Karl Rawer

Lore & Background

Rawer studied mathematics and physics in Freiburg and Munich under Arnold Sommerfeld, and wrote a thesis on partial reflection of radio waves in an ionospheric layer under Jonathan Zenneck. Aware of this work, Johannes Plendl charged him to serve as adviser for the shortwave communications of the German Luftwaffe, and from 1943 for the Navy and Army as well. His code assumed zig-zag paths between Earth and ionosphere, with monthly predictions accounting for day-to-day variations and long-term changes from solar cycles accounted for by Wolfgang Gleißberg's prediction method.

After the war, Yves Rocard, then director of French Navy research, was impressed by Rawer's code and engaged him as 'directeur scientifique' of the newly founded Service de Prévision Ionosphérique from 1946 to 1956. Between 1956 and 1969, Rawer served as director of the Ionosphären-Institut Breisach and switched to space research. With his team he participated in the first French scientific rocket launch in 1954 in the Sahara desert and later experimented aboard rockets of different nationalities.

From 1958 to 1964, he was professeur associe at the University of Paris. He held several offices in the international space research organisation COSPAR. As director of the Fraunhofer-Institut für physikalische Weltraumforschung from 1969 to 1979, he became the father of the two AEROS satellites, launched in 1972 and 1974. He was actively engaged in the International Geophysical Year and follow-ups, and served in the International Union of Radio Science with William Roy Piggott as co-author of the booklet on ionogram reduction, and was vice-chairman and chairman of the ionospheric committee from 1966 to 1972.

Reader's Guide

Rawer's significance lies in his development of the analytical code for short wave frequency prediction that was used by German forces during World War II, and in his post-war leadership in ionospheric and space research. His code, based on zig-zag propagation paths and incorporating monthly and solar-cycle variations, provided a practical method for long-distance communications. After the war, his expertise was recognized by Yves Rocard, leading to his role in establishing the French Service de Prévision Ionosphérique. He later directed the Ionosphären-Institut Breisach and the Fraunhofer-Institut für physikalische Weltraumforschung, where he oversaw the AEROS satellite missions. His most enduring legacy is the International Reference Ionosphere, which he fathered and chaired for many years and which became an International Standard in 1999. He also contributed to ionogram reduction methods through his work with William Roy Piggott in the International Union of Radio Science. His career spanned from wartime applications to foundational contributions to international ionospheric modeling and space research.

Did You Know?

• Rawer developed the analytical code for short wave frequency prediction used by German forces during World War II.
• The International Reference Ionosphere, which he founded, became an International Standard in 1999.