What causes large scale shifts in climate due to variations in the Earth's tilt and orbit?

Large-scale shifts in climate, particularly those associated with changes over long periods, are significantly influenced by natural phenomena such as variations in the Earth's tilt (obliquity), axial precession, and orbital eccentricity. These variations are part of the Milankovitch cycles, which describe how changes in the Earth's position relative to the sun impact climate patterns over thousands of years.

Obliquity affects the angle at which sunlight reaches the Earth, influencing the distribution of solar energy across the planet. Axial precession refers to the wobble in the Earth's rotation axis, which can modify seasonal contrasts and affect climate. Lastly, orbital eccentricity pertains to changes in the shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun, which can alter the overall solar energy received by the Earth.

These natural cycles are fundamental in explaining historical climate changes, such as the onset of ice ages and interglacial periods, allowing for a deeper understanding of how climate evolves over geological timescales. Other factors like volcanic activity or solar radiation can have immediate or short-term impacts on climate but do not account for the large, gradual shifts most commonly studied in the context of Earth's climatic changes.