Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Sunspot periods in the late Precambrian glacial climate and solar–planetary relations

Abstract

Cycles conspicuous in late Precambrian (680 Myr) glacial varves in Australia reveal strong climatic periods of about 11, 22, 145 and 290 yr and a weaker period near 90 yr. The 11-, 22- and 90-yr cycles equate with sunspot periods, and the longer cycles with solar and climatic periods as indicated by tree-ring studies. The varve cycles provide clear evidence of 11- and 22-yr climatic periods in the geological record and may carry important implications for solar physics and planetary science.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Meadows, A. J. Nature 256, 95–97 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Herman, J. R. & Goldberg, R. A. Sun, Weather, and Climate (NASA, Washington, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Scherrer, P. H. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 17, 724–731 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lamb, H. H. Climate: Present, Past and Future Vol. 1, 440–464 (Methuen, London, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  5. King, J. W. Astronaut. Aeronaut. 13(4), 10–19 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mitchell, J. M. Jr, Stockton, C. W. & Meko, D. M. in Solar–Terrestrial Influences on Weather and Climate (eds McCormac B. M. & Seliga, T. A.) 125–143 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Epstein, S. & Yapp, C. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 30, 252–261 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gerety, E. J., Wallace, J. M. & Zerefos, C. S. J. atmos. Sci. 34, 673–678 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mass, C. & Schneider, S. H. J. atmos. Sci. 34, 1995–2004 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pittock, A. B. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 16, 400–420 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Robock, A. J. atmos. Sci. 35, 1111–1122 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bradley, W. H. Prof. Pap. U.S. geol. Surv. 158, 87–110 (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Anderson, R. Y. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 95, 424–439 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Richter-Bernburg, G. in Problems in Palaeoclimatology (ed. Nairn, A. E. M.) 510–521 (Interscience, London, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Duff, P. McL. D., Hallam, A. & Walton, E. K. Cyclic Sedimentation (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Trendall, A. F. Econ. Geol. 68, 1089–1097 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Preiss, W. V. Dept Mines Energy, S. Aust., Rep. Bk. 79/24 (1979); in Precambrian Geology of the Southern Continents (ed. Hunter, D. R.) (Elsevier, Amsterdam, in the press).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Dalgarno, C. R., Johnson, J. E., Forbes, B. G. & Thomson, B. P. Port Augusta 1:250,000 Geol. map sheet (Geological Survey South Australia, Adelaide, 1968).

  19. Coats, R. P. Dept Mines Energy, S. Aust., Rep. Bk. 79/138 (1979).

  20. Coats, R. P. & Preiss, W. V. Precambr. Res. 13, 181–208 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. McWilliams, M. O. & McElhinny, M. W. J. Geol. 88, 1–26 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Blackman, R. B. & Tukey, J. W. The Measurement of Power Spectra (Dover, New York, 1958).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  23. Dalgarno, R. & Johnson, J. E. Q. Geol. Not. geol. Surv. S. Aust. 11, 3–4 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Thomson, B. P. in Handbook of South Australian Geology (ed. Parkin, L. W.) 49–83 (Geological Survey of South Australia, Adelaide, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Embleton, C. & King, C. A. M. Glacial Geomorphology (Arnold, London, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jopling, A. V. & McDonald, B. C. (eds) Glaciofluvial and Glaciolacustrine Sedimentation (SEPM Spec. Publ. 23, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1975).

  27. Friedman, G. M. & Sanders, J. E. Principles of Sedimentology (Wiley, New York, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Schlüchter, C. (ed.) Moraines and Varves (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1979).

  29. Sturm, M. in Moraines and Varves (ed. Schlüchter, C.) 281–285 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gary, M., McAfee, R. & Wolf, C. L. (eds) Glossary of Geology (American Geological Institute, Washington, 1972).

  31. Möner, N.-A. in The Encyclopedia of Sedimentology (eds Fairbridge, R. W. & Bourgeois, J.) 841–843 (Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Stroudsburg, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Schove, D. J. in Moraines and Varves (ed. Schlüchter, C.) 319–323 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1979); Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 25, 209–233 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Budd, W. & McInnes, B. in Climatic Change and Variability. A Southern Perspective (eds Pittock, A. B., Frakes, L. A., Jenssen, D., Peterson, J. A. & Zillman, J. W.) 228–234 (Cambridge University Press, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Meier, M. F. & Post, A. Can. J. Earth Sci. 6, 807–817 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Meier, M. F. Can. J. Earth Sci. 6, 987–989 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Bray, R. J. & Loughhead, R. E. Sunspots (Chapman & Hall, London, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Dodson, H. W. & Hedeman, E. R. in Solar-Terrestrial Physics/1970: Part I, The Sun (ed. de Jager, C.) 151–172 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cohen, T. J. & Lintz, P. R. Nature 250, 398–400 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Lomb, N. R. & Andersen, A. P. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 190, 723–732 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Wittman, A. Astr. Astrophys. 66, 93–97 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Stuiver, M. & Quay, P. D. Science 207, 11–19 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Libby, L. M. & Pandolfi, L. J. Nature 266, 415–417 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Turner, H. H. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 80, 793–803 (1920).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Damon, P. E. in The Solar Output and its Variation (ed. White, O. R.) 429–448 (Colorado Associated University Press, Boulder, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Wollin, G., Ericson, D. B. & Ryan, W. B. F. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 12, 175–183 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Wollin, G., Ryan, W. B. F. & Ericson, D. B. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 41, 395–397 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. King, J. W. Nature 247, 131–134 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Tandberg-Hanssen, E. Solar Activity (Blaisdell, Waltham, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kavanagh, L. D. Jr in Earth's Magnetospheric Processes (ed. McCormac, B. M.) 3–15 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1972).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  50. Lanzerotti, L. J. in The Solar Output and its Variation (ed. White, O. R.) 383–403 (Colorado Associated University Press, Boulder, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Siscoe, G. L. & Crooker, N. U. J. Geomagn. Geoelectr. 28, 1–9 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Siscoe, G. L., Chen, C.-K. & Harel, M. J. atmos. terr. Phys. 38, 1327–1331 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Gribbin, J. in Climatic Change (ed. Gribbin, J.) 150–154 (Cambridge University Press, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Carmichael, C. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 3, 351–354 (1967); in Palaeogeophysics (ed. Runcorn, S. K.) 73–77 (Academic, London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  55. McElhinny, M. W. Palaeomagnetism and Plate Tectonics (Cambridge University Press, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Howard, R. & LaBonte, B. J. Astrophys. J. 239, L33–L36 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Williams, G. E. Benchmark Papers in Geology 57 (Hutchinson Ross, Stroudsburg, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  58. Eddy, J. A. in The Solar Output and its Variation (ed. White, O. R.) 51–71 (Colorado Associated University Press, Boulder, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Waldmeier, M. The Sunspot-Activity in the Years 1610–1960 (Schulthess, Zürich, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, G. Sunspot periods in the late Precambrian glacial climate and solar–planetary relations. Nature 291, 624–628 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291624a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291624a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing