Roman Teisseyre: In Memoriam

Abstract:

Professor Roman Teisseyre, the outstanding modern geophysicist, was one of the most important and influential persons in the whole history of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. His death ended the era of the founders and managers of the Institute who shaped, from its very beginning, the basic scientific profile of our place. Also, the friendly and pleasant atmosphere among the people working there, as initiated by him and the whole group of Institute’s founders, was prevalent over the years. He had many, many friends who quickly responded to our appeal to contribute to the present book In Memoriam.

Abstract:

Professor Roman Teisseyre was a prominent member of Polish scientific life. His original scientific output is impressive, comprising almost 400 (390) published papers. He was mainly a theoretician dealing with physics of the Earth’s interior. Most of his works are related to seismology, geodynamics, thermodynamics of the process of rock deformation and fractioning, and the electromagnetic field, but his output is very comprehensive and also includes works initiating new directions of research or summarizing the state of current geophysical knowledge on some problems.

Abstract:

From among colleagues remembering Prof. Roman Teisseyre, I am probably least qualified to write about his achievements. Neither the scientific discipline that he dealt with, is my own; nor I had a chance to directly collaborate with him. When I started my work at the Institute of Geophysics in 1988, Prof. Teisseyre was already a legend and it was too high threshold for me at that time.

Abstract:

Senate of the AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland, upon the request of the Faculty of the Geology Geophysics and Environmental Protection, conferred the dignity of the Honorary Doctor of AGH UST for Professor Roman Teisseyre on the 7 December 2004. Prof. Dr. Jerzy Kowalczuk (AGH UST) was the promotor of the Honorary Doctorate, two reviewers were: Prof. Dr. Marek Grad (University of Warsaw) and Prof. Dr. Wacław Zuberek (University of Silesia). Professor Jerzy Kowalczuk was very grateful to the AGH UST Senate to entrust him with the laudation, i.e. the presentation of the Candidate.

Abstract:

In terms of pure facts, Roman Teisseyre was an author or co-author of over 250 papers and wrote or edited a number of multi-volume, unique monographs, related to the variety of physical processes acting on and within our Earth. Yet his real role and his merits for the development of the Institute’s publishing activity were much greater. He was a spiritus movens of organizing modern editorial offices and kept encouraging his colleagues and students to write, under-standing the necessity of sharing our achievements worldwide.

Abstract:

The interest of Professor Roman Teisseyre in earth sciences and his achievements, broadly described in this book, may have its source in the family tradition – his grandfather Wawrzyniec, uncle Henryk, and cousins Juliusz and Andrzej Karol were all geologists interested in various branches of geological sciences and passionate of field research.

Abstract:

Earthquake prediction is often considered the Holy Grail of seismology and earthquake science. However, earthquake research can be motivated both by challenge, when asking about seismic risk or hazard, or how lives could be saved, and by curiosity, when asking about the physics behind the observed patterns of seismicity. In this brief review, I focus on the second, cognitive aspect of earthquake science. I wonder how interesting seismicity and earthquake physics can be for a theoretical physicist turned seismologist.

Abstract:

In this short note, I present preliminary results of the simulation of rotational waves generation in a homogeneous amorphic material using the Discrete Element Method approach. It is demonstrated that in this type of material, the classical, transient rotational waves essentially do not exist, but the rotational energy is generated and accumulated near the free surfaces of fractures. This observation opens a question about the role of rotational effects in the total energy balance of the earthquake generation process.

Abstract:

The death of Roman Teisseyre, an outstanding Polish geophysicist and scientist, means that those of us who knew him a little closer and longer should try to summarize his immense scientific achievements and bring his extraordinary figure closer to younger colleagues and alumni. This is not an easy task as his achievements are impressively large, enormous, and comprehensive.

Abstract:

I met Professor Roman Teisseyre in the spring of 1963 when I decided to apply for employment at the then Department of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. For the preceding two years I had been working as a research assistant to Professor Tadeusz Olczak in the Lithosphere Physics Department, one of the Departments of Geophysics, University of Warsaw. However, I did not see my future in theoretical research, since I was more interested in exploring the Earth through experimental investigations, while in the Seismology Department I was hired, such opportunities could not be expected. Professor Olczak accepted my resignation with true regret, but also with understanding, encouraging me to remain in regular contact with him, which I continued, with great benefits, until Professor’s death.

Abstract:

I have known Prof. Roman Teisseyre for more than 20 years. At the beginning of this century, based on a conversation with Prof. Katarzyna Chałasińska-Macukow, Her Magnificence Rector of the University of Warsaw, during the SPIE congress in San Diego, USA, I got a contact to Prof. Roman Teisseyre for consultation regarding the possible occurrence of rotation in the ground.

Abstract:

I first heard of Prof. Roman Teisseyre in the early 1970s, shortly after I began my research in seismology as a graduate student at the University of Tokyo. In the early 1970s, it had just been mathematically proven that earthquake rupture could be represented by a double couple using the elastic theory of dislocations, and there was a flurry of research attempting to understand various aspects of earthquake rupture using the elasticity theory of dislocations. It was one such study that brought me to know the name of Prof. Teisseyre.

Abstract:

I am shocked and full of regret to hear the news of Professor Roman Teisseyre’s passing. In fact, I came to know it at the request of this memorial letter. The sight of the tall, slender teacher, nodding his head and speaking with enthusiasm, reminds me of the year I researched with him as if it were only yesterday. When I recall his kindness behind his glasses, I am filled with gratitude.

Abstract:

In the late 1980-ties, while staying on a postdoc at Milan Polytechnique with Prof. Alberto Castellani and doing research on seismic rotations, I was not aware that this subject already had a long geophysical track of investigations in Poland. After a few publications that appeared during the early 1990s, I changed my subject of research but soon was informed that Prof. Teisseyre read some of my papers and subsequently invited me to participate in a monographic collection of papers prepared for Springer.

Abstract:

The Lower Silesian Geophysical Observatory, situated at the Książ Castle, was established in 1970. Its location was chosen by Professor Roman Teisseyre, who became acquainted with this place – the Castle and the undergrounds – much earlier: in August 1946.

Abstract:

Professor Roman Teisseyre was mainly a theoretician but often wanted to verify or supplement the results of his research on the basis of measurements done in permanent geophysical observatories and/or specifically designed field projects in various field conditions. One of such projects realized in the last twenty years concerned the study of seismic waves in glaciers. The other was a search for records of rotation seismic waves based on continuous data from various observatories and targeted measurements in these observatories.

Abstract:

I remember Roman as a highly kind boss to whom I owe a lot, who always helped me when needed. And there were a lot of such situations when I needed help.

Abstract:

I met Professor Roman Teisseyre when I was a research assistant looking for a doctorate advisor. It is to be noted that at those times the so-called New Global Tectonics (presently the Plate Tectonics) and the theory of convection in the Earth’s mantle had just begun to be developed.

Abstract:

Wspominając naszych rodziców wracamy myślą do dzieciństwa, do świata dobrego, uporządkowanego, w którym oczywiste było dobro i zło.

Abstract:

Recalling our parents, we think back to our childhood, to a good, orderly world in which good and evil were obvious.