Astronomical Time Scale for the Paleozoic Era

Milankovitch cycles are quasi-periodic fluctuations in insolation forced by variations in the Earth’s astronomical parameters, inducing periodic climate and environment change, and in turn recording in cyclic sedimentation. Astronomical calibration of the cyclostratigraphy can be exploited as a high-resolution astronomical time scale (ATS), facilitating the reconstruction of Earth’s history. The ATS is already an important geochronometer for the Cenozoic and Mesozoic eras; however, the ATS for the Paleozoic Era has yet to be fully constructed. The orbital eccentricity metronome (i.e., 405-kyr cycle) has already been used to construct the ATS for timing of the Paleozoic geological and climatic events. We compiled the Paleozoic cyclostratigraphy and developed a provisional ATS from published paleoclimatic proxy time series, which results in revisions to the timing of key geological events, and improving the understanding of the coupling between extraterrestrial forcing and Earth’s surface systems in the Paleozoic Era.