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Is the solar system's galactic motion imprinted in the Phanerozoic climate?
Nir J Shaviv1, Andreas Prokoph2, Ján Veizer3
1Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
Abstract:
A new δ(18)O Phanerozoic database, based on 24,000 low-Mg calcitic fossil shells, yields a prominent 32 Ma oscillation with a secondary 175 Ma frequency modulation. The periodicities and phases of these oscillations are consistent with parameters postulated for the vertical motion of the solar system across the galactic plane, modulated by the radial epicyclic motion. We propose therefore that the galactic motion left an imprint on the terrestrial climate record. Based on its vertical motion, the effective average galactic density encountered by the solar system is 0.172±0.006stat±0.006sysM∘pc⁻³. This suggests the presence of a disk dark matter component.
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