Stanislav Kalesnik

Born Jan. 10 (23), 1901, in St. Petersburg. Soviet glaciologist and physical geographer; academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1968; corresponding member 1953). Member of the CPSU since 1943.

Kalesnik graduated from Leningrad University in 1929. In 1950 he became head of the department of physical geography there. In 1955 he became director of the Institute of Limnology of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. His primary works deal with theoretical questions of Erdkunde, landscape studies, and glaciology, as well as the geomorphology of the central Tien-Shan and the Dzungarian Alatau. He introduced new concepts and terms in glaciology and physical geography such as “hiono-sphere,” “energy of glaciation,” and “geographic structure.” Since 1964 he has been president of the Geographic Society of the USSR. From 1968 to 1972 he was vice-president of the International Geographical Union. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Krakow and the University of Finland (Turku). He has been awarded two Orders of Lenin, three other orders, and medals. Glaciers in the Zailiiskii and Dzungarian Alatau and in the Polar Urals have been named for him.