Wobble In Moon¡¯s Orbit Will Cause More Floods On Earth In 2030s, Says NASA

Changes in our Moon¡¯s orbit along with rising sea levels thanks to climate change could result in record-breaking floods on Earth in the coming years.

NASA

Also Read: Melting Glaciers Will Cause 5000 Lakes To Flood Himalayas, And Why It's Worrying For India

Reported first by AlJazera, NASA revealed this in a recent study in collaboration with researchers from the University of Hawaii. According to the researchers, these floods are expected to begin sometime in the 2030s and last a good 10 years, according to the study.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has revealed that in 2019 alone, the US experienced over 600 floods due to high tides. Researchers believe that this number is expected to skyrocket in the 2030s. The flooding is actually expected to occur in clusters that can easily last a month or even more.

How moon impacts floods on earth

Even though flooding caused by high tides aren¡¯t as harmful as a cloudburst or hurricane, Phil Thompson, assistant professor at the University of Hawaii, who is also the lead author of the study, believes that it¡¯s the accumulated effect over time that will have an impact.

He explains, ¡°If it floods 10 or 15 times a month, a business can¡¯t keep operating with its parking lot underwater. People lose their jobs because they can¡¯t get to work. Seeping cesspools become a public health issue.¡±

Not so surprisingly, the moon wobble phenomenon isn¡¯t new. It was first reported in 1728 and is known to occur every 18.6 years. According to NASA, in the first half of the cycle, the Earth¡¯s regular tides are suppressed whereas, during the second half, they¡¯re amplified.

Also Read: What Is Glacial Lake Outburst Flood That Wreaked Havoc In Uttarakhand

And right now, Moon is currently in the amplification phase that¡¯s resulting in flooding in several coastal areas due to higher sea levels caused by climate change.

Reuters

With another decade of the constant rise of sea levels, the consequences would get direr, especially when the Moon's amplification mode is back. According to researchers, this has the potential to cause flooding on major US coastlines including Hawaii and Guam.

Also Read: Doomsday Glacier As Big As UK May Melt Faster In Antarctica, Flood World's Coasts

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, in a statement has warned coastal areas to be prepared for a more flooded future, ¡°The combination of the Moon¡¯s gravitational pull, rising sea levels, and climate change will continue to exacerbate coastal flooding on our coastlines and across the world. NASA¡¯s Sea Level Change Team is providing crucial information so that we can plan, protect, and prevent damage to the environment and people¡¯s livelihoods affected by flooding.¡±