In news- Moon “Wobble” is seen as a driving force behind Coastal Flooding in 2030s by NASA.
Key updates-
- A moon wobble is a cyclical shift in the moon’s orbit that was first reported in 1728 and happens every 18.6 years.
- This fluctuation in the Moon’s gravitational pull can either suppress or amplify tides on Earth.
- In half of the Moon’s 18.6-year cycle, Earth’s regular daily tides are suppressed – high tides are lower than normal, and low tides are higher than normal.
- In the other half of the cycle, tides are amplified – high tides get higher, and low tides get lower.
- Global sea level rise pushes high tides in only one direction higher.
- Nasa has predicted in a new study that the next moon wobble will directly impact American coastlines in the mid-2030s.
- Low-lying areas near sea level are increasingly at risk and suffering due to the increased flooding.
- The combination of the Moon’s gravitational pull, rising sea levels, and climate change will continue to exacerbate coastal flooding across the world.
- Though the wobble has always been there, what makes it dangerous is that it will hit as sea levels rise due to global warming.
Source: Indian Express
