Effects of moon on prehistoric earth

[Thomas,G]

If the moon is expanding its orbit at a rate of one inch per year, that would mean that 65,000,000 years ago it would have been roughly 1,000 miles closer to the earth. Does anyone know of a study that considers how the moon proximety to the Earth at this time may have effected the environment and possibly allowed for the existence and or contributed to the demise of dinosaurs? And what effects on gravity it may have had which may have accounted for the possibility of so many prehistoric creatures being so large?

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi Thomas! Welcome to PF!

If the moon is expanding its orbit at a rate of one inch per year, that would mean that 65,000,000 years ago it would have been roughly 1,000 miles closer to the earth. Does anyone know of a study that considers how the moon proximety to the Earth at this time may have effected the environment and possibly allowed for the existence and or contributed to the demise of dinosaurs? And what effects on gravity it may have had which may have accounted for the possibility of so many prehistoric creatures being so large?

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon" , the Moon's present distance from Earth varies between 363,104 km and 405,696 km (about 240,000 miles ± 5%).

So I'm afraid a 1,000 miles difference wouldn't really be noticeable.

 

[Janus]

IOW, the Moon presently varies its distance from the Earth by some 26,000 miles every month.