Ocean Tides, Earth's Rotation, Moon's Orbital Radius, & Global Warming

In summary, ocean levels rising would have a negligible impact on the Earth's rotational speed and the Moon's orbital radius due to the strong gravitational forces that link them. The Earth's rotation and the Moon's recession are affected by gravitational action as a whole, and any changes in sea levels would not significantly alter this. While changing sea levels may affect the rate at which the Earth loses rotational energy, the overall impact on the Moon's recession would still be minimal.
  • #1
dimensionless
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If ocean levels go up enough, will they have an impact on the Earth's rotational speed and the Moon's orbital radius? If so what will the effect be? It seems that all these things are tide to one another.
 
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  • #2
The effect would be too small to be noticed. Any rise in the oceans would be negligible compared to the radius of the Earth itself.
 
  • #3
Perhaps my questions would seem more meaningful if I rephrased them.

The Moon recedes from the Earth at a velocity of 38mm/year. How will a change in ocean levels alter this speed?

The Earth's rotational period increases at a rate of 15 mcs/year. How will a change in ocean level alter this?
 
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  • #4
The Earth's rotation and the Moon's recession are linked. Both are caused by gravitational action which acts on the bodies as a whole. A redistribution of the details on the Earth should not affect them.
 
  • #5
The Earth looses rotational energy due to friction from the tides. I would reason that changing sea levels would mean changing friction. If the friction changes then there should be a change in the rate at which the Earth looses rotational energy. This should, in turn, affect the recession of the moon.
 

1. How do ocean tides occur?

Ocean tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the Earth's oceans. As the Earth rotates, the moon's gravity causes a bulge in the ocean on the side closest to the moon, creating high tide. On the opposite side of the Earth, the centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation creates a second bulge and results in a second high tide. The areas in between these two bulges experience low tide.

2. How does the Earth's rotation affect the tides?

The Earth's rotation plays a crucial role in the occurrence of tides. As the Earth rotates, the moon's gravity pulls the ocean towards it, creating high tide. The rotation also creates a centrifugal force that results in a second bulge and a second high tide. This process occurs twice a day, resulting in two high tides and two low tides.

3. What is the moon's role in creating tides?

The moon's gravitational pull is the primary factor in creating tides. As the moon orbits the Earth, its gravitational force pulls on the Earth's oceans, causing a bulge on the side closest to the moon. This bulge results in high tide, while the areas on the opposite side experience low tide.

4. How does the moon's orbital radius affect tides?

The moon's orbital radius, or the distance between the moon and Earth, can affect the intensity of tides. When the moon is closer to the Earth, its gravitational pull is stronger, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides. When the moon is further away, the tides are less intense.

5. How does global warming impact ocean tides?

Global warming can impact ocean tides in several ways. Firstly, the melting of glaciers and ice caps can cause sea levels to rise, leading to higher high tides and more frequent flooding. Secondly, the increase in ocean temperatures can affect the ocean currents, potentially altering the timing and strength of tides. Lastly, global warming can also lead to changes in wind patterns, which can affect the height and movement of tides.

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