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The continuous sedimentary cores recovered at the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1505, Expedition 368, provide an opportunity for paleoceanography and paleoclimate reconstruction in the continental margin of the northern South China Sea (SCS). In this study, we conducted detailed rock‐ and paleomagnetic studies on 420 discrete samples from the top ∼200 m of the synthetic records of Holes U1505C and U1505D. Rock magnetic analyses indicate that low‐coercivity pseudosingle domain magnetite dominates as the primary ferromagnetic mineral of Site U1505. The magnetostratigraphic age model was constructed by correlating the interpreted polarity sequence with the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale 2020 with the constraints of the biostratigraphic data and the distribution probability of the age of each polarity zone provided by a Dynamic Time Warping algorithm. The Milankovitch cycles of the short eccentricity, obliquity, and precession cycles were identified in the magnetic susceptibility (MS) and natural gamma radiation (NGR) series based on paleomagnetic results. We established an ∼9 Myr high‐resolution astronomical time scale by tuning the MS and NGR records to the global oxygen isotope curves, the obliquity, and the eccentricity curves of the La2004 astronomical solution. Our new age model reveals detailed sedimentation rate variations and a ∼500 kyr hiatus across the Brunhes‐Matuyama boundary related to local tectonic activity. These results lay the foundation for understanding the paleoceanography and paleoclimate evolution of the SCS. Plain Language Summary: A high‐resolution time framework is essential for achieving the scientific objectives of the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 368 in the northern South China Sea. Here we conducted detailed magnetostratigraphic and cyclostratigraphic analyses on cores of Site U1505, providing a robust age constraint of the upper ∼200 m of the cores. Our results provide an almost continuous succession since ∼9 Ma with a ∼500 kyr hiatus at ∼30.517 m. Significant Milankovitch cycles corresponding to the short eccentricity, obliquity, and precession cycles were identified in the geophysical data, indicating an orbital forcing on the monsoon climate and terrigenous input variations over the northern South China Sea. The new magneto‐cyclostratigraphic age model will contribute to further paleoceanographic, paleoclimatic, and correlation studies. Key Points: Rock magnetic studies indicate that magnetic remanence is dominated by low‐coercivity magnetite in International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1505The fluctuation of the content of terrigenous materials over the northern South China Sea is driven and modulated by Milankovitch cyclesA new magneto‐cyclostratigraphic age model since ∼9 Ma is established, highlighting a ∼500 kyr hiatus across the Bruhnes/Matuyama boundary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chaotic behavior of the Solar System prevents the prediction of the precise evolution of the planetary secular frequencies. Here we use four cyclostratigraphic sequences, ∼259 Ma Wujiaping Formation, ∼455 Ma Pingliang Formation, ∼655 Ma Datangpo Formation and ∼2,465 Ma Dales Gorge Member, and Bayesian inversion to provide powerful geological constraints to this problem. The inversion provides constraining estimates for the Solar System fundamental secular frequencies g1, g2, g3, g4, and g5, and the Earth's precession rate k from 105.26 ± 2.68 (2σ) arcseconds/year at ∼2,465 Ma to 55.86 ± 2.60 (2σ) arcseconds/year at ∼259 Ma. Stochastic monotone interpolation enables the reconstruction of Earth‐Moon distance from 2.5 billion years to the present. Calculation of tidal dissipation supports the ocean model before 1.4 Ga, but is outside the error range after ∼1.8 Ga, suggesting lower tidal dissipation in the early Proterozoic Eon, and a possible high value in the early Paleozoic. Plain Language Summary: The chaotic history of the Solar System imposes unknown uncertainties on the fundamental secular frequencies of the planets over most of geologic time. This is complicated by a lack of knowledge about the evolution of Earth‐Moon distance, Earth's length of day and tidal dissipation. Geological evidence provides powerful constraints on all of these parameters. To shed light on the parameters, here we carry out Bayesian inversion of fundamental secular frequencies and Earth precession rate on four cyclostratigraphic sequences, and stochastic monotone interpolation to reconstruct Earth‐Moon distance from 2.5 billion years ago to present. From these results we estimate the Earth's tidal dissipation variation, which we compare with theoretical models. Our results provide critical geological constraints for paleotidal simulation, and shine a light on the unique potential of cyclostratigraphy to