Vilho Väisälä

Vilho Väisälä (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈʋilho ˈʋæi̯sælæ]; September 28, 1889 – August 12, 1969) was a Finnish meteorologist and physicist, and founder of Vaisala Oyj. After graduation in mathematics in 1912, Väisälä worked for the Finnish Meteorological Institute in aerological measurements, specializing in the research of the higher troposphere. At the time the measurements were conducted by attaching a thermograph to a kite. In 1917 he published his dissertation in mathematics Ensimmäisen lajin elliptisen integralin käänteisfunktion yksikäsitteisyys (The single-valuedness of the inverse function of the elliptic integral of the first kind). His dissertation was the first and still is the only mathematical doctoral thesis written in the Finnish language. Väisälä participated in development of radiosonde, a device attached to a balloon and launched to measure air in the higher atmosphere. In 1936 he started his own company, manufacturing radiosondes and — later — other meteorological instruments. In 1948 Väisälä was nominated a Professor of Meteorology in the University of Helsinki. Vilho Väisälä's two brothers, Kalle Väisälä and Yrjö Väisälä, also made successful careers in science. Vilho Väisälä knew Esperanto, and played an active role in the Esperanto movement.