Milutin Milanković

Serbian geophysicist who revolutionized climate science with his Milankovitch cycles theory

Milutin Milanković (1879-1958) reshaped our understanding of Earth's climate through his groundbreaking mathematical models. As a multidisciplinary scientist, he combined astronomy, geology, and physics to develop the Milankovitch cycles – orbital variations affecting long-term climate patterns.

His most significant contribution was explaining Ice Age timing through three key parameters:

• Eccentricity (Earth's orbit shape changes every 100,000 years)
• Axial tilt (variations every 41,000 years)
• Precession (wobble in Earth's rotation every 26,000 years)

Despite being interned during WWI, Milanković completed his magnum opus Canon of Earth's Insolation in 1941. Modern climate scientists confirm his theories through ice core data analysis, proving their relevance to current global warming discussions.