The climates of the geological past

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This English translation (and German facsimile) of Wladimir Köppen and Alfred Wegener's 1924 work is a pivotal text in paleoclimatology, originally published as a textbook. Wegener, renowned for his continental drift theory, also made significant contributions to understanding past climates alongside his colleague and father-in-law, Köppen. Unfortunately, the original edition was largely destroyed during World War II, making this translation crucial for the international climate research community. It includes Köppen's Supplements and Corrections from 1940, shortly before his death, and enhances the original with subject indices. The text explores the relationships between past climates and climate change, with insights stemming from collaboration with Milutin Milankovitch, who contributed key sections. Their work established a precise time scale for Late Cenozoic glacial-interglacial cycles, and recent refinements of Milankovitch's orbital parameters have furthered our understanding of climate predictions. This translation provides non-German-speaking readers access to compelling arguments regarding climate evolution, making it essential for anyone interested in climate change from historical or contemporary perspectives.