Insolation and climate : Milutin Milanković and the mathematical theory of climate changes

by Aleksandar Petrović

Publisher : Federal Hydrometeorological Institute of the FR Yugoslavia , Belgrade 2002

bilingual : text in serbain ( cyrillic letter ) and english language

 

paperback , size  22,5 x 31 cm , illustrated , 34 pages

ISBN - 86-83941-03-5

COBISS.SR-ID - 181201415

 

FOREWORD

Climate as a global interdependence of ocean, soil and atmosphere influences all aspects of life. Today climate change becomes universal issue overcoming all national borders and political differences. The global climate change issue has been in the focus for the past two ceniuries and particularly for the past several decades. But the progress in the climate change problem would not have been possible without joint efforts of many scientists. The understanding and assessment of the Earth's climate variability comprise a issue which is complex, so large and so interlinked that it requires comprehensive, interdisciplinary, secular theory which may offer a reliable general approach to this problem. To be able to detect, predict and assess climate changes a long-term theoreticalmodel is needed.

For this kind of climate changes consideration, it is important not to observe the Earth separately, but to perceive its essential connection with the cosmic environment. Astronomic theory of climate changes of Milutin Milanković has such fruitful approach. As a valuable part of the European tradition of celestial mechanics and the Earth sciences, his theory opened new frontiers for climate sciences, development of the numerical climate models to better analyze, observe and predict climate and weather. Because of that, it is one of the pillars of the climate issue.

This book indicates that a prudent way to deal with climate change leads through further research and implementing of Milanović's basic ideas and his mathematical theory of climate change. Milanković's „Canon of Insolation" can be further used in a specific way for the improvement of our knowledge and the completion of climate monitoring on various time scales. In the secular framework of Milanković's theory major interactive processes in the Earth's climate system (atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice and snow cover) could be mathematically quantified and understood in the wider astronomical context. Such an approach can strongly promote productive research related to climate processes being affected by the astronomical forcing. It contains powerful methodological tools to encompass and strengthen particular capabilities of climate global change sciences. On the basis of Milanković's method it can be performed general climate analysis, analysis of climate trends, assessment of climate extremes; it can ensure a more balanced approaches of particular climate related issues and contribute in research to develop more efficient methodologies for analysis of present climate.

This publication is the brief, but complete survey of the work of Milutin Milanković and I am

convinced that it will make it clear that Milanković's work is not only interesting for the history of science, but still is the fundamental and accurate methodological tool for the forecasting of natural climate changes and reliable assessment of its present variations.

Momčilo Zivković

Director of Federal Hydrometeorological Institute

 

Osunčavanje i klima : Milutin Milanković i matematička teorija promena klime

Aleksandar Petrović

Izdavač : Savezni hidrometeorološki zavod , Beograd 2002