Georg von Neumayer: his influence on marine meteorology in the German Meteorological Service

Abstract

Georg von Neumayer achieved outstanding scientific results and created the organisational framework for the successful completion of scientific tasks. Returning from Australia, Neumayer aimed to set up in Germany a state-owned centre for marine meteorology, hydrography, navigation, marine instruments and geomagnetism, with an emphasis on scientific research with practical application of the findings. Since 1868, a successfully operating private institute, Norddeutsche Seewarte, had existed in Hamburg. This institute provided instructions for sailing routes and the optimal use of favourable winds and currents. In 1875, the institute was transformed into an imperial institution, the ‘Deutsche Seewarte’ (German Marine Observatory), with a broad spectrum of marine responsibilities including meteorological forecasts and warnings, data acquisition and management, and climatology. Its first director was Georg von Neumayer, who led it to worldwide recognition. In 1903, he retired but the Deutsche Seewarte continued in his spirit. At the end of World War II, the institute was destroyed by bombs and ceased to exist. Today, the tasks are shared between Marine Meteorological Office of the Deutscher Wetterdienst specialising in the marine meteorological and related topics and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.