For millennia, the moon has been a fixture in our culture. From nursery rhymes and fables to comforting bedtime reads, the moon has been a source of mystery and awe for us.
The moon plays an important role in our planet’s ecosystem, from tides to tracking time and more. Without the moon, our lives would be drastically altered.
Earth’s Atmosphere
The Earth’s Atmosphere is a layer of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases that surrounds the planet. It blocks some harmful rays from the Sun, traps heat, and is necessary for life on Earth.
The atmosphere is composed of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and neon. These gases are mainly responsible for the greenhouse effect, which helps maintain a comfortable temperature on Earth.
In addition, the atmosphere prevents harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the surface. It also keeps Earth from experiencing extremes of temperature between day and night.
The stratosphere is the next layer above the troposphere and reaches as high as 50 kilometers (30 miles). Temperatures increase with altitude in this region because of a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs solar radiation.
Earth’s Tides
Without the moon, Earth would have a much smaller ocean tide. This is because the Sun has a stronger pull on the oceans than the moon does.
However, the sun is far away from the moon, so it doesn’t have enough gravity to make up for the lack of a moon. This means that the oceans would only have a tidal bulge on one side of the earth, which would be called an Earth tide.
Likewise, the oceans on the other side of the earth would have a bulge as well called an ocean tide.
When the Earth and the moon are perfectly aligned, their tidal forces add up to produce maximum tides known as spring tides. These high tides occur every 14-15 days during full and new moons.
Earth’s Gravity
Without the moon, the tilt of the Earth would vary more, causing a big change in our climate. This is not good news for life on Earth, as this would lead to wilder temperature changes and a harsh environment for living things.
The Earth’s gravity is a powerful force that can hold the world together as it spins around. This is because it pulls on all of the pieces that make up the planet.
However, it also pulls on the pieces that are closer to it. This is why the side of the Earth facing the Moon feels a stronger gravitational pull than the side that’s away from it.
This creates an effect called centripetal force. The water on the opposite side of the Earth from the Moon is flung outwards by this centripetal force, just like you experience when you round a curve too fast in a car. This creates a tidal bulge on the other side of the Earth from the Moon, which causes a second high tide.
Earth’s Climate
The Earth’s climate maintains a balance between the energy that reaches our planet from the sun and the energy that radiates back into space. The climate also affects the way plants and animals grow.
The Moon has a major effect on the climate of our planet, as well. Without it, our days would be 48 times longer and our temperatures would be significantly warmer.
This effect is a result of the gravitational influence the Moon has on the oceans of our planet. This causes them to rise and fall on a 12.5 hour cycle.
It also causes them to move around our planet, causing heat and friction to build up. This in turn drives currents that carry warm water around the world.