- Alexander Behm
Alexander Behm (
11 November 1880 in Sternberg (Mecklenburg ) –22 January 1952 in Tarp (Schleswig-Flensburg )) was a Germanphysicist .As head of a research laboratory in
Vienna (Austria ) he conducted experiments concerning the propagation ofsound . He tried to develop aniceberg detection system using reflected sound waves after the Titanic disaster on15 April 1912 . In the end reflected sound waves proved not to be suitable for the detection of icebergs but for measuring the depth of the sea, because the bottom of the sea reflected them well. Thus, echo sounding was born.Behm was granted German
patent No. 282009 for the invention ofecho sounding "(device for measuring depths of the sea and distances and headings of ships or obstacles by means of reflected sound waves)" on22 July 1913 .In 1920 he founded the "Behm Echo Sounding Company" in
Kiel in order to commercialise his invention. He was also a fanatic angler and an inventor of fishing tackle, like Behm-Fliege and Behm-Blinker.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.