Geological evidence confirms the staircase patterns of Earth’s rotation deceleration from the Neoproterozoic to the Mesozoic Era

Due to tidal dissipation, the Earth’s rotation has been slowing down, but the past rates of this process remain subject of debate. Here we conducted a comprehensive cyclostratigraphic analysis of eight geological datasets to further constrain the Earth's rotation history from the Neoproterozoic to Mesozoic. Our results allow us to further test theoretical physical tidal models, and support a suggested stair-shaped Earth’s rotation deceleration pattern during 650-280 Ma, thereby increasing the Earth-Moon distance about 20,000 km and the length of solar day approximately 2.2 hours. Specifically, the high rate of Earth’s rotation deceleration from 650 Ma to 500 Ma can be attributed to the enhanced tidal resonance. In contrast, the unusually low tidal dissipation during 500-350 Ma has led to a flatter trend of Earth’s rotation deceleration, closely followed by another high rate of Earth’s rotation deceleration during 350-280 Ma. These changes in Earth’s rotation are closely linked to alterations in Earth's tectonic contexts and ocean tidal resonance. Hence, we speculate that there might be a relationship between the Earth's rotation and geological processes.