Do lunar forces have more of an effect than we know?

In summary, the conversation discusses a new scientific finding that suggests the Earth has a significant impact on the moon's landscape. The discussion also touches on the correlation between lunar forces and various phenomena such as El Nino, La Nina, and earthquakes. The significance of this connection is that it challenges the current understanding of these phenomena and could potentially shift the thinking in the field of climate science. However, the conversation is closed due to the site's policy against discussing non-published theories about climate change.
  • #1
WHT
22
4
Head's up, as this scientific finding is making the rounds. http://www.cnet.com/news/the-moon-is-shrinking-and-the-earth-is-shaping-it/

The claim is that the oriented gravitational pull shapes the landscape of the moon.
scarps.jpg

Except for the established effect of tides, it's odd that scientists do not ascribe much of the Earth's behavior to lunar forces. Yet this research claims that the Earth has a huge impact on the moon.

One topic we are working at The Azimuth Project forum is behavioral models for El Nino / Southern Oscillation. Whether this is coincidental or not, we are finding that the oscillation harmonics for ENSO and for the related Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) in the atmosphere follow precisely the folded periods of the Draconic and Synodic phases of the moon. We assert this correlation is not mere numerology because the physical model is so plausible.

A mass that can easily move due to gravitational effects is the one that has the least physical constraints. The ocean is one of these and the evidence is tidal action. Deeper within the ocean, the slight density difference of cool and warm water across the thermocline is even more compliant and so the lunar pull here results in the seemingly erratic sloshing oscillations of ENSO. And consider that the QBO takes place in the stratosphere, where the density of the atmosphere is so small that a lunar pull can bulge it very easily. This has ramifications for forcing the stratospheric winds in certain directions -- which is manifested by the lunar Draconic and Synodic periodicities we see in the QBO time series.

Something has to give here because the scientific establishment can't pick and choose as to what phenomena can demonstrate lunar forcing and which ones don't. There is other evidence that earthquake locality and timing is also associated with lunar dynamics, so the question is what do physics-minded people think about this.

Could this be a shift in thinking that rivals the adoption of plate tectonics theory? Forget predicting El Ninos as a meteorological topic -- if it turns out to be just geophysics and straightforward sloshing hydrodynamics, it will certainly shake up the climate science establishment.
 
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  • #2
Forces are forces. The same lunar forces that cause tides pull on the atmosphere and the crust also.
 
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  • #3
I can't fathom what this has to do with climate science.
 
  • #4
"I can't fathom what this has to do with climate science."

The connection is that the El Nino and La Nina cycle is the biggest contributor to global warming variability. This year we are in the middle of a significant El Nino, and because of this, we are breaking the records for average global temperature.

What the ENSO behavior causes is a change in the ocean's thermocline such that as it comes closer to the surface, cooler water is exposed, thus impacting the Earth's temperature.

The significance is that not one climate scientist believes that the ENSO cycle has anything to do with lunar forcing. They are all convinced that the pseudo-periodic is chaotic or dominated by red noise.

Yet the fact is that tides are also fairly complex, yet the consensus is that the moon is responsible for their origin.
 
  • #5
WHT said:
Except for the established effect of tides, it's odd that scientists do not ascribe much of the Earth's behavior to lunar forces. Yet this research claims that the Earth has a huge impact on the moon.

The Earth is 81 times as massive as the Moon, so, other things being equal, one would expect the Earth's effect on the Moon to be 81 times the effect of the Moon on the Earth.

Also, the impact isn't "huge"; it's a pattern of scarps a few tens of meters high on an object more than 3000 km in diameter.

WHT said:
we are finding that the oscillation harmonics for ENSO and for the related Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) in the atmosphere follow precisely the folded periods of the Draconic and Synodic phases of the moon.

Reference, please?

WHT said:
tides are also fairly complex, yet the consensus is that the moon is responsible for their origin.

So what? Physics is not sympathetic magic; "the moon causes tides, therefore the moon causes anything that's fairly complex like the tides" isn't a valid argument.
 
  • #6
Thread closed. Non-published theories about climate change / global warming are not allowed at this site.
 

1. How do lunar forces affect tides?

Lunar forces, specifically the gravitational pull of the moon, are responsible for creating tides in Earth's oceans. As the moon orbits around the Earth, its gravitational pull causes the water on the side of the Earth closest to the moon to bulge, creating a high tide. At the same time, another high tide is created on the opposite side of the Earth due to the centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation. This results in two high tides and two low tides every day.

2. Can lunar forces affect other things besides tides?

Yes, lunar forces can also have an effect on the Earth's crust. The gravitational pull of the moon can cause the Earth's crust to flex, resulting in small changes in the Earth's shape and causing earthquakes and volcanic activity. However, these effects are much smaller than the influence of the moon on tides.

3. Do lunar forces have an effect on living organisms?

Some studies have suggested that lunar forces can have an effect on the behavior and reproduction of certain animals, such as fish, birds, and insects. However, more research is needed to fully understand the extent of this influence and how it may vary among different species.

4. Can lunar forces affect human health?

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that lunar forces have a direct impact on human health. However, some people believe that the phases of the moon can affect mood and behavior. This is known as the "lunar effect" or "Transylvania effect," but it has not been supported by scientific research.

5. Are there any other effects of lunar forces that we are not aware of?

There is ongoing research on the potential effects of lunar forces on various aspects of Earth and its inhabitants. Some studies have suggested a possible link between lunar phases and fertility, while others have examined the impact of lunar cycles on weather patterns. However, these potential effects are still being studied and have not been conclusively proven.

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