Polar wander, sea-level variations and ice age cycles

There exist close connections between changes in the position of the earth' s rotation axis with respect to the earth's surface (polar wander), variati ons in sea level, the rise and decline of Ice Ages and global change on geo logical time scales. The modeling of these interrelationships has received renewed attention in the last few years, after initial attempts to relate t hese phenomena by means of viscoelastic solid earth relaxation models had s hown its feasibility. An overview is given of the models, and several aspec ts of the various interrelationships are discussed. It is shown that the ra dial mantle viscosity profile and the layering of the solid earth have impo rtant influences on these interactions.