The moon is more than just Earth’s natural satellite. It has influenced everything, from the origin of life to the changes in our climate. On July 14, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched Chandrayaan-3, its third mission to the moon. On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 delicately touched down on the lunar surface at 8:34 a.m. EDT (12:34 UTC) Aug. 23, to begin a planned 14-day mission.
Since the 1960s, there have been over 110 moon missions. These missions sparked a global interest in the moon. The information they gathered has greatly expanded our knowledge of the moon, Earth, and the origins of life. There is evidence that the moon played a key role in starting and shaping life on Earth, and it continues to do so.
Moon’s Impact On Earth
The Moon, a small and silvery satellite orbiting the Earth at a distance of 384,400 kilometers, exerts a profound influence on our lives. Without its presence, our planet would have taken on a strikingly dissimilar appearance. The existence of distinct organisms with divergent behaviors might have been a reality, and it is even conceivable that the human species would not have come into being.
Despite its weaker gravitational pull compared to Earth, it plays a crucial role in determining the length of our day, the stability of our seasons, and the ebb and flow of tides. Its impact extends to numerous species, including our own, shaping our everyday existence.
British historian Peter Frankopan, in his book The Earth Transformed, said, “The moon played a role not only in the transformation of the earth, but also in the development of life on this planet.”
In his book, he discusses how recent models propose that large tidal ranges have played a crucial role in driving bony fish towards shallow pools on land. This phenomenon has prompted the development of weight-bearing limbs and organs that facilitate air-breathing.
Planet’s Composition
Approximately 60-175 million years following the birth of our solar system, a cataclysmic event unfolded. The Earth encountered Theia, a planet about the size of Mars. The resulting collision led to the formation of the moon, as debris from this extraordinary encounter coalesced together.
This event had a profound and lasting impact on Earth, particularly in terms of its composition. On our planet, denser elements gravitate towards the core, while lighter ones remain concentrated in the crust. This dynamic interplay of materials shapes the very essence of our world.
How Moon Fundamentally Shapes Earth’s Climate
Without the moon, our climate would drastically change. This could lead to large temperature swings and daylight variations throughout the year. Ice ages could strike various regions every few millennia. As Frankopan emphasizes, the moon’s gravity aids in moving heat from the equator to the poles, a key factor in shaping Earth’s climate.
The moon also helps keep the Earth’s axial rotation stable by slowing it down. Without the moon, extreme temperatures would exist, with scorching heat at the poles and freezing cold at the equator. The concept of seasons would be lost, and both day and night would last the same length of time all year round.
Tectonic plates, water distribution
Researchers at the University of Münster in Germany have made a groundbreaking discovery: water, the essence of life, arrived on Earth during the birth of the Moon approximately 4.4 billion years ago. This remarkable finding sheds light on our planet’s ancient origins and the fundamental role played by celestial bodies in shaping our world.
The moon came into existence as a result of a colossal impact between Earth and a celestial body known as Theia. Recent findings by researchers from Munster University have provided evidence that Theia originated from the outer reaches of our solar system, and its collision with Earth brought significant amounts of water to our planet.
As per scientists, the collision that resulted in the formation of the moon supplied an ample amount of carbonaceous material, which can fully explain the presence of water on Earth.
The gravitational force exerted by the moon potentially influenced the movement of our tectonic plates, while also causing the elevation of ocean levels closer to the equator. In the absence of this gravitational pull, the redistribution of the oceans would result in rising sea levels at the poles.
Tides
The moon’s most significant influence on life manifests in the form of tides. The rhythmic ebb and flow of water, revealing and concealing the ocean’s edge within a span of a few hours, may have spurred the adaptation and migration of life from the depths of the sea to the vastness of land.
Approximately 3.2 billion years ago, the moon was positioned much closer to Earth, resulting in more powerful and frequent tides. Scientists suggest that organic molecules, brought by meteorites and comets, interacted with one another to create intricate compounds. Eventually, these compounds evolved into nucleic acids like DNA or RNA, which played a crucial role in the emergence of life as we know it.
Tides play a crucial role in this process. Coastal areas are submerged during high tides, but become dry during low tides. This dynamic environment triggers intricate reactions that enable the transformation of simple molecules into more complex ones.
The influence of tides likely facilitated the transition of ancient marine organisms from the sea to the land, a critical step in the evolution of life that began in coastal regions.
As a result of tidal forces, the length of an Earth day has undergone an extension. Approximately 1.4 billion years ago, a single day lasted for a duration of 18 hours and 41 minutes. This phenomenon can be attributed to the gravitational interaction between our planet and the moon, akin to a celestial tug of war.
Both Earth and the moon exert gravitational forces on the oceans, resulting in a fascinating interplay. The interaction between the moving ocean and the seabed generates friction, causing a dissipation of energy that gradually decelerates the planet’s rotation.
