Academician Stjepan Škreb and the Geophysical Institute in Zagreb

(in Croatian)

Abstract

       This paper is the first detailed presentation of S. Škreb’s complete work, due to various circumstances, is still not adequately known, although essential for the progress in science and especially for the progress of the Geophysical Institute in Zagreb. The paper presents Škreb’s activity from several aspects.

       The description of his life and work gives an insight into his specific work, which attracted attention at a rather early stage. The description of Škreb’s activity as Director of the Institute brings to light numerous difficulties he was confronted with, and which were due first to the situation after the First World War, then to the poor concern of the authorities for the development of science in this region, and finally to the outbreak of the Second World War. Nevertheless, under Škreb’s leadership the Institute was noted for the quality of its results and their significance, which consequently produced a fruitful co-operation with numerous institutions at home and abroad.

       The paper gives a description of S. Škreb’s activity as Professor of Geophysics at the University of Zagreb, and as a member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb.

       The enclosed bibliography is the most comprehensive list of Škreb’s scientific papers and studies or discussions so far, including the papers written about him. It is preceded by the presentation of his main papers. Škreb’s scientific work deals with problems of theoretical meteorology, meteorological statistics and climatology, and comprises critical treatises from different fields of geophysics in a broader sense.

       Škreb’s first paper dates from 1910 and treats the influence of the Earth’s rotation on the atmospheric circulation. His mathematical and numerical results belong to the basic material for further development in the study of atmospheric circulation.

       His study of the climate and climatic elements in Zagreb and Croatia resulted in an important group of papers, which belong to the first detailed studies of the climate in Croatia. Due to his efforts, the climate of Croatia, including the climatic map according to Koeppen for the country, has been elaborated for the first time.

       Škreb’s papers on climatiological statistics are distinguished by a critical approach to statistical methods when applied to meteorological data. Furthermore, he dealt with specific properties of meteorological time series, as well as with the necessity of specifications of the least square method when applied in climatology. He pointed on the existence of symmetrical and asymmetrical frequency distributions in climatology, which resulted in other ways of statistical analyses. With these studies he tried to abolish the formal application of statistical methods in climatology.

       The topics of Škreb’s scientific debates are many-sided. The most significant ones comprise: by accepting Kepler’s idea of explaining gravitation by the radiation theory he stressed the role of “movement quantity”, and introduced its elementary quantity by the name of “kormo”; he also discussed the cause of the celestial body rotation existence; moreover, he made a detailed analysis of the meaning and significance of basic terms of Newton’s mechanics.

       This paper includes written memories of his students and collaborations, describing S. Škreb in his everyday work and life, thus completing this presentation of the efforts of a man who dedicated all his life to the development of science and to the existence and development of the Geophysical Institute in Zagreb.