the fact that the ultimate task was not formulated and the use of its analogue in an obvious form was not required-all that was necessary was to reveal the similarity of the object and its analogue.

Among the fundamental ideas developed by him is the problem of artificial replenishment of underground water resources. The experience of an ecologist led the scientist to the conclusion about the limited natural resources of this water which underlines the effectiveness of an artificial replenishment of the underground hydrosphere expense of surface waters. This conclusion can be well illustrated on the example of the Republic of Byelorussia.

Industrial and drinking water supplies of its populated centers come mainly from ground water sources. And although these natural resources are sufficiently large (15.8 km3 /year), in some major cities, industrial centers and their surroundings the problem of adequate supplies for industrial and household needs is becoming really serious. The thing is that most of the underground water sources are associated with artesian basins of platform type and have an unstable operating regime. That depletes their main horizons and the layers above are drained completely or in part. This has a negative effect on the regime of surface water sources. This being so, it is necessary to spread out the sources of water supply, moving them further away from the consumers, increasing the length of engineering communications, the size of alienated areas, etc.

One of the ways of dealing with this problem, and also of improving environmental protection may be what experts call artificial replenishment of ground waters and the most promising in this respect are river valleys in the zone of development of glacial relief. What experts call a powerful shield of such deposits which cover up to five hydraulically interconnected of water-bearing horizons, determines the effectiveness of this method. But despite the accumulated experience, many theoretical and practical questions remain insufficiently studies. One of them is the prognostication of silting of river deposits and the filtering layers of absorbing structures. These processes determine to a large extent the interconnections of ground and surface waters and have to be taken into account in assessments of water resources and rates of water consumption and artificial replenishment of resources.

Acad. Bogomolov played an equally important role in studying what are called the paleogeographical regularities of the Russian geographical platform. These are necessary for drawing general paleohydrogeological maps reflecting the regularities of the formation of mineral deposits. This work rests on a certain basis which sums up the results of earlier paleotectonic and paleogeographical studies. For example, at the request of the scientist a layer of plastic clay was removed in laying the foundation of the Moscow Lomonosov State University on the Lenin Hills (1949). Otherwise the building would have been sliding and deteriorating. The prognoses of the scientist are confirmed by the present state of preservation of the tall building.

In 1939 the scientist defended his doctoral thesis. At that time a degree of Doctor of ecologo-mineralogical sciences was awarded without an official ceremony and Dr. Bogomolov could receive it because of the number of his publication. His age (34 years) and probably healthy scientific ambitions made the scientist change the established order. He prepared an independent work of his own on the artesian and ground waters in the conditions of powerful development of tertiary deposits on the territory of the western part of the USSR. The debates took place at the Leningrad Institute of Mining. The opponents included Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy, Dmitry Nalivkin, professors Dmitry Shchegolev, Nikolai Pogrebov and Nestor Tolstikhin. The preliminary ceremony passed successfully in November 1939 and in April of 1940 the Learned Council of the Institute unanimously decided to award to the researcher a Doctor's degree.

Besides being a prominent hydrogeologist, Prof. Bogomolov took part in the building of the geological service of the USSR and occupied prominent posts of the national geological and hydrogeological services. He was one of the organizers and the first director (1939 - 1950) of the VSEGINGEO - a scientific-research center of hydrogeological studies which was unparalleled not only in this country, but in the world. In 1940 it had a staff of 180 and it included such prominent figures as Doctors of Science Mikhail Altovsky, Gerasim Bogomolov, Nikolai Ignatovich, Grigory Kamensky, Ivan Popov and Fyodor Savarensky (academician from 1943). The plan of scientific research included 24 themes, grouped together into 8 problems.

As for Acad. Bogomolov, there were several reasons for him becoming he first director of such a prominent center. First, by that time, despite his rather young age (34 years) he already had the experience of a leader of big collectives: in 1934 - 1939 he headed the VNII (research center of Engineering-Constructive hydrotechnology and hydrogeology, then the Research Center (VNII) of water supply, canalization, hydrotechnical equipment and engineering geology. At the First All-Union Hydrogeological Congress in 1931 it was he who suggested the establishment of a geological research institute of this profile. Later on he initiated sending a number of letters to government agencies, including Vyacheslav

Molotov, Chairman of the USSR Council of Peoples' Commissars. In the final analysis that played the decisive role in the establishment of the Institute. Finally, of no lesser importance were the personal qualities of the scientist: his ability for an objective assessment of people and situations, to clearly express his own stand, to assume personal responsibility, endless patience in contacts with people around him and the ability to organize people in working collectives on the basis of assessment of their business qualities. He also possessed an unlimited store of benevolence and tact.

