|
Titel |
Earth Orbit v2.1: a 3-D visualization and analysis model of Earth's orbit, Milankovitch cycles and insolation |
VerfasserIn |
T. S. Kostadinov, R. Gilb |
Medientyp |
Artikel
|
Sprache |
Englisch
|
ISSN |
1991-959X
|
Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Geoscientific Model Development ; 7, no. 3 ; Nr. 7, no. 3 (2014-06-03), S.1051-1068 |
Datensatznummer |
250115629
|
Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/gmd-7-1051-2014.pdf |
|
|
|
Zusammenfassung |
Milankovitch theory postulates that periodic variability of Earth's orbital
elements is a major climate forcing mechanism, causing, for example, the
contemporary glacial–interglacial cycles. There are three Milankovitch
orbital parameters: orbital eccentricity, precession and obliquity. The
interaction of the amplitudes, periods and phases of these parameters
controls the spatio-temporal patterns of incoming solar radiation
(insolation) and the timing and duration of the seasons. This
complexity makes Earth–Sun geometry and Milankovitch theory difficult to
teach effectively. Here, we present "Earth Orbit v2.1": an astronomically
precise and accurate model that offers 3-D visualizations of Earth's orbital
geometry, Milankovitch parameters and the ensuing insolation forcing. The
model is developed in MATLAB® as a
user-friendly graphical user interface. Users are presented with a choice
between the Berger (1978a) and Laskar et al. (2004) astronomical solutions
for eccentricity, obliquity and precession. A "demo" mode is also
available, which allows the Milankovitch parameters to be varied
independently of each other, so that users can isolate the effects of each
parameter on orbital geometry, the seasons, and insolation. A 3-D orbital
configuration plot, as well as various surface and line plots of insolation
and insolation anomalies on various time and space scales are produced.
Insolation computations use the model's own orbital geometry with no
additional a priori input other than the Milankovitch parameter solutions.
Insolation output and the underlying solar declination computation are
successfully validated against the results of Laskar et al. (2004) and
Meeus (1998), respectively. The model outputs some ancillary parameters as
well, e.g., Earth's radius-vector length, solar declination and day length for
the chosen date and latitude. Time-series plots of the Milankovitch
parameters and several relevant paleoclimatological data sets can be
produced. Both research and pedagogical applications are envisioned for the
model. |
|
|
Teil von |
|
|
|
|
|
|