Geophysicist, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 
Born in Dorpat, in the family of a gardener of the Dorpat Botanical Garden. 
He graduated from the University of Dorpat and from 1874 he worked at the Main Physical Observatory. Schtelling's scientific work began with the derivation of an empirical formula for calculating evaporation from the surface of water bodies, for which in 1884 he was awarded the prize of Count D.A. Tolstoy. However, the most important was the work of Stelling as the organizer of science. He was the founder and first director of the magnetic meteorological observatory in Irkutsk, restored a number of inactive meteorological stations and achieved the organization of new ones in various areas of Siberia. Shtelling conducted magnetic definitions in the Amur and Primorsky Territories, in the Lena basin, revealing secular changes in terrestrial magnetism. They organized and carried out thorough measurements of the Angara channel, speed and level of its flow in the region of Irkutsk. 
In 1899, Shtelling took part in the expedition on the "degree measurement" on Spitsbergen, in 1905 headed the processing of all magnetic observations made by the Russian Polar Expedition. 
From 1897 until the revolution, Stelling was deputy director of the Main Physical Observatory, and from 1919 headed the department of climatology. He was a full member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. 
Shtelling was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav 2 degrees, St. Anna 2 degrees, St. Vladimir 4 degrees. 
He died in Petrograd. 
Cape east of Eclipse Bay on the shore of Khariton Laptev. Named in 1901 by the Russian Polar Expedition. 
Mountain on the island of West Svalbard. Named in 1899-1901 by expedition members on the "degree measurement".

Lake on the island of West Svalbard. Named in 1899-1901 by expedition members on the "degree measurement".