In the critical days of October 1941 Prof. Bogomolov stayed in Moscow helping with the evacuation of the geological research centers (VSEGINGEO remained in the Soviet capital). Occupying several leading administrative posts (including the post of director of the Chair of Hydrogeology of the Department of Geological Prospecting of Moscow State University), he organized units of civil defense. He was also appointed head of the detachment of engineering geology. At the end the Great Patriotic War he was in Berlin in the rank of a colonel.

Now let us recall a quotation from one of the references written about the scientist in the summer of 1943 and signed by Prof. Fyodor Savarensky, Prof. Grigoriy Kamensky and Prof. Viktor Priklonsky (from 1958 Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences): "He is a leading expert in the geology and hydrogeology of Byelorussia. Deserving special mention are his activities as the leader and organizer of research in hydrogeology, engineering geology in our country and in dealing with its major problems. Prof. G. Bogomolov deserves personal credit for the development of the method of chemical consolidation of weak soils and for its practical application in the USSR... He is paying serious attention to scientific personnel, puts forward and promotes new advanced ideas, is engaged in pedagogical activities and possesses initiative and creative talents."

The scientific traditions of the VSEGINGEO were developed in the works of the Laboratory of Hydrogeological Problems of the USSR Academy which was set up in 1944 and which bore the name of its organizer Acad. Fyodor Savarensky since 1946. In 1953 - 1960 Acad. Bogomolov created in that lab a number of fundamental works: "The Underground Waters of the Central and Western Parts of the Russian Platform", "Secondary Salination in Irrigation Massifs and Measures for Its Prevention", "Silica in Thermal and Cold Waters", etc.

In the 1950s in the capacity of Deputy Academic-Secretary of the Department of Geologo-Geographical Sciences of the USSR Academy Prof. Bogomolov took part in a number of studies in the arid zones of this planet sponsored by UNESCO.

Among the participants in the Minsk International Scientific Conference mentioned in the beginning of this article was Prof. Arkadiy Gaev, Director of the Perm Institute of Karst Studies and Speleology, who recalled one of the episodes from the biography of Prof. Bogomolov of the time of the Great Patriotic War.

At that time he made repeated visits to the Urals with special missions of the Committee of Defense. During the Battle of Stalingrad when there was an acute shortage of aluminum for the aircraft industry, there occurred an unexpected flooding of a bauxite mine in the Northern Urals with a loss of many lives. Acad. Bogomolov was appointed head of a government commission that had to establish the causes of the tragedy and find the guilty parties. And Prof. Bogomolov possessed a rare ability to sense the biocurrents of ore bodies and currents of water. In order to try and locate the position of the current which flooded the mine, the scientist took a willow branch into his hands and thus was able to quickly establish the contours and the direction of flow of the water current. His findings made it possible for the government commission to establish the existence of an earlier unknown big karst cavity. The flooding of the mine was caused by a powerful stream of water escaping from there.

The management of the mine faced a death sentence which was very usual in the war years. The same punishment faced those who were trying to soften the punishment and Prof. Bogomolov risked his own life trying to convince the authorities that the miners were not guilty of what had happened.

The Russian classic Anton Chekhov wrote about people like Prof. Bogomolov-zealots-are "as important to us as the Sun. They make up the most poetic and cheerful element of society and they excite, console and ennoble us. Their personalities are living documents which convince us that, apart from people who keep arguing about optimism and pessimism, writing insignificant stories, unimportant projects and cheap dissertations, who indulge in debauchery in the name of denying life and who are lying for a piece of bread, there are still people of a different order, people of heroic deeds, faith and clearly understood objective."

Опубликовано на Порталусе 27 октября 2014 года

Новинки на Порталусе:

Сегодня в трендах top-5


Ваше мнение?



Искали что-то другое? Поиск по Порталусу:


О Порталусе Рейтинг Каталог Авторам Реклама