Earth's Orbit Change: Impact on Life - Will We Die?

[night_stroller]

If the Earth was forcibly moved 1% off it's current orbit, What would happen to life? How would it be any different from what it is now? Will we die?

 

[thinkies]

We won't die. Since a stable distance is needed to maintain a certain temperature which allows life possible on Earth (with greenhouse effect in play as well, else wise the average surface temperature would be -18 with its current position), the 1% off its current orbit won't move us far enough where temperature would decrease and making Earth cold.

 

[Janus]

Considering that the Earth varies its distance from the Sun by some 2.6% already just by virtue of the eccentricity of its orbit, I don't think you'd notice much difference.

 

[pixel01]

Considering that the Earth varies its distance from the Sun by some 2.6% already just by virtue of the eccentricity of its orbit, I don't think you'd notice much difference.

The two cases are different. The Earth's orbit is elliptical with the difference is 2.6%, but the heat at periphelion can be preserved to the aphelion time because we have a lot of water.
If the Earth were 1% further off, the total energy the Earth received is also off by square.
I don't think we would die, but the temperature would drop quite considerably.