constrain Earth‐Moon system history across geologic time. Key Points: We obtain new estimates of Earth‐Moon and Solar System dynamical parameters from cyclostratigraphy at four ages from ∼2.5 Ga to ∼259 MaWe interpolate Earth‐Moon distances inferred from the cyclostratigraphy to reconstruct a continuous history from ∼2.5 Ga to the presentWe estimate Earth's tidal dissipation variations from ∼2.5 Ga to the present [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important greenhouse gases, CO 2 is considered a major controlling factor of Earth's climate over geological timescales. However, the origins of quasi-periodic fluctuations in p CO 2 on a million-year timescale remain unclear. Here, we used published datasets of atmospheric p CO 2 , oxygen isotopes of benthic foraminifera (δ18O benthic) and global mean sea-level (GMSL) from 23 Ma to the present to explore the pacing of p CO 2 changes and concomitant climatic effects using multiple time series analysis approaches. Our results indicate that the evolution of late Cenozoic p CO 2 and climate was paced by the grand orbital cycles, in particular the ∼4.5 Myr and ∼2.4 Myr eccentricity cycles, and ∼1.3 Myr obliquity cycle. Periodic occurrence of cold conditions was associated with low climate seasonality during the minima of ∼4.5 Myr and ∼2.4 Myr eccentricity cycles. We suggest that cooler conditions are associated with decreased atmospheric p CO 2 as a result of higher organic carbon burial due to lower metabolic rate of heterotrophic bacteria and more organic carbon export to the deep ocean. Furthermore, the buildup of glaciers during the minima of grand eccentricity cycles might lower p CO 2 via increased ice cover and enhanced dust fluxes. In contrast, high seasonal climate may lead to an opposite effect on atmospheric p CO 2 during the maxima of the grand eccentricity cycles. Moreover, we found a distinct shift in the dominant signal from eccentricity to obliquity cycles recorded in the p CO 2 , δ18O benthic and GMSL datasets at ∼13 Ma, a time when perennial sea ice occurred in the Arctic and significant ice growth shown in Antarctica. We suggest that the change in the type and distribution of the ice sheets would shift glacial response to orbital forcing and hence mediated global climate and p CO 2. Our analysis reveals a clear synchrony among atmospheric p CO 2 , climate change, and the grand orbital cycles in the late Cenozoic. • Late Cenozoic changes in p CO 2 and climate were paced by the grand orbital cycles • Astronomically forced seasonal changes modulated global sea surface temperature and ice volume • A switch in the dominant cycle from eccentricity to obliquity was detected at ∼13 Ma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milankovitch cycles are quasi-periodic fluctuations in insolation forced by variations in the Earth's astronomical parameters, inducing climate change, and in turn affecting sedimentation and the formation of cyclostratigraphy. Astronomical calibration of the cyclostratigraphy can be exploited as a high-resolution (0.02–0.4 Myr) astronomical time scale (ATS), facilitating the reconstruction of Earth's evolutionary 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. Radioisotopic age-calibrated Milankovitch cycles have been detected in Paleozoic strata, linked to the hierarchy of sedimentary cycles deposited in the continental, paralic, and marine environments. The orbital eccentricity metronome (i.e., 405-kyr cycle) has already been used to construct the ATS for the timing of Paleozoic geological and climatic events. Here, we review Paleozoic cyclostratigraphy and develop a provisional ATS from published paleoclimatic proxy time series, which results in revisions to the timing of key geological events in the Paleozoic Era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM) sequestration acts as a significant sink of the CO 2 in Earth's carbon cycle and is tightly associated with the climate and depositional environments. However, the dominant factors controlling OM burial in different depositional settings and the orbitally forced variations in the lacustrine OM accumulation remain poorly constrained. Here, we investigate the depositional environment of the Lucaogou Formation in southern Junggar Basin, northwestern China and further decipher the astronomically forced OM accumulation in different depositional environments. Sedimentological and cyclostratigraphic studies show that both shallow lake and semi-deep to deep lake deposits recorded significant Milankovitch signals among of which ∼405 kyr, ∼91 kyr, 34.5–37.4 kyr, and 17.3–22.8 kyr are interpreted to be long eccentricity, short eccentricity, obliquity, and precession cycles, respectively. A linkage among the lithofacies, natural gamma ray (NGR), and total organic carbon (TOC) content suggests that the depositional environment and OM accumulation were in pace with the hydrological cycle and lake-level