Cyclostratigraphy and Astrochronology
First published: 2023
Brief summary
Modern review/example of astronomical forcing in cyclic strata.
Article
Cyclostratigraphy and astrochronology use cyclic variations in sedimentary records to construct high-resolution geological time scales. Cyclostratigraphy identifies recurring stratigraphic patterns, while astrochronology links suitable patterns to calculated variations in Earth’s orbit and rotation.
The principal astronomical components are precession, obliquity, short eccentricity and long eccentricity. Their influence on insolation can affect climate and sedimentation, producing cycles in lithology, geochemistry, magnetic properties, fossil abundance or other measurable proxies.
A typical study combines stratigraphic logging with spectral analysis, filtering, correlation and age modelling. Orbital tuning adjusts the depth or time scale so that observed cycles align with expected astronomical periods, usually within an independently constrained chronological framework.
Reliable astrochronology requires preservation of the relevant signal and realistic treatment of changes in sedimentation rate, hiatuses and uncertainty. The approach can refine durations and boundary ages, but tuning choices and incomplete records can produce alternative interpretations.
Source details and credits
- Source / publisher: Geological Society
- Source type: Review
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Geological Society
- URL: https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/full/10.1144/SP532-2022-31