About
Milutin Milanković, born in Dalj (then Austro-Hungarian Empire) and died in Belgrade, was a major Serbian scientist. Graduating in civil engineering from the Technical University of Vienna, he earned a doctorate in technical sciences in 1904, becoming the first Serb to do so. In 1909, he became professor of applied mathematics at the University of Belgrade. Interned during World War I, he developed his astronomical theory of ice ages, linking Earth's orbital variations to climate cycles. His magnum opus, 'Kanon der Erdbestrahlung' (1941), calculated insolation variations over 650,000 years. He founded planetary climatology by studying temperatures on Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Moon.
* 1879-05-16 — † 1958-12-12
Major works
- Kanon der Erdbestrahlung (1941)scientific work
Key milestones
- 1904Earned a doctorate in technical sciences from the Technical University of Vienna, becoming the first Serb to hold this degree.
- 1909Appointed professor of applied mathematics at the University of Belgrade.
- 1941Published his magnum opus, 'Kanon der Erdbestrahlung', calculating insolation curves for the past 650,000 years.
Themes
Climate cyclesCelestial mechanicsPlanetary climatologyGeophysicsSolar calendar
Sources: sanu.ac.rs · zis.gov.rs · mi.sanu.ac.rs