The New International Encyclopædia/Falb, Rudolf

FALB, fälp, Rudolf (1838-1903). An Austrian meteorologist, born at Obdach, Styria. He studied theology at Gratz, and although ordained to the priesthood subsequently became converted to Protestantism. From 1869 to 1872 he studied mathematics, physics, geology, and astronomy at Prague and Vienna, and from 1877 to 1880 he traveled through North and South America. Subsequently he became established at Berlin. He became widely known by his theory that the influence of the sun and moon, exercised conjointly on the atmosphere and on the molten material beneath the earth's surface, produces earthquakes and other disturbances of nature. This theory has, however, found no acceptance among scientists. He was popularly known for his predictions of ‘critical days.’ In 1868 he founded the popular astronomical periodical Sirius (conducted from 1882 by Klein) . His works include: Von den Umwälzungen im Weltall (3d ed. 1890); Das Wetter und der Mond (2 ed. 1892); Kalender der kritischen Tage (1892 et seq.).