Could Mars Affect Earth's Climate? New Study Suggests Gravitational Impact on Deep-Sea Currents

New research suggests that Earth's climate may be influenced by Mars' gravitational pull. Geological evidence spanning over 65 million years, collected from numerous global sites, indicates recurring fluctuations in deep-sea currents every 2.4 million years, termed an "astronomical grand cycle."

Evidence of Eccentricity Grand Cycles and Mars's Gravitational Impact

The evidence supporting the grand cycle originates from almost 300 deep-sea drill cores, revealing unexpected variations in ocean sediment deposition. Under stable currents, sediment is anticipated to settle in consistent layers, but deviations caused by unusual currents and eddies can lead to accumulation elsewhere.

These powerful currents, termed "giant whirlpools" or eddies, may extend to the ocean's deepest parts, known as the abyss. The study, titled "Deep-sea hiatus record reveals orbital pacing by 2.4 Myr eccentricity grand cycles" published in Nature Communications on March 12, suggests that these currents erode accumulated sediment during calmer periods in the cycle.

Moreover, the study posits that Mars's gravitational influence, coinciding with known gravitational interactions during the planets' solar orbits, aligns with absences in the sediment deposition record. This alignment indicates Mars's gravity affecting Earth's orbital stability, influencing solar radiation levels, and contributing to climate changes, manifesting as intensified ocean currents and eddies.

As the planets orbit the Sun, the gravitational resonance between Earth and Mars affects planetary eccentricity. This interaction pulls Earth slightly closer to the sun, exposing it to more solar radiation and resulting in a warmer climate over a 2.4-million-year cycle.

In the study, researchers employed satellite data to map sediment accumulation on the ocean floor, revealing gaps in geological records linked to Mars's gravitational influence causing stronger ocean currents during warmer periods.

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Mars's Influence on Earth's Climate

The findings of the study propose that Mars influences Earth's climate, a notion akin to the impact of passing stars and celestial bodies. However, the observed warming is distinct from human-induced global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, as clarified by the authors.

While speculative, the study suggests this cycle might intermittently sustain deep ocean currents if global warming weakens them. Two mechanisms contribute to deep-water mixing and one of them is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) acts as an ocean conveyor belt, potentially countering the projected collapse of AMOC over the coming decades.

The deep-sea data spanning 65 million years indicates that warmer oceans foster more vigorous deep circulation, potentially preventing stagnation even if AMOC slows or halts. Joel Hirschi, an expert not involved in the research, acknowledges the 2.4 million-year cycle but deems the link between ocean circulation and eddies in warm climates as speculative.

While satellite observations show increased eddy activity in recent decades, their inability to reach the ocean bottom questions their efficacy in preventing sediment buildup. The study acknowledges uncertainty in predicting future impacts on deep-ocean currents and marine life but aspires to contribute to improved climate models.

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Check out more news and information on Mars in Science Times.