Earth's glacial periods are explained by orbital variations that produce a small temperature change, which is then amplified by changes in carbon dioxide concentrations.

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This statement is true. Orbital variations, particularly in Earth's tilt and the shape of its orbit, lead to small changes in temperature that can trigger the growth or retreat of ice sheets. These changes in turn can cause variations in the amount of carbon dioxide stored in the ocean and atmosphere, which can amplify the initial temperature change and lead to more dramatic cooling or warming. This theory of glacial cycles is known as the Milankovitch Theory, named after the Serbian mathematician Milutin Milankovitch who first proposed it in the early 20th century.

Earth's Glacial Periods Are Explained by Orbital Variations That Produce