The Earth tends to wobble just a little when it spins on its axis rather like how a toy top wobbles on its axis. This action has been linked to nitrogen fixation in organisms in the ocean by researchers. Scientific teams from the Princeton University and the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich have reported that nitrogen fixation pattern was closely matched by the changing orientation of Earth’s axis of rotation, or axial precession.

Data proves that the axial precession occurs approximately every 26,000 years. This in turn leads to an upwelling of deep water in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean at this time that brings nitrogen deficient water to the top. Blue green algae on the surface now converts this into nitrogen rich water which can be used by other biological agents.

This pattern of nitrogen fixation was studied based on data collected over several years and led to the hypothesis that it matched the historical record of axial precession which led to the ocean water upwelling. This allows the Earth to survive severe ecological disturbances as well as balances the nitrogen cycle as per the researchers.

So in a manner of speaking every 26,000 years the Earth acts as a chef to fix nitrogen rich water for its ocean dwelling consumers. Interesting science project to read about.