Does the moon really have any real purpose for life on earth?

Question

I mean it were gone tommorrow would you really miss it?

Or rather is the moon an essential body without which life could not have evolved on planet earth?

Answer 1

It's a rather essential part of life on the planet. Or the development of life on the planet anyway.

Answer 2

Yes...and no. If the Moon were to go away right now, life would not be immediately impacted. In time, however, the lack of tides and moonlit nights (albedo effect) would impact the eco-system in negative way, with many species dependent upon these things suffering, including man. Small changes in orbital mechanics (Earth's rotation and orbit) would also come into play over time as the gravitational pull of the Moon would be lost; it has been said that the mean Earth-Moon distance is decreased by about 4 meters per century. This might manifest itself as measurable climatic changes at a minimum.

No one can know what life would be like without the Moon, but it's a virtual guarantee that life would not exist in the same exact manner as it does without billions of years worth of the Moon's presence.

Answer 3

Without the Moon, the tilt of Earths axis would fluctuate wildly over thousands of years, varying from 0 degrees to virtually on its side, causing either a runaway greenhouse or ice age, so life would not have evolved in the tidal pools caused by the Moon's gravity, also the Moon is a good comet/meteorite deflector, as the number of craters will attest. However, the Moon is moving away from the earth, by 3.8 cms a year. This is because the earth spins faster than the moon orbits it, so the tidal bulge raised on the earth tries to make the moon orbit faster, pulling it ahead in its orbit: so it's spiralling out slowly, also the energy taken out of the earth in this action is causing the earths rotation to slow, by about 2 milliseconds every hundred years.

Answer 4

The moon does have purposes for instance:

1. The moon controls the tide of the ocean.
2. Provides light during the night.


However, I am not sure about the whole evolution of life situation that you stated above.

Answer 5

The gravitational pull of the moon affects ocean tides. Animals migrate by using the stages of the moon and moonlight for direction. The stages of the moon are used in some cultures for the recording of time, seasons and planting of crops. Without the moon our world would be drastically changed and some species like sea turtles, I believe, would become extinct because of mating rituals and egg laying being connected to the moon.

Answer 6

The Moon has 1/6 the mas he earth. This makes it a good meteor deflector. Something coming toward the earth from a long distance would also sense the gravity pull of the moon..and with luck it might go between both.

Answer 7

The moon is very important, its the thing that keeps our earth turning the right way.
You see, everytime a day passes the moon grows further away, in about 300 years, it could be day for a week, night for 2 weeks, winter in summer, get the general idea?

Answer 8

Many species rely on the lunar cycle for reproduction but I won't go into them here, but...

In humans, it is scientifically proven that women whose menstrual cycles are in synch with the moon's phases are considerably more fertile than their out of synch counterparts. What's more, women who start their period on a full moon are the most fertile of all.

Archaeological evidence also suggests various cultures have known this for thousands of years, though the reason is still a medical mystery.

This is true and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Answer 9

I think it is important I heard a really good reason as to why once and I have a really good memory but cant actually remember what it was I heard saw read or was told, but Im sure night time would be pretty freaking dark without it,
Lemme know the answer, ta ta now x

Answer 10

Without the Moon there would be no complex life forms on this planet.