Final answer:
Cyclical changes in the shape of Earth's orbit, known as Milankovitch cycles, cause gradual climate change and affect the intensity and distribution of sunlight falling on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cyclical changes in the shape of Earth's orbit, known as Milankovitch cycles, have a gradual impact on climate change and sunlight distribution on Earth. These cycles include changes in eccentricity, obliquity, and precession.
Eccentricity refers to the change in Earth's orbital path from more circular to more elliptical, affecting the distance between Earth and the sun.
Obliquity refers to the tilt of Earth's axis, which affects the angle at which sunlight reaches different latitudes. Precession causes a wobble in Earth's axis, altering the timing of seasons.