Numerous disaster films exist. We already understand potential scenarios involving asteroid impacts on Earth, tidal waves hitting New York, or a cruise ship capsizing and/or facing a kraken attack. Unfortunately, by concentrating on these far-fetched disasters, filmmakers have overlooked even more unlikely catastrophes.
What might occur if the moon were to suddenly vanish?
The tides would be the first natural phenomenon to fail. Our ocean’s tides as they exist today result from the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon, along with their relative movements. The moon’s abrupt disappearance would completely disrupt this system. Although some movement would persist, waves would still crash against the western shores of continents due to Earth’s rotation.
Initially, that is, as Earth’s motion would soon become erratic. Upon the moon’s exit, the Earth would precess like a top that has slowed enough to wobble without collapsing. That would certainly be quite the wobble.
Earth’s movement would become so extreme that it might occasionally rotate perpendicular to its orbital plane. In simpler terms, one hemisphere—the northern or southern—would be continuously exposed to sunlight, while the opposite hemisphere would remain in constant darkness. Conversely, at other intervals, it would align parallel to the orbital plane, negating the seasons by creating uniformly long days.
Though the destructive precession would take time to eliminate humanity, the interim would be filled with mundane disasters. The moon also places gravitational strain on the Earth and the ocean, and some theorize it contributes to continental drift. Consequently, we might witness a surge in earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Additionally, any flora and fauna with reproductive or migration patterns tied to the lunar cycle would be totally disoriented. The decline in populations of fish, birds, and insects would pressure local ecosystems, leading to starvation and societal collapse.
Nighttime visibility would also dramatically decrease.
Why is Earth’s spin so crucial? For ages, we were unaware that it was even rotating.
The specific outcomes would rely heavily on how rapidly Earth ceases its rotation. If it were to halt instantaneously, anything not firmly anchored would be flung eastward (with attached objects likely breaking). Survival chances would hinge on proximity to a pole (since at the equator, one would be hurled eastward at 1000 mph—a speed diminishing as one approaches the poles)—and whether one was in or nearby a pillow testing facility.
If Earth’s rotation decelerated over several weeks, more individuals might survive the sudden loss of inertia. Their best strategy would be calculating precisely where Earth would come to rest, making their way to the boundary between light and darkness. The cessation of Earth’s spin would signal the conclusion of day and night, with one half of the globe continually facing the sun while the other side would endure enforced darkness.
One minor yet intriguing consequence of the cessation of Earth’s rotation is that everything and everyone on the planet would experience a slight increase in weight. The Earth’s spin generates a centrifugal force—a consistent outward push similar to the sensation felt when a car turns sharply. This outward force reduces our ‘weight’ by roughly five ounces per hundred pounds. If we avoided being thrust through the air, we would find ourselves more firmly grounded than ever.
This centrifugal influence is most pronounced at the equator. Moreover, it affects not only human beings but also bodies of water.Due to the counteraction of gravitational force by centrifugal force, water accumulates more at the equator. There exists a bulge of water around the Earth’s midsection that would settle back into position and flow toward the poles if the Earth ceased spinning. If it remained unfrozen and acted quickly, it would inundate both the northern and southernmost regions of the planet, revealing land near the equator.
Therefore, for a chance at survival, seek refuge in the center of the world.
What if the earth’s orbit changed dramatically?
The extent of the change in orbit will determine the outcome. Our solar system’s habitable zone is situated between 88 million and 127 million miles from the sun. Given that we currently reside 93 million miles away, it’s evident that moving outward is preferable to moving inward if given a choice.
It may not seem challenging to avoid a deviation of five million miles, yet this scenario ranks among the most plausible of potential disasters. Historical mass extinctions appear connected to climate fluctuations stemming from variations in the Earth’s orbit. These shifts lead to decreased temperatures and drastically altered rainfall patterns, which in turn result in changes to vegetation and habitats, decimating mammal populations, from large animals to rodents. However, this doesn’t necessarily spell doom for humanity, as we are quite resourceful.
Moreover, the nature of this change brings both apprehension and optimism. The motion of the Earth is not as fixed as often assumed. Throughout its history, the Earth has traced either an elliptical or circular path around the sun, with its axial tilt fluctuating between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. Although it does experience precession, this effect is much less pronounced than it would be without the moon.
Approximately 23 million years ago, the Earth was following a nearly circular orbit with only slight tilting. According to scientists, this led to mild seasonal variations, minimal temperature extremes, and a developing ice sheet over Antarctica that might have counteracted global warming.
Such promising findings are being taken seriously by astronomers, with some advocating for the use of asteroids’ gravitational pull to reposition the Earth into a more favorable orbit. This could potentially resolve all our climate change issues! There’s just one drawback.
We might lose the moon.
by David Livingstone
