Variations in the Earth's orbital parameters cause quasi-periodic, 104–106 year scale changes to occur in the incoming solar radiation, or insolation. These insolation changes are commonly known as Milankovitch cycles, after the Yugoslav mathematician who first described the cycles (Milankovitch, 1941). Milankovitch cycles have been linked to large-scale climate cycles and, in turn, to climate-mediated sedimentary cycles (e.g., Berger et al., 1984; Einsele et al., 1991; Shackleton et al., 1999).
Earth's orbital parameters
The Earth's rotating axis of figure is tilted with respect to the Sun, Moon and the other planets. Consequently, the axis precesses mainly in response to the luni-solar gravitational attraction on the Earth's equatorial bulge, at a rate governed primarily by the Earth's shape, rotation rate, and Earth–Moon distance. In addition, the axial precession experiences gravitational perturbations from the motions of the other planets acting on the Earth's orbit (e.g., Laskar...
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Hinnov, L. (1978). Milankovitch cycles. In: Middleton, G.V., Church, M.J., Coniglio, M., Hardie, L.A., Longstaffe, F.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3609-5_138
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