Re: [Phys-l] earth's rotation

[carmelo@pacific.net.sg]

Quoting Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>:
> I don't quite see why a shorter day wrt to a sidereal day will change
> the climate.  the illumination from the sun will be unchanged.
>
> bc
>
> Clarence Bennett wrote:
>
> > If, as I suspect, the concept CLOCKWISE was invented by Europeans
> > looking at sundials, then I think Mike's argument should fall apart.

According to Milankovitch hypothesis, the changes in the shape of  
Earth's orbit, in precession, and inclination affect Earth's climate.  
Apparently, the angle between the Earth's rotational axis and its  
normal to the plane of its orbit moves from 21.5 degrees to 24.5  
degrees and back again on a 41,000-year cycle. Currently, this angle  
is 23.44 degrees and seems to be decreasing.
How global warming affects the angle change should be more important...

Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles


Alphonsus