Ausbau und gegenwärtiger Stand der astronomischen Theorie der erdgeschichtlichen Klimate

Summary After numerous attempts to explain the phenomenon of the glacial periods, undertaken since 1842, had failed, it became evident that the solution of this problem must be sought in a wider field of science. When finally use was made of the requisite items of knowledge concerning celestial mechanics, spheric astronomy, and cosmic rays, the secular variations of the terrestrial radiation could be calculated exactly out of their interrelations, which gave the key to the solution. How this came about is described in detail in the article.