Earth evolution, supercontinent cycle, global zircon data, time series analysis, wavelet analysis, fractal and multifractal, Geophysics. Cosmic physics, QC801-809

Abstract Accessing the cyclicity and persistence of geological records with time series analysis deepens our understanding of Earth's long‐term evolution. In this study, time series from recent global zircon U‐Pb age and δ18O databases are analyzed using wavelet transform from a fractal perspective. Continuous wavelet transform of the local fractal sequences of both zircon records indicates a strong, persistent ~760 million year cycle over the 4.4 billion years of Earth's history. Wavelet coherence analysis shows that the U‐Pb age and δ18O systems are coupled in significant in‐phase coherence for a cycle of ~760 million year, implying synchronization between the two underlying processes. This study also demonstrates that the variation in the time series records manifests as 1/f β scaling behavior that persists β ~ 1.8 over the entire interval. This 1/f fractal scaling nature furnishes evidence for the conjecture that rather than being an equilibrium system, Earth's long‐term evolution follows a self‐organized pattern.