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Whose work first explained the cause of ice ages?

Earth SciencePaleoclimate

Quick Answer

Milutin Milankovitch developed the orbital theory of ice ages in the early 20th century. He linked climate cycles to changes in Earth's orbit and tilt.

The Full Story

Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovitch calculated how variations in Earth's orbit, axial tilt, and precession affect the amount of solar energy reaching the planet. His ideas, developed in the 1910s and 1920s, explained the pacing of glacial and interglacial periods. Later climate records strongly supported his theory. It is now a central part of paleoclimatology.

Key Facts

1.Theory developed in the early 1900s
2.Uses eccentricity, tilt, and precession
3.Explains glacial cycles over tens of thousands of years

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Suggested video title for this topic:

"Earth’s orbit helps set the rhythm of ice ages."