Introduction

We know that the Earth’s gravitational force holds the moon close to its atmosphere and the rotation of the moon around the Earth causes days and nights on the planet. What is interesting is that the moon also has its gravitational force which influences Earth, and contributes to many of Earth’s phenomena, even the shape of the planet. In this article, we will elaborate on the complete extent of the Moon’s influence on Earth’s climate and tides. 

Moon’s impact on Tidal Waves

Tides are the alternating advance and retreat of seawater along the coastline. When the water advances to its furthest extent onto the shoreline, it is called a high tide. When the water recedes to the furthest extent from the shore, it is called low tide.[1] Freshwater rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans have tides caused by the moon’s gravitational pull. A high tide that is significantly higher than normal, called the king tide, occurs at the new moon when the moon is closest to the Earth. 

Why do tides occur?

The two factors that cause high tide and low tide are the moon’s gravitational pull and Earth’s rotational force. The side closest to the moon experiences the strongest pull and causes the seas to rise, creating a high tide. On the Earth’s side facing away from the Moon, where the rotational force of Earth is stronger than the Moon’s pull, water piles up as it tries to resist the force causing high tides to form that side too. Due to the accumulation of water on these two sides, on the remaining sides of the Earth, the ocean recedes and produces low tides. Tides move around the Earth as bulge in the ocean. Depending on the nature of the shoreline, most beaches experience two high tides and two low tides in 24 hours. 

Ocean Tides

Due to the moon’s gravitational pull, the oceans bulge out to the side closest to the moon and the side farthest from the moon. These massive rise and ebb of the ocean affects the ocean currents. On average, there is a five-foot rise and fall of the oceans at shorelines around the world. 

Ground Surface Tides

The Lunar gravitational pull even causes ground tides on Earth which are less than 8 inches. It is imperceptible, but the Earth’s crust flexes in the direction of the tidal pull. Satellites that measure the Earth’s topology confirm that the Moon affects the land’s height and adds stress on tectonic faults. Some scientists even attribute phenomena such as volcanoes and earthquakes to ground surface tides.

The Tidal Fish, Turtles, and Sea Life

The marine life greatly depends on tidal movement of oceans and lakes. Tides determine when many fish species and turtles lay eggs or hatch them to improve their survival chances. The moon phases even trigger reproduction and feeding for many sea creatures that rely on moonlight. 

Influence of the Moon on Earth’s Weather

The Lunar cycle affects tides and causes the ocean’s water to be warm or cool down. The ocean’s warm water mixes with the colder water below and influences how the sea absorbs heat. Lunar cycles can heat or cool the globe by about 0.04oC. There are many ways in which the moon affects the weather. 

Air Pressure

In the 1990s, scientists confirmed the moon’s ability to generate an atmospheric tide – a gaseous pulse that alters the air pressure every day. It also affects the circulation patterns in areas such as the subtropical high-pressure belts. Phenomena such as cloudy skies, precipitation and hurricane formation are affected by lunar phases. 

Lunar phase

On the full moon, the temperature of the lower 6.4 kilometres of the atmosphere increases by two-hundredths of a degree Fahrenheit. 

Thunderstorm Activity

Researchers believe that we can observe increased thunderstorm activity around the full moon because of Earth’s magnetic tail undergoing moon-induced distortions. It has also been proved that 1% of rainfall variations are caused by the Moon’s phases and position. 

Moon’s effect on Earth’s climate

Without the moon, Earth would experience extreme climate change. The Moon’s gravity controls the Earth’s rotation and maintains the Earth’s temperatures, making it less turbulent than other planets. It helps stabilise the Earth’s axial tilt and maintain a stable climate by moderating seasonal extremes. Further, over very long timescales, the Moon’s gravitational effects contribute to the Earth’s orbital cycles which influence the timing and intensity of ice ages. These cycles affect the Earth's climate by altering the distribution of solar energy received by Earth.

While the Moon’s impact on Earth’s daily weather is minimal compared to other factors like solar radiation or atmospheric conditions, its role in stabilising Earth’s climate system over geological timescales is significant. 

[1] https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/tide/