Universe Today by Matt Williams 5/19/2023
Earth experiences seasonal changes because of how its axis is tilted (23.43° relative to the Sun’s equator), causing one hemisphere to always be tilted towards the Sun (and the other away) for different parts of the year. However, because of gravitational interactions between the Earth, Sun, Moon, and other planets of the Solar System, Earth has experienced changes in its orientation (obliquity) over the course of eons. This has led to significant changes in Earth’s climate, particularly the recession and expansion of ice sheets due to significant variations in the distribution of sunlight and seasonal changes.
These warming and cooling periods are known as interglacial and glacial periods (“ice ages”). Another interesting change is how the glacial-interglacial cycle has become slower with time. While scientists have long suspected that astronomical forces are responsible, they have only recently been able to test this theory. In a recent study, a team of Japanese researchers reproduced the cycle of glacial periods during the early Pleistocene Epoch (1.6 to 1.2 million years ago) using an improved computer model that confirmed astronomical forces were responsible.
The team consisted of researchers from the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI) at the University of Tokyo, the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI-JMA), the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CfCA-NAOJ), and the Planetary Exploration Research Cente (PERC-CIT). The team’s paper appeared in the May 15th issue of Communications Earth & Environment (a journal published by Nature).
More:
https://www.universetoday.com/161458/new-climate-model-accurately-predicts-millions-of-years-of-ice-ages/
