Izrael, Iurii

Born May 15, 1930, in Tashkent. Soviet meteorologist and state figure. Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1974). Member of the CPSU since 1955.

Izrael’ graduated from the Middle Asian University in Tashkent in 1953. In 1956 he joined the staff of the Institute of Applied Geophysics, and from 1970 to 1973 he served as its director. In 1970 he also joined the staff of the Chief Administration of the Hydrometeorological Service of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and in 1974 he became the head of the administration. In 1978 he became chairman of the State Committee on Hydrome-teorology and Monitoring the Natural Environment of the USSR.

Izrael’ has devoted most of his research to atmospheric physics and problems of environmental protection. He proposed a physi-cochemical model of the formation of the radioactive aerosols and of the contamination of the environment by atmospheric and underground nuclear blasts. He also proposed the basis of a system for monitoring anthropogenic environmental changes caused by pollutants and for assessing and predicting such changes.

Izrael’ has been awarded two orders and various medals.