precession, definition of

The tendency of the Earth's axis to wobble in space over a period of 23,000 years. The Earth's precession is one of the factors that results in the planet receiving different amounts of solar energy over extended periods of time.

• High Resolution Earth Orbital Precession relative to Climate & Weather
  The daily variation in Earth’s geometric relationship with the sun correlates well with observed temperature trends and also gives some indication of weather extremes from-year-to-year.  The coming changes in Earth’s climate due to precession of...