What is the Significance of a Secular Timescale?

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SUMMARY

The term "secular" in the context of time scales refers to non-periodic variations that occur over extensive durations, specifically ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 years. This definition contrasts with short-term time scales, which are commensurable with orbital periods. The Latin origin of "secular" signifies "age," indicating a focus on long-term trends rather than religious connotations. In fields such as mathematics and finance, secular variation denotes a long-term overall trend, while in astronomy, it describes variations that do not repeat or are unpredictable, akin to chaotic orbits.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of astronomical time scales
  • Familiarity with the concept of periodic vs. non-periodic variations
  • Basic knowledge of Latin terminology related to time
  • Insight into mathematical and financial trends
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  • Research "secular variation in astronomy" for deeper insights
  • Explore "chaotic orbits in celestial mechanics" to understand unpredictability
  • Study "long-term trends in finance" to see applications of secular concepts
  • Investigate "historical definitions of secular in various contexts" for broader understanding
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Astronomers, mathematicians, financial analysts, and anyone interested in understanding long-term trends and variations in their respective fields.

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"act on any time scale from short term, commensurable with the orbit periods to secular (measured in 104 to 106 years)."

is a sentence with it.

I can't google up a good definition of "secular" in this context
 
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Secular means non-periodic
Of course you have to look at an infinite length of data before you decide that it isn;t periodic on some longer timescale!

It's form the original latin secular=age, nothing to do with secular=not religious
 
I thought it meant "once in an age" or "extremely long period" rather than non-periodic. In this case I think it means "long term" considering it's usage in justaposition to 'short term' in the example sentence.

See http://www.springerlink.com/content/x7884617p417485h/".

Google "secular orbit" or "secular interaction".
 
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In maths/finance secualr variation means a long term overall trend.
In astronomy I thought it meant a variation that is doesn't repeat or isn't predictable - like a chaotic orbit.
 

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