Erling Christophersen


Erling Christophersen was a Norwegian botanist, geographer and diplomat. He participated in and led several notable :Category:Scientific expeditions|scientific expeditions in the 20th century, including the fifth Tanager Expedition to Nihoa and Necker Island and the Norwegian Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha.

Early life

Christophersen was born in Christiania, Norway in 1898. He attended the University of Christiania from 1918–1921, and received his Ph.D from Yale University in 1924. Christophersen's dissertation, "Soil reaction and plant distribution in the Sylene National Park, Norway", focused on the art and science of applied forest ecology, or silviculture, of alpine plants in Norway.

Career

Christophersen was a professor of botany at the University of Hawaii from 1929-1932. He was instrumental in developing and leading the scientific expedition to Tristan da Cunha from 1937-1938. His book, Tristan da Cunha, the lonely island, is an account of the expedition.

Selected publications