Climate fluctuations are caused by three astronomical motions. Through shifts in (1) the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit, (2) the inclination of the Earth's axis and (3) the spin of the Earth's axis, constant change occurs in the distribution of solar heat over the Earth's surface. These movements each have, at least for 200 million years (early Jurassic period), the same periodicity of their own and have their own influence on climate. To understand climate phenomena, geologists will therefore have to look for these three constituent periodicities in their observation series.

Some 150 years ago, it was James Croll, Edinburgh tea merchant, who was the first to explain ice ages and warm periods by astronomical means, and the Serbian Milanković published results of astronomical calculations of climate variations in 1941. Hard evidence for the correctness of his ideas came in 1977 in an extremely elegant way from properties of deep-sea sediments.

Dr Fred Jansen conducted research on deep-sea sediments at very great depths. Research at such great depths was spectacular in itself!
Important results from the research on deep-sea sediments in the South Atlantic Ocean show how the three periods affect the climate of the ocean and the neighbouring African continent. Among other things, it revealed a globally occurring slow shift that made our last ice age less cold than the preceding one.

Drinks start at 18:00 and the meal follows punctually at 19:00.

Sign up no later than 7 December.

Further information or register at: kringrotterdam@kivi.nl