Updated: 25-11-2023
Source: China Meteorological News Press
The Principles of Infrared Telemetering of the Atmosphere, a linguistically simple and textually non-voluminous monograph thatwas published in the 1970s, is interspersed with various formulas and terms. At that time, however, the importance of his research was noted with a very concise paragraph, an act thatis deemed overly modest nowadays.
Perhaps, for people nowadays, the increasingly accurate weather forecasts and the increasing number of meteorological satellites lifting off have become commonplace. For example,the successful launch of Fengyun-3G in April 2023 has made China the only operator in the world of meteorological satellites of four near-earth orbits simultaneously: earlymorning, morning, afternoon, and inclined. However, it is difficult to imagine how ZENG and other pioneers trudged through and over the wilderness in the early days.
In February 1970, the task of developing Chinese meteorological satellites was officially assigned, following which the Meteorological Satellite Design and Overall Planning Group(MSDOPG) was officially established. ZENG was urgently reassigned as the technical director of the Group. Retrospectively, this can be considered as the second important choice in his life.
The first choice happened when ZENG was admitted to the Department of Technical Physics, Peking University in 1952 with flying colors, and later transferred to the major of meteorology in accordance with the needs of the country. “Weather forecasting is vital to military and civilian users (Air Force and agriculture in particular), for which it is necessary to pursueupper-level wind forecasting, and atmospheric sounding and monitoring. So we must forge ahead with China's meteorology." He said.
The second choice happened when, asneeded by the country, he took up an exceptionally difficult initiative with no hesitation even if it started from scratch.Faced with a bunch of unresolved problems and difficult challenges from exploring principles onto actually launching a meteorological satellite, ZENG and his team sorted out several main lines and clarified the solution path: the first step was to select what to be detected to ensure the availability of usable satellite images and the detection of vertical profiles; the second step was totackle the principles on detection– a bigger challenge.
1974年,曾庆存将数年研究成果凝练成《大气红外遥感(测)原理》一书。这是国际上第一本系统讲述卫星遥感定量理论的专著,其中提出的“最佳信息层”和反演方法,在我国气象卫星规划和研制中起到了重要作用。
In 1974, ZENG’s years of research was embodied in the Principles of Infrared Telemetering of the Atmosphere, which is the first monograph in the world that systematically discusses the quantitative theory of satellite remote sensing. The optimal information layer and inversion methods proposed thereinhave played a significant role in the planning and development of meteorological satellites in China.
Years later, when facing his third choice, he still didn't hesitateto put the country’s needs first. In 1990, ZENG participated in the SecondWorld Climate Conference(SWCC or WCC-2), after his return from which he once again ventured into anew field by beginningstudying global climate change, another height of science that he has been striving for ever since.
"By putting national interests first, I will find a way to fulfill an assignment well as long as it is what the country needs." ZENG has never changed his mind either when he buried himself in scientific research in obscurity, or when he received the (highest) 2019 National Science and Technology Award at the podium of the Great Hall of the People.
Editor: BU Yu, JIANG Zhiqing