By Elizabeth Merriam
Updated Mar 24, 2022
The Moon’s gravitational pull shapes several aspects of Earth's climate indirectly. Its strongest influence is on ocean tides, which in turn modulate weather patterns. Additionally, lunar phases slightly alter polar temperatures.
Typical tidal cycles consist of two high and two low tides each day, shifting roughly 50 minutes later. Tidal amplitudes peak during the new and full moons, while they are muted during the quarter phases. Ocean tides drive currents that ferry warm or cold water across regions, influencing local climates. The interplay between sea‑surface temperature, wind patterns, and tidal currents helps determine the intensity and longevity of phenomena such as El Niño.
Air, though far less dense, also experiences lunar tides. These subtle atmospheric tides slightly modulate surface pressure, a key driver of weather systems. Nevertheless, the pressure changes—on the order of a few pascals—are typically dwarfed by other atmospheric dynamics.
Solid Earth experiences minuscule tidal bulges—roughly 1 cm—versus the ~1 m bulges in oceans. Satellite gravimetry has confirmed these land tides. Although small, researchers speculate they could influence tectonic stress and volcanic activity.
Satellite data reveal that during a full moon, polar atmospheric temperatures rise by about 0.55 °C (0.99 °F) compared to a new moon, with negligible tropical impact. Globally, the average temperature is ~0.02 °C (0.036 °F) higher during full moons, contributing modestly to seasonal weather variations.
