Earth’s Rotation Measured by VLBI.- 1 Determination of the Earth Rotation Parameters by VLBI.- 1.1 Project IRIS.- 1.2 DSN VLBI Observations at JPL.- 1.3 The GJRO Campaign.- 1.4 The VLBI Campaigns with HartRAO.- 2 Analysis of the Earth Rotation Parameters Observed by VLBI.- 2.1 Analysis of the UT1 Series.- 2.2 Analysis of the IRIS Pole Series.- 3 Relation Between the Fortnightly and Monthly Tidal Variations and the Variations of the Pole?.- 4 Conclusions.- References.- Relativity and the Earth’s Rotation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Post-Newtonian Effects: Free Rotation of the Earth.- 3 Post-Newtonian Effects: Forced Precession and Nutation.- 4 Relativity Experiments and the Earth’s Rotation.- References.- Astrometric Observations of Hevelius and Derived Values of ?T (Dynamical Time — Universal Time).- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Solar Observations.- 3 The Lunar Observations.- References.- Historical Chinese Astronomical Observations.- 1 Historical Chinese Astronomical Observations (1).- 2 Historical Chinese Astronomical Observations (2).- 2.1 Stars.- 2.2 Special Astronomical Phenomena.- Application of Early Chinese Records of Lunar Occultations and Close Approaches.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Observational Criteria and Method of Analysis.- 3 Data Analysis.- 4 Discussion.- 5 Conclusions.- References.- Ancient Central Eclipse Records of China and Variation of the Earth’s Rotation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 General Principle.- 3 Data Analysis and Results.- 4 Discussion.- References.- Ancient Eclipse Records of East Asia and the Earth’s Rotation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Valuable Time Records of Eclipses.- 3 Importance of Central Eclipse.- 4 Use of the East Asian Series of Ancient Records.- References.- Tidal Acceleration of the Moon.- References.- The Variation in J2 and in the Moments of Inertia: Satellite Results and Consequences for the Angular Momentum Budget of the Earth-Moon-Sun System.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Recent Values of Quantities Needed for the Angular Momentum Budget.- 2.1 Secular Variation in the Moon’s Mean Motion Due to Tidal Dissipation.- 2.2 Secular Variation in J2 and Related Quantities.- 2.3 Secular. Variations in the Orbital Elements of the Moon’s and Earth’s Orbit Due to Tidal Dissipation.- 3 Secular Tidal Variation in the Orbital Angular Momentum of the Earth-Moon-Sun System.- 4 Secular Tidal Variations in the Angular Velocity of the Earth’s Rotation.- 5 Residuum in the Total Angular Momentum Budget.- 6 Conclusions.- References.- Celestial Mechanics of Present Tidal Friction.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Equations of Motion.- 3 Effect of Gravitational Field.- 4 Earth’s Body Tides.- 5 Ocean Tides.- 6 Effect of Tides on the Motion of Artificial Satellites, Solution of the Inverse Problem: Determination of Tidal Parameters.- 7 Effect of Tides on the Moon’s Motion.- 8 Parameters of Ocean Tides — Satellite Solutions.- 9 Parameters of Body Tides.- 10 Secular Tidal Variation of Parameters of the Moon’s Orbit.- 11 Conclusion.- References.- The Consideration of Solid Earth Effects in Ocean Tide Modeling.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Computation of Free and Forced Oscillations.- 3 Free and Forced Hemispherical Oscillations.- 4 Near-Resonance Semi-Diurnal Oscillation Systems.- 5 Conclusions.- References.- Variations of the Angular Momentum Budget for Tides of the Present Ocean.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Simulation of Ocean Tides.- 3 The Angular Momentum Budgets.- 4 Variations of the Earth’s Rotation.- 5 Summary and Conclusions.- References.- The Pole Tide and the Damping of the Earth’s Free Nutation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 A Glance at the History.- 2.1 At the Beginning: Klein and Sommerfeld (1910).- 2.2 A Milestone: Bondi and Gold (1955).- 3 A Spherical Harmonic Model of the Pole Tide.- 3.1 The Algorithm.