Cycles in Earth Sciences, Quo Vadis? Essay on Cyclicity Concepts
First published: 2021
Brief summary
Historical and conceptual review of cyclicity thinking in stratigraphy, tracing ideas from Eduard Suess and Barrell's diastem concept through to modern orbital-cyclicity-based stratigraphic methods.
Article
Cycles in Earth Sciences, Quo Vadis? Essay on Cyclicity Concepts is a peer-reviewed journal article published by History of Geo- and Space Sciences (Copernicus) in 2021. It focuses on historical and conceptual review of cyclicity thinking in stratigraphy, tracing ideas from Eduard Suess and Barrell's diastem concept through to modern orbital-cyclicity-based stratigraphic methods.
Conceptual/historical review rather than a single measured period. It also considers covers base-level cyclicity and orbital forcing concepts used to interpret stratigraphic record. This gives the cycle claim a specific numerical and evidential setting rather than presenting periodicity only as a visual impression.
The article reports the following result: Current stratigraphic research integrates several methods to identify repetitive patterns in the stratigraphic record and to interpret oscillatory geological processes; Barrell pioneered understanding of cyclic erosion and accumulation processes. The interpretation is strongest when it survives dating uncertainty, preservation bias, alternative event selections and correction for multiple statistical tests.
For cycles researchers, the article brings together earth science cycles, stratigraphic cyclicity, orbital forcing, history of geology. It is relevant to debates over whether recurring patterns in the geological record reflect astronomical forcing, internal Earth processes, preservation bias or dating uncertainty.
Because it is a peer-reviewed journal article, the article is a strong starting point for discussion in the Geology & Paleontology forum, although its conclusions should still be compared with later replications and updated datasets.
Source details and credits
- Source / publisher: History of Geo- and Space Sciences (Copernicus)
- Source type: Peer-reviewed journal article
- URL type: PDF
- Credits: History of Geo- and Space Sciences (Copernicus)
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