changes, in response to the astronomically forced changes in the ice volume and monsoonal intensity. In the semi-deep to deep lake, TOC content tightly tracks the lithofacies and shows an in-phase relationship with NGR. However, this phase relationship has changed with sedimentary facies. The gypsiferous shale deposited in the restricted environment during lowstand intervals has higher TOC content than highstand dolomitic mudstone, demonstrating an anti-phase relationship with NGR data. Our study indicates that the OM sequestration is a dynamically cumulative process of supply and degradation. The different responses of the OM sequestration to the climate change in different environments suggest that detailed sedimentological studies are essential for the cyclostratigraphic analysis. • A deep-time example for the OM burial in the continental basins was provided. • OM accumulation was orbitally forced in the Lucaogou Formation. • Dynamics of insolation-induced OM accumulation changes with sedimentary environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-precision time framework is critical for improving our understanding of three major events: the Late Ordovician mass extinction, the Hirnantian glaciation, and the Hirnantian isotopic carbon excursion (HICE). In the present study, we conducted detailed cyclostratigraphic analysis of a high-resolution (1–2-cm intervals) anhysteretic remanent magnetization series obtained from the Wanhe section in South China, covering the lower Katian through Hirnantian. Power spectra and derived average spectral misfit results show that the section records the ensemble of Milankovitch cycles with 405-kyr (long-eccentricity), 93–125-kyr (short-eccentricity), 33.8-kyr (main obliquity), and 17–22-kyr (precession) periods. The obliquity period of 33.8 ± 0.46 kyr indicates a precession constant k of 57.19 ± 0.53 arcsec/yr, a length of day of 22.37 ± 0.12 h, and an Earth–Moon distance of 375,330 ± 722 km (vs. 384,000 km today) during the Late Ordovician (445 Ma). The ratios of obliquity band power to total power reveal periodicities of 1.32 Myr for the s 4 – s 3 term and 173.4 kyr for the s 3 – s 6 term. Aided by the highly fluctuating magnetic susceptibility (MS), we recognized a series of 1.32-Myr obliquity-forced glacio-eustatic cycles with three intervals of sea-level rise and climate warming trend characterized by high MS values and two episodes of sea-level fall and climate cooling trend before the Hirnantian. The 405-kyr and subsequent 33.8-kyr calibrations produce an ~7.36-Myr floating astronomical time scale (FATS) for the studied succession, indicating that the estimated durations for the Hirnantian Stage, the worldwide Hirnantian glaciation, and the first and second phases of the Late Ordovician mass extinction were ~1225 kyr, ~830 kyr, ~440 kyr, and ~540 kyr, respectively. This work provides a reliable high-resolution time framework for further investigation of the major geological events occurred in the Late Ordovician, and improves our knowledge of Solar System behaviour and Earth–Moon history during that period. • An ~7.36 Myr ATS was constructed for the early Katian through Hirnantian. • The durations of Hirnantian Stage, glaciation and mass extinction were estimated. • Earth–Moon evolution was constrained for the Late Ordovician. • Obliquity forcing controlled the Late Ordovician glacio-eustasy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cambrian is the first period of the Phanerozoic during which numerous major geological and biological events occurred. Understanding these events requires a high-resolution time scale. The Luoyixi section in Guzhang (Hunan Province, China) is the global stratotype section and point (GSSP) for the Guzhangian Stage. Here, magnetic susceptibility and δ13C data were used to conduct cyclostratigraphic analyses covering the upper Drumian through lower Guzhangian stages. The results of the power spectral analyses and average spectral misfit analyses indicate that the 25–25.53 m, 6.25–6.91 m, 1.90–2.03 m, and 1.08–1.19 m sedimentary cycles may represent long-eccentricity, short-eccentricity, obliquity and precession cycles, respectively. A ~1400 kyr floating astronomical time scale was constructed using the stable 405-kyr eccentricity cycles to calibrate the agnostoid trilobite zones. The obtained fundamental obliquity period (30.7 ± 0.7 kyr) implies 370,180 ± 1220 km (vs. 384,000 km for present day) for the Earth–Moon distance and 21.58 ± 0.18 h (vs. 23.93 h for present day) for the length of day during the middle Cambrian (500 Ma). • Reliable Milankovitch cycles were identified in the Middle Cambrian marine strata. • An ~1400 kyr ATS was constructed for the Drumian–Guzhangian transition. • The durations of the two complete agnostoid trilobite biozones were estimated. • Deep-time evolution of the Earth–Moon system was reconstructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]