Henryk Arctowski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henryk Arctowski
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Arctowski in Washington, March, 1940
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| Born | July 21, 1871 Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
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| Died | February 21, 1958 (aged 86) Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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| Nationality | Poland |
| Known for | in charge of scientific observations on the Belgian Antarctic Expedition |
| Spouse(s) | Arian Jane Addy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | oceanography, geology, geophysics |
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Henryk Arctowski (born Henryk Artzt; 15 July 1871 – 21 February 1958) was a famous Polish scientist and explorer. He spent much of his life living outside Poland. He was one of the first people to spend a winter in the icy land of Antarctica.
Arctowski became a well-known meteorologist, someone who studies weather and climate. He also played an important role in helping Poland become an independent country again after World War I. Many places and even a special medal are named after him. This includes the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station.
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Early Life and Studies
Henryk Arctowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 15 July 1871. His family, the Artzts, had come to Poland from Germany in the 1600s. When he was a student in Poland, which was then controlled by Germany, he got into trouble for speaking Polish at school.
Because of this, his parents sent him to Liège, a city in Belgium. In 1888, he began studying many subjects at the University of Liège. He learned about mathematics, physics, and astronomy. He also studied chemistry and geology at the Sorbonne in Paris.
After finishing his studies in 1893, he went back to Liège. He worked in a chemistry lab there. In 1893, Henryk wanted to show how proud he was to be Polish. So, he asked the Belgian government for permission to change his name from Artzt to Arctowski.
Exploring Antarctica
In 1895, Henryk Arctowski applied to join the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. This was a very important journey because it was the first expedition to spend an entire winter in Antarctica. Other famous explorers like Roald Amundsen were also on this trip.
Arctowski was in charge of all the scientific work during the expedition. He also made many important observations about the physical world himself. Another scientist, Antoni Bolesław Dobrowolski, helped him with this work.
Life in Brussels and New York
After his exciting trip to Antarctica, Henryk Arctowski lived in Brussels, Belgium. He spent his time there carefully studying all the information and samples collected during the expedition. He worked at the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
He published his findings and gave many talks about the expedition in Belgium and other countries. During one of his talks in London, he met Arian Jane Addy. She was an American actress and opera singer. They got married in March 1909. During this time, he also became a Belgian citizen.
In 1909, Henryk and Arian moved to New York City in the United States. From 1911 to 1919, he led the science department at the New York Public Library. In 1915, he became an American citizen. He also joined The Explorers Club in New York in 1920.
Returning to Poland
In 1920, Henryk Arctowski returned to Poland, which had just become an independent country again. The prime minister, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, offered him a job as the minister of education. However, Arctowski chose to become a professor instead.
He taught geophysics and meteorology at Jan Kazimierz University. He was very busy with his research, publishing 144 scientific papers with his assistants. He was also involved in the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.
In 1939, Henryk and his wife traveled to the United States for a conference. While they were there, Soviet Union and Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Because of this, they could not return home and lost everything they owned.
Later Life in the United States
Henryk Arctowski took a job as a researcher at the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. He continued his scientific work until he passed away. Even when he had to stop working in 1950 due to illness, he kept doing research. He died in Bethesda, Maryland.
What is Named After Him?
Henryk Arctowski's name has been given to a special weather event. It's a type of halo that looks like a rainbow. It forms around the sun when light passes through ice crystals in the air. This halo has two extra arcs that are symmetrical to the main one.
Many places are also named in his honor, recognizing his important work in science: In Antarctica:
- Arctowski Dome
- Arctowski Cove
- Arctowski Peninsula
- Arctowski Nunatak
- Arctowski Peak
In Spitsbergen:
- Arctowskifjellet (which means Mount Arctowski)
- Arctowskibreen (which means Arctowski glacier)
The Polish research station on King George Island, called Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station, is also named after him.
His wife created the Arctowski Medal to honor him. This medal is given out every two years by the National Academy of Sciences. It is awarded for studies about the sun and how it affects Earth.
The Polish Navy even named one of its survey ships, ORP Arctowski, after him.