As per the Institute of Physics in the United Kingdom, the gravitational force of the moon influences the tides, which in turn impact the intertidal zone – the area where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. The absence of the moon would result in weaker tides, narrowing this zone and intensifying competition for survival among species.
Billions of years ago, when the moon nestled closer to our planet, frequent and intense tides graced our shores. The Earth spun with greater velocity, unleashing the power of these tides that sculpted and shaped our coastlines. In this rhythmic dance of water and land, precious minerals were bestowed upon the oceans, nurturing the rapid evolution of life as we know it.
The moon’s tides have a profound impact on the reproductive cycles of marine life: The timing of turtle egg laying and hatching, for instance, is closely tied to the ebb and flow of the tides. In fact, many creatures synchronize their reproductive rhythms with different phases of the lunar cycle.
Additionally, the moon’s influence extends beyond reproduction, as it changes the coastal environment and shapes various animal behaviors.
Lunar Movement
Every year, the moon moves 3.8 cm further from Earth. This is similar to how fast a fingernail grows. Scientists predict that if the moon keeps moving at this pace, it will leave Earth’s gravitational force in around 15 billion years. This means Earth could lose its only natural satellite.
However, in around six billion years, the Sun will exhaust its fuel. This will make it swell up and destroy both Earth and the moon. So, the moon escaping Earth’s gravity is not likely.
Yet, in about two to three billion years, Earth may feel the effects of the moon’s departure. This is because as Earth spins slower, its axis will lose stability and wobble. This wobbling will cause extreme seasons and then no seasons at all.
This will cause havoc. To survive, living things will need to change and adapt to these new conditions.
Moonlight
The moon does not have its own light. Instead, it shines because it reflects the Sun’s light. This reflected light from the moon can change life on earth.
It makes it easier to see and be seen in the dark. Because of the moonlight, predators can catch their prey more easily. The food-seeking behavior of animals also changes due to the brighter night.
Many organisms coordinate their activities with the moon. This includes things like migration, navigation, and even reproduction. For example, corals have been observed to align their reproduction with the moon’s phases.
Plants like Ephedra foeminea, commonly used in Arabic medicine, react to moonlight and its phases. This plant secretes a sweet substance that glows under the moonlight, which attracts insects and aids in pollination.
Studies indicate that the full moon affects the hunting patterns of lions. They are less likely to hunt during this phase, and attacks on humans typically occur 10 days after the full moon. Furthermore, many bat species decrease their activity during a full moon.
Some crabs, worms, fish, and coral can tell the moonlight from certain moon phases. They use this light to know when to reproduce as a species. Animals that come out at night, called nocturnal animals, behave differently based on the moon’s position in its 29.5-day cycle. When the moon is full and bright, prey fish hide in the reef because they can be easily seen.
Circalunar rhythms, influenced by lunar cycles, impact various organisms in distinct ways.
Historians have also made connections between lunar rhythms and human behavior, activity, and even fertility. The sleep cycles of “pre-industrial communities” were profoundly influenced by lunar activity.
In his book “The Earth Transformed,” British historian Peter Frankopan explores the fascinating correlation between women’s menstrual cycles and lunar light and gravity. Some scholars argue that human reproductive behavior was originally synchronized with the moon but has been influenced by modern lifestyles in recent times.
Climate Change
The moon has a significant impact on the climate, known as the lunar nodal cycle. This cycle occurs over a period of 18 and a half years, during which the moon’s orbital tilt in relation to Earth’s equatorial plane increases or decreases by 5.1 degrees (°).
When the lunar orbit aligns with Earth’s equator, the gravitational forces intensify, resulting in stronger tides. Conversely, when the lunar orbit tilts away from the equator, the gravitational forces weaken, leading to less powerful tides.
Tides play a crucial role in the ocean’s mixing and circulation. As we delve deeper into the ocean, the temperature steadily decreases. On average, the global sea surface temperature is 16°C, while the deep ocean remains at a chilly 4°C.
Strong tides facilitate the mixing of upper and lower layers of water, resulting in the gradual cooling of surface water temperature. Consequently, the atmosphere responds to this cooling effect caused by the oceanic processes.
According to studies, the world is projected to experience a period of global cooling in the mid-2020s, followed by a warming trend in the early 2030s. Additionally, sea levels fluctuate in response to tides. NASA confirms that daily tides are intensified during one-half of the lunar nodal cycle.
During this period, the amplitude of high tides increases while low tides diminish. According to a recent NASA study, by the mid-2030s, all US coastlines will face a surge in high-tide floods as a result of the combined effects of climate change and lunar cycles. It is worth considering that future moon missions may also provide valuable insights in our ongoing efforts to combat climate change.