The Wobbly Wobble In The Moon’s Orbit

“Every 18.6 years, a legendary sea monster rises out of the high seas, sinking ships from below, and causing significant changes in the oceans.” OK, the “legendary” sea monster is legendary, literally. But there’s indeed going to be a change in our oceans only the reason is quite different.

Maybe you already guessed the answer: The moon causes these changes! But why? It’s at an average distance of 384,400 km away from Earth, so how does the moon influence us? Through its gravitational force, the moon results in high and low tides! Anyway, what happens every 18.6 years? Well, there’s a “wobble,” a slight shift in the moon’s orbit. OK, there’s no need to panic. The moon wouldn’t fall to Earth. However, that wobbly cycle could mean more complicated changes in the tides.

There are sometimes high-tide floods or “nuisance floods.” They happen in coastal areas when tides reach about 2 feet, or 0.6 meters, above the daily average high tide. But these can occur more frequently, again, thanks to the moon. For half of its cycle, the moon would suppress the tides, making lower high tides and higher low tides, which is quite strange. And then, for the other half, high tides are higher and low tides, lower. However, the moon is only a factor. You see, it is in cooperation with global warming, the melting of ice caps, and more water being added into oceans, trying to cause more flooding and havoc.

If you, dear reader, are at a coastal area, like in a bay or on an island, be careful. There are more floods on the way to come, and many will cause much damage. Look out for storm-like weather, and warn others, too. As for those that are not around the coasts, there are also things you could do. Tell others the benefits and promote cleaner energy sources. Limiting the emission of greenhouse gasses and stopping all these weather changes is everyone’s job.

Give yourself a mission, to make this world a better place, to help others. And I know just the way to do that, by answering a brain-wracking question: Why is the moon orbiting Earth, but not the Sun? After all, isn’t the Sun’s gravitational force much, much bigger than Earth’s? Could you answer that? Anyway, you should set goals for yourself to reach. Life’s not what it gives you. You give your life meaningful value. That’s the end of this production from the New News Newsminute. Thank you, and tune in next time for more. “Roar!” Uh oh, maybe that sea monster is real! Run, run!