Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: DTE
Context: The Earth experiences climate fluctuations in a 2.4-million-year cycle, discovered through geological sedimentary evidence in the deep ocean current. This cycle, known as “astronomical grand cycles,” is linked to the orbits of Earth and Mars around the Sun.
Explanation:
The concept of the Astronomical Grand Cycle (AGC) suggests that the gravitational interaction between Earth and Mars cyclically influences deep ocean currents, leading to recurring patterns every 2.4 million years. This cycle is attributed to the interference of gravity fields between the two planets, causing a resonance that affects Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
The mechanism proposed for AGC highlights the gravitational interplay between Earth and Mars as the primary driver. Unlike the Milankovitch cycles, which are associated with Earth’s interactions with Jupiter and Saturn and coincide with the glacial and interglacial periods on Earth, the AGC specifically pertains to the interaction between Earth and Mars and its impact on deep ocean currents.
