28 июля 2025 г.

At the age of 72, the famous astronomer and geophysicist Boris Petrov Komitov (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria), our dear colleague, friend and co-author, passed away. Boris was actively involved in research in the field of physics of planetary and cometary atmospheres, solar physics and solar-climatic relationships. He is the author of about a hundred peer-reviewed scientific articles, 50 popular science articles, as well as books devoted to the physics of the solar system, the Sun and solar-terrestrial relationships.

Some of the most significant publications:

• Komitov, B. About the Possible Solar Nature of the ~200 yr (de Vries/Suess) and ~2000—2500 yr (Hallstadt) Cycles and Their Influences on the Earth’s Climate: The Role of Solar-Triggered Tectonic Processes in General «Sun—Climate» Relationship. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 612. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050612
• Komitov B., Kaftan V. Solar Activity Variations for the Last Millennia.Will the Next Long-Period Solar Minimum be Formed? Geomagnetism and Aeronomy 43:553-561

In 1979, Boris Komitov received a Master of Physics degree from the Sofia University «Kliment Ohridski», in the Physics Department, specializing in «Physics of the Earth». Since 1990, he has been a PhD candidate after defending his dissertation at the Institute of Astronomy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, in the «Solar System» group.

The main stages and positions of Boris Petrov Komitov’s scientific career:

Research career:

Central Laboratory for Space Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Department «Stara Zagora Observatory» (1979–1991)::

Research Fellow, 3rd degree, on the topic «Physics of Planetary Atmospheres» (1981), Research Fellow, 2nd degree (1984), Research Fellow, 1st degree (1988). Institute of Astronomy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (since 1991) The most important areas of scientific activity:

• Analysis of data on the upper and middle layers of the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets.
• Numerical modeling of physical processes in the atmospheres of comets and planets.
• Narrow-band cometary photometry.
• Analysis of time series: trends and cycles of solar activity, climate, ozone content, dendro-climatic analysis.

Boris Komitov was a member of international and national scientific societies: International Astronomical Union. Division of Planetology of the American Astronomical Society (associate member). Division of Solar Physics of the American Astronomical Society (associate member). Union of Bulgarian Scientists.

Boris’s professional foreign scientific trips and internships:

Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy — Lindau, Germany (1992); Russia; Poland; Hungary; Czechoslovakia; Germany; Sweden; Italy.

Teaching activities of Boris Komitov: (1983-1986) Associate Professor of the Higher Medical Institute, Stara Zagora, Department of Physics; (1994-1995) Associate Professor of the Plovdiv University «Paisii Hilendarski», Faculty of Physics. Since 1982, part-time teacher at the «Center for Student Technical and Scientific Creativity», Stara Zagora. Boris taught the following courses at universities: General Physics for Medical Students (lectures), Space Physics and Planetology, The Sun and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Astronomical Observations and Data Analysis (laboratory work).

He was the scientific supervisor of several master’s theses. He gave public lectures on the topic of planets and solar-terrestrial relations. He put a lot of effort into the preservation and operation of the Yuri Gagarin People’s Astronomical Observatory (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria).

He spoke Russian, German and English.

Boris had a wide range of scientific interests, from the natural sciences to the humanities. He was a great expert in the history of Bulgaria, Russia, the Slavs, as well as world historical processes.

In 2008, the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid from the main asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) in his honor in recognition of his scientific contributions and educational activities (20363 Komitov 1998KU1).

Boris Petrov Komitov is a long-term and active co-author of research within the framework of scientific agreements between the Institute of Astronomy BAS and the Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

For many years, Boris Komitov was a regular and active participant in the annual Conferences on Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory (GAO RAS), St. Petersburg, Russia.

The staff of the Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences expresses deep condolences to the family and friends of Boris Komitov. The bright memory of our colleague and friend will forever remain in our hearts.