The moon is connected to the Earth for the vast majority of its 4.5 billion year dance around the sun. Astrophysicists speculate that the moon’s origins are due to an ancient collision in which an object the size of Mars collided with our planet, sending enormous amounts of debris into space. The resulting materials flowed together due to gravity to form what we now recognize as the Moon.
We, and the rest of life on Earth, are so accustomed to the presence of the moon that it is difficult to imagine what existence on Earth would be like if our natural satellite were to suddenly disappear.
But could it ever float away or disappear? And what would happen if the moon disappeared?
Related: What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?
According to Noah Petro, project scientist for NASA’s Artemis 3 moon mission, few realistic astronomical events could cause such a dramatic event.
‘I think the only plausible astronomical event that could detach the moon would be a major impact on the moon, causing it to break up. …Similar to the major impact believed to have led to the formation of the moon“A big enough object could theoretically take the moon apart,” Petro said.
Fortunately, the sun and planets have swallowed most of the large objects in the solar system. A rogue planet entering the solar system from interstellar space could do the damage, but the chances of it colliding with the moon are extremely low, Petro said.
What would happen to the Earth?
But let’s say it did happen, that the moon disappeared and… Soil somehow remained relatively intact.
In terms of physical processes, one of the most notable disruptions would be the effect on ocean tides, which are responsible for coastal ecosystems. Marine life in the intertidal areas would die or adapt, and we would likely see the collapse of major ecosystems. that depend on intertidal areas for their food sources. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population lives within 50 kilometers of the oceanand as such, billions of people harvest or get their food from intertidal areas. The collapse of this ecosystem would be catastrophic for coastal communities.
In addition, tidal erosion at coastal edges is responsible for much of the shape of our coastlines. This process would diminish sharply and the battle between land and sea would lead to a (somewhat) ceasefire.
The tides also play an important role in the overall thermal regulation of the ocean. Colder, deeper ocean water is sucked into bays and inlets at high tide, where it warms. Oceanic tides also have a profound effect on larger ocean currents and thus on ocean circulation. These flows also have a feedback loop cause overhead winds, which play an important role in regulating the coastal climate. The sudden disappearance of the tidal forces that drive these mechanisms would have a huge impact on the distribution of heat and energy across the planet, changing the temperature and climate to a place we would barely recognize.
It will take some time for one of the most dramatic consequences of the moon’s disappearance to manifest itself, but it would have enormous consequences. The Earth’s axis is currently at 23.4 degrees relative to our orbit around the sun. However, there is a fluctuation in the spin cycle. But it takes 26,000,000 years to complete a full cycle, which is off by only 2.4 degrees. Without the moon to stabilize it, this fluctuation could become extreme and erratic. In this scenario, the predictable seasons would disappear and the poles would sometimes be on the equator. The results would drastically change the habitability of Earth, as the once predictable environment would become hostile to many forms of life.
What would happen to life?
Indeed, a number of species and ecosystems have become highly dependent on the physical consequences of the moon’s existence. After all, life evolved with the moon and its cycles as an important environmental condition. The life cycles or behavior of certain species are based on the cycles of the moon. A few examples are bird species that rely on moonlight as a signal for migratory journeys. The timing of the moonrise is also critical to the synchronized spawning of corals in the Great Barrier Reef.
The moon also provides a source of nighttime light for nocturnal species, especially nocturnal predators. There is some evidence that small mammals will limit their activity during a high moon (when there is more light) due to the risk of predation. Without this light, prey would gain a serious boost over their predatory opponents.
Effects on exploration and culture
Humanity’s relationship with the moon runs deep. Of course, the moon was the first alien body humans stepped on, and its disappearance would have major consequences for our space exploration goals. The moon offers a tangible stepping stone to larger future astronomical voyages, where we can test our equipment and learn more about the history of the solar system without straying too far from home.
The moon is a time capsule to the early solar system, Petro noted. By studying it we can get clues about how the Sun evolved, the history of impacts on the moon’s surface, and what it was like in the early stages of the solar system.
If we lost the moon, we would lose one of our best sources for understanding the origins of the Earth.
It also takes a lot of energy and resources to send things from Earth into space, because they have to escape those of our planet gravity. however, the The moon is thought to be home to a significant amount of frozen water, which could provide crucial resources for future deep space missions. By getting this water from the moon, we don’t have to spend our resources on launching it from the Earth’s surface.
It is also important to take into account the role of the moon in human culture. Countless myths, stories, paintings, poems and songs have been written about the moon. The moon calendar plays a central role in religious celebrations around the world, and the moon’s disappearance from the sky would undoubtedly spell a crisis for several prominent belief systems around the world.
It is fair to say that if the moon were to disappear, the physical, biological and symbolic consequences for the planet, life and people would be enormous.