How does the phases of the moon affect the earth

On the side of Earth opposite the Moon, the gravitational pull is less than on any other part of the Earth and the oceans are "left behind" in another bulge. The Moon's contribution to Earth's tides is significant because it is so close. The Sun, of course, also exerts a powerful gravitational pull on Earth — that's what keeps Earth in a steady orbit. Early in Earth's history, the Moon was even closer to Earth.

Billions of years ago, the Moon was 10 times closer and tides were times higher. Scientists believe that these extreme tides occurred once every three hours because the Earth was spinning more rapidly. The tides eroded the coastal areas, adding minerals to the oceans.

These minerals may have been essential for life to evolve as quickly as it did. Shining Light — Just like the planets, our Moon does not produce its own light.

It "shines" because it reflects the Sun's light. While careful statistical studies have shown no correlation between the full Moon and strange behavior, the full Moon's light does make it easier for humans and other animals to see — and be seen. Studies have documented changes in the success rates of predators and foraging patterns of prey animals due to this added nighttime illumination. Corals time their mating events by the light of the Moon. Most other animal behaviors relating to the Moon are because the tides change the coastal environment.

The Size of It — Despite the exaggerated size of the Moon in movies, books, and art, the Moon's apparent size is relatively small in the sky. Nearly everyone has experienced the illusion that the Moon's appearance is magnified on the horizon.

And when the invertebrates of a salt marsh are drowned, the shorebird, fish and other species that depend on them suffer profoundly too. Salt marshes are also of significant environmental importance, able to store carbon at much greater rates than many land-based ecosystems.

Freshwater wetlands, meanwhile, hold nearly 10 times more carbon than tidal saltwater sites, in part because of their very large extent. With increased flooding due to the Moon wobble and sea level rise, freshwater wetlands may also face a profound change.

Kristine Hopfensperger is an environmental scientist at Northern Kentucky University who studies the salinisation of freshwater wetlands.

Freshwater aquatic species are also greatly impacted by increasing salinity and pushed upstream to remain in freshwater. A world without tides would have very different weather systems. Tides are one factor that influences the movement of ocean currents, which move warm or cool water about the Earth.

Warm ocean currents bring warmer wetter weather, while cold ocean currents bring colder drier weather. One of the most important weather-producing phenomena on Earth may be affected by the lunar nodal cycle too. Usually, strong winds along the equator blow the warm surface water westward from South America towards Indonesia and cooler deep water rises up in its place.

Warm surface water piles up near the west coast of South America and cold water remains deep in the ocean. Usually wet regions may be plunged into drought while dry regions may be deluged in rain , even causing deserts to burst into bloom. Trade winds are stronger than usual , pushing more warm water toward Asia. Cold waters that well up off the coast of the Americas then push the jet stream northward.

The result is warmer than usual winter temperatures in the south and cooler than normal in the north. The "Southern Oscillation" part refers to the change in air pressure at sea level over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

While the lunar nodal cycle is set to bring marked change over the coming decades, on a shorter timescale the Moon affects the Earth in a few other lesser-known ways. The Moon is also thought to affect polar temperatures and contribute to fluctuations in the extent of Arctic ice. Though here, the influence of the Moon is not its Satellite measurements have shown that the poles are 0.

Although there's no scientific evidence to suggest the Moon affects our mood, it can inspire one fascinating Mediterranean plant to weep. Also known as the joint pine or Mormon tea, Ephedra foeminea is a gymnosperm, a group of ancient, flowerless plants that rely on insects for pollination.

Without flowers or other lures, the joint pine has developed an unusual technique to get the attention of potential pollinators. In bright moonlight, each little cone produces droplets of fluid to help stick its pollen to passing insects. These droplets sparkle under polarising light moonlight , creating a glittering disco-like display that draws beetles and other nocturnal insects to the plant.

Under the moonlight in Africa, the dung beetle Scarabaeus zambesianus uses the polarisation pattern of moonlight and the way it scatters through the atmosphere to navigate in a straight line. Tom says, 'If you're a dung beetle with a fresh dung pile, the best thing to do is to take your newly rolled dung ball and leave in a straight line, moving as quickly and efficiently as possible to your burrow, because if you hang around you might get eaten by a predator or lose your dung ball to a competitor.

He adds, 'In recent research done in a lab in Sweden, scientists placed dung beetles under non-polarising artificial light and discovered that they travelled in circles. Stars that go supernova are responsible for creating many of the elements of the periodic table, including those that make up the human body. Help local wildlife, see more stars and get better rest - just a few compelling reasons to join the dark side. From bioluminescent lures to infrared abilities, meet some of the animals that have found ways to master life in the dark.

Get email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. You must be over the age of Privacy notice. Smart cookie preferences. Change cookie preferences Accept all cookies. As on Earth, one half of the Moon is lit up by the Sun while the other half is dark.

As the Moon orbits us, we see it from different angles, with its light side pointing toward us or away from us. The phases begin when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth. The bright side of the Moon is facing away from us, and we see the dark near side.

We call this a? As the Moon moves along its orbit, we see more and more of the near side lit up, until we see it all lit up at? Then we see less and less of the Moon lit up, until it shrinks to a crescent and then disappears at the next new moon.