- 3.2 The Comparison with Observed Values.- 4 Some Aspects of the Modern Theory.- 5 Conclusions.- References.- The Seasonal Angular Momentum of the Thermohaline Ocean Circulation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Calculation of Thermohaline Currents.- 2.1 Basic Equations.- 2.2 Thermal Wind Equations.- 2.3 The Hydrographic Data.- 3 Oceanographic Results.- 3.1 The Global Circulation.- 3.2 Seasonal Variations.- 3.3 Transport Calculations.- 4 Angular Momentum Contained in Thermohaline Currents.- 4.1 Calculations Based on Geostrophic Currents.- 4.2 Calculations Based on a General Circulation Model.- 4.3 Implications for Length of Day.- 5 Conclusions.- References.- Atmospheric Effects on the Earth’s Rotation.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Outline of the Theory of Atmospheric Large-scale Motions.- 3 Internal Friction.- 4 Surface Friction.- 5 Atmospheric Angular Momentum.- 6 Polar Motion.- 7 Solar Gravitational Tidal Torque.- 8 Magnetospheric Friction.- References.- The Solar Torque — A Leak for the Angular Momentum of the Earth-Moon System.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Ratio.- 2.1 The Schematic View.- 2.2 Periodic Variations.- 2.3 Average Torques.- 3 The Balance.- References.- Tectonic Consequences of the Earth’s Variable Rotation on Geological Time Scales.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Outline of the Theory of Equilibrium Figures.- 3 Tidal Despinning of the Earth.- 4 Kinetic Parameters of the Earth Throughout Geological Time.- 5 Lithospheric Stresses Caused by Tidal Despinning.- 6 Tidal Shrinkage.- 7 Tectonic Evolution of the Earth Due to Tidal Despinning.- References.- Secular Variations of the Earth’s Moment of Inertia and Related Quantities.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Rotational Deformation and Trace Changes of the Inertia Tensor.- 3 Variations of the Polar Moment of Inertia and Related Quantities Caused by Changes of 1.o.d.- 4 Some Causes of Secular Change of the Polar Moment of Inertia.- 5 Long-Term Variations of the Geopotential Coefficient J2.- 6 Conclusion.- References.- Global Consequences of the Tidal Secular Deceleration for the Solid Earth and its Fluid Core.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Secular Deceleration of the Core-Mantle System.- 3 Geodynamic Consequences Due to the Change in the Rotational Potential.- 3.1 Radial Part.- 3.2 Zonal Part.- 4 Resonance in the Paleowobbles.- 5 Secular Deceleration and Magnetic Scaling Laws.- 6 Conclusion.- References.- Astronomical Frequencies in Paleoclimatic Data and the Dynamical Ellipticity of the Earth.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Climate Changes at the Astronomical Frequencies.- 2.1 Climate Variations.- 2.2 Milankovitch Astronomical Theory of Paleoclimates.- 2.3 Classical Astronomical Frequencies in Diverse Geological and Insolation Data all over the World.- 3 Earth’s Orbital Parameters.- 4 Astro-Climatic Elements.- 5 Influence of the Variation of the Lunar Orbit.- 6 Impact of the Ice Sheets During the Quaternary.- 7 Conclusion.- References.- Quaternary Sea-Level Changes in the North Sea, an Analysis of Amplitudes and Velocities.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Geological Evidence and Processes.- 3 Conclusions.- References.- Tidal Rhythms in the Shell Secretion of Living Bivalves.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Experimental Approach.- 3 Effects of Tidal Emersion.- 4 Effects of Continuous Immersion.- References.- Implications of Some Recent Sedimentological Studies to the History of the Earth-Moon System.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Sedimentary Rhythmites.- References.- Continental Configurations and Mantle Reference Frames over Geological Time.- 1 The Palaeomagnetic Constraint and the Dipole Assumption.- 2 Configurations and Movements of the Continental Crust.- 3 True Polar Wander and the Hotspot Frame.- 4 The Geomagnetic Field Source and the Core-Mantle Boundary Zone.- References.