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Imprint of Galactic dynamics on Earth's climate
Author(s) -
Svensmark H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200610650
Subject(s) - physics , spiral galaxy , astrophysics , galaxy , spiral (railway) , galactic plane , astronomy , oscillation (cell signaling) , solar system , mathematical analysis , mathematics , biology , genetics
A connection between climate and the Solar system's motion perpendicular to the Galactic plane during the last 200 Myr years is studied. An imprint of galactic dynamics is found in a long‐term record of the Earth's climate that is consistent with variations in the Solar system oscillation around the Galactic midplane. From small modulations in the oscillation frequency of Earth's climate the following features of the Galaxy along the Solar circle can be determined: 1) the mass distribution, 2) the timing of two spiral arm crossings (31 Myr and 142 Myr) 3) Spiral arm/interarm density ratio ( ρ arm / ρ interarm ≈ 1.5–1.8), and finally, using current knowledge of spiral arm positions, a pattern speed of Ω P = 13.6 ± 1.4 km s –1 kpc –1 is determined. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)