Budyko, Mikhail (1920–2001)

MIKHAIL IVANOVICH BUDYKO was an environmental scientist who was internationally recognized for his pioneering work on the Earths energy balance, surface hydrology, and climate change, and the role of climate in regulating Earths biosphere. His work brought about the scientific discipline termed physical climatology, which, in contrast to empirical climatology, is based on the first principles quantitative analysis. Budyko strongly emphasized the importance of the Earths surface and atmosphere thermal balances, which are at the heart of all scientific problems related to climate change. His approach allowed fast and successful development of the mathematical tools for analysis of recent climate changes, interpretation of past ones, and prediction of future changes.

Budyko was born January 21, 1920, in Gomel, a small Belorussian town (then in the Soviet ...