Influence of Giulio Grablovitz in Spain: instruments and scientific correspondence

Josep Batlló Josep Batlló

doi:10.4401/ag-4626

Abstract

It is known that Giulio Grablovitz founded and operated a «geodynamic» station on Ischia Island from 1885 up to his death. But it is almost unknown that one of the instruments he designed, the horizontal pendulum, was installed at Ebre Observatory in Spain. Records from this instrument and correspondence between Grablovitz and the Ebre observatory are still preserved. These documents show how the research work done by Grablovitz was introduced and diffused in Spain. Also, they give us some new information on the construction of the seismic instruments designed by Grablovitz. The present paper deals with the analysis of the preserved materials, assesses the introduction of Grablovitz research in Spain and shows the importance of the use of manuscript sources

Highlights

Giulio Grablovitz (1846-1928), born in Trieste, was the director of the first Italian «Geodynamic Station» founded in 1885 at Casamicciola, on Ischia island, in the Bay of Naples
This letter, reproduced in fig. 1, and some others preserved as well, shows an already well established relation between Grablovitz and the Ebre observatory, where a copy of the horizontal pendulums already existing at Ischia was installed in 1905
Despite the close contacts, and even the direct influence that the Cartuja Observatory exerted on some South American seismic stations, nobody took in consideration these suggestions and the Grablovitz pendulums did not expand on South America or Philippines

Summary

Introduction

Giulio Grablovitz (1846-1928), born in Trieste, was the director of the first Italian «Geodynamic Station» founded in 1885 at Casamicciola, on Ischia island, in the Bay of Naples. «[Ischia, 26 April 1906 / Dear colleague and friend / I’ve received with a great pleasure your first seismic bulletin with data of the California earthquake and I’m proud to see that my pendulums recorded it properly. This means that they have been installed properly and [...] I present my compliments. 1, and some others preserved as well, shows an already well established relation between Grablovitz and the Ebre observatory, where a copy of the horizontal pendulums already existing at Ischia was installed in 1905. It will be shown how it is possible to use this information to improve current research in seismology

Italian seismology in Spain

Remarks and conclusions