Ice Age theory: A correspondence between Milutin Milanković and Vojislav Mišković

Abstract

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2019. Ice Ages (IA) and their glacial periods can be regarded as significant natural hazards (NH). Unfortunately, the knowledge of hominid evolution that occurred during IAs, in such extreme climatic fluctuations, is preserved almost exclusively in mythology. The omission of more scientific discourse regarding the history of NH during IAs should be rectified for posterity. As our civilization will likely have to cope with the beginnings of a new glacial phase, a more complete understanding of the mechanisms of IA climate dynamics is crucial. This paper presents an unpublished correspondence between M. Milanković, a polymath and the founder of the Astronomical theory of Ice Ages (ATIA), and the astronomer V. Mišković, one of Milanković's major contributors to the development of his theory. Additional insight related to the ATIA by M. Milanković is given, particularly regarding the succession of glacial and interglacial periods on Earth. In this completely preserved correspondence, taking place from 1924 until 1952, also reside letters concerning the research of M. Milanković and V. Mišković as it relates to the research of Alfred Wegener and Wladimir Köppen. These letters are on the topic of M. Milanković's 1920's work. At the Astronomical Observatory in Belgrade, M. Milanković found useful data in the observatory's publications and orchestrated the numerical calculations he needed for his ATIA with V. Mišković aid.