Istanbul University Geophysical Engineering

History

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF GEOPHYSICAL SCIENCE IN OUR UNIVERSITY AND TURKEY

In Anatolia, the history of geophysical sciences may go back to Antiquity namely the period that lived Thales in Magnesia. In modern sense, geophysics was started with the geomagnetic works in 1600’s. The period among 1600 and 1800 years includes the magnetic declination, inclination and strength measurements. Before these years, there is a little information, how is used a compass, in the Kitab-i Bahriye (the Book of Navigation) of Piri Reis who is one of the most important mariner of the Ottoman Empire. Although this may not understand that magnetic declination angel knows in generally. 

The first scientific book related the geophysics is the book of Füyuzat-i Miknatissiye that was translated by Ibrahim Müteferrika and that was printed in 1731. The subject of this book is the earth’s magnetism.

There is information concerning with the geophysics in the book of Cihannuma that was written by Katip Çelebi and in the book of Marifetname that written by Ibrahim Hakki Erzurumlu but these books are partly geophysical books.
In Istanbul, the year of 1868 is one of the most important year for geophysical sciences. Because an observatory called Rasathane-i Amire was installed around Pera region in this city. In this Observatory, the first systematic geophysical observations such as meteorological, seismological and even gravimetrical was made. Breaking up this Observatory due to anti-revolution that was made by the religious of the Ottoman Empire in 1909, M. F. Gökmen - who is one of the pioneer of the modern geophysical and astronomical works- charged with reorganization of observatory that broke up. The Place of Observatory is transported to Kandilli region of Istanbul (now, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute).

Kandilli Observatory started the systematic meteorological observations in 1911. There have been the meteorological records in Anatolia since 1839. These records are concerning with temperature, pressure and humidity of the weather.

Evaluation of geomagnetic data has been obtained in Istanbul since 1600. Going further back in the past as much as possible, magnetic data obtained from Istanbul is analyzed for showing the time variations of the geomagnetic field.

In the Ottoman Empire, the science of geophysics is one of the natural sciences such as astronomy, mineralogy, geology and etc., and these sciences were agreed as a part of physics and chemistry.

After founding the Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923, the first geophyisical department for educational purposes was established in İstanbul Darülfünunu (University of Istanbul) by Fatin Gökmen in 1926 as the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. In the same year, first geophysical lecture was given as a Lesson of Meteorology and Geophysics at the same Institute. Later, because Fatin Gökmen was not a staff of newly organization of University of İstanbul, reorganization of the Geophysical Institute would be officially formed in 1948 (İshakoğlu, 1995). By the 1952, Geophysical Institute of University of İstanbul was strongly established in Faculty of Science by the contributions of Prof. İ. Özdogan, M. Fouche, Coulomb who is a famous French geophysicist and J. Barthels who is co-writer of monumental book of Geomagnetism and who was the director of Geophysical Institute of Gotingen University in this time. At the same faculty of University, by the 1968, Applied Geophysics Department was established and then general and applied geophysics departments began the geophysical engineering education.

On 1952 A Seismological Institute was organized at the Technical University of Istanbul by the contributions of UNESCO by the works of Prof. K. Ergin and their colleagues. The name of this institute was changed as Institute of Physics of the Earth on 1966 and was formed as a part of Mining Faculty of this University. At this Institute, applied geophysics lectures for educational purposes was given by Prof. K. Ergin and a geophysical engineering department was established on 1966 (Ergin, 1976).

By the reorganization of the higher education of Turkey on 1982, Kandilli Observatory which is first geophysical and astronomical observatory of Turkey was reorganized as a part of Bogaziçi University and began in M.Sc. and Ph. D. Education in geophysical sciences at Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.

The first geophysical journal was published by the Geophysicists Association of Turkey as Jeofizik in 1959. Later, this journal was published up to 1986 year irregular form. On 1986, Biannual Jeofizik Journal was more regularly published by Chamber of Geophysical Engineers that is only geophysical society in Turkey.

In the present, structure and dynamics of Geophysics in İstanbul are presented by the three departments of geophysics at University of İstanbul, at Istanbul Technical University and at Boğaziçi University all of which have three geophysical sub-departments such as Earth's Physics, Seismology and Applied Geophysics.

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