Scientists say Mars’ gravity pulls Earth closer to the Sun, and this makes our planet hotter.
Geological data over 65 million years old shared in a published in the magazine Nature in March suggest that deep ocean currents on Earth go through recurring strength cycles every 2.4 million years.
These cycles, called “great astronomical cycles”, appear to be linked to gravitational interactions between Earth and Mars, astrophysicists reveal.
Dietmar Müllerprofessor of geophysics at the University of Sydney, explains that “the gravitational fields of the planets in the solar system interfere with each other and this interaction, called resonancealters planetary eccentricity, a measure of how close to circularity their orbits are.”
Due to this resonance, Mars’ gravitational pull brings Earth slightly closer to the Sun, which leads to a increased solar radiation and a warmer climate.
Over time, the Earth then moves away again, completing this cycle approximately every 2.4 million years. This subtle gravitational influence may play a role in shaping Earth’s long-term weather patterns.
For the investigation, astrophysicists used satellite data to map sediment accumulation on the ocean floor over millions of years. In relation to these, a few things have also been discovered: researchers suggest that stronger ocean currents during warmer periodscaused by the influence of Mars, may have disturbed sediment deposition.
The findings of this study suggest that These temporal cycles can help maintain ocean currentseven in scenarios where global warming could weaken them.
A orbital mechanics between Mars and Earth is related to their positions, speeds and distances in the solar system, creating a “fascinating relationship”, as Earth describes it. Discoveries on this topic may, therefore, be essential for us to be capable of sending objects to Mars with more precision (and even, in the future, humans).
The discovery could also provide new information about the oceans’ resilience to climate change. “This could prevent the ocean from becoming stagnant, even if the Atlantic meridional circulation slows down or stops completely,” concluded another researcher, Adriana Dutkiewicz.
Researchers continue to explore how gravitational forces between Mars and the solar system may have shaped the history of the planet.
