Mars' gravity may be influencing the Earth's climate, according to new research.
Geological evidence dating back over 65 million years from hundreds of sites worldwide indicates that deep sea currents have undergone periods of strengthening or weakening every 2.4 million years. This phenomenon, known as the "great astronomical cycle," coincides with gravitational interactions between Earth and Mars as they orbit the sun.
A true-color image of Mars taken on February 24, 2007, by the OSIRIS instrument on the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft during its flyby of the planet. The image was generated using the OSIRIS instