Final answer:
Milankovitch cycles affect global temperatures through changes in Earth's orbit, which alter the amount of solar radiation Earth receives. These long-term cycles have influenced ice ages and warm periods but do not explain recent rapid global temperature rises.
Step-by-step explanation:
Milankovitch cycles influence global temperatures by changing how much solar input is delivered to Earth's surface, controlling how much sunlight is reflected back to space, and influencing how much solar input is absorbed by the ground. The shape of Earth's orbital path around the sun, known as eccentricity, completes a cycle about every 100,000 years. This eccentricity affects Earth's proximity to the sun and the amount of solar radiation the planet receives. Moreover, these cycles are long-term, explaining the past cycles of ice ages and warmer interglacial periods, but do not account for rapid or sustained increases in global temperature or carbon dioxide levels observed in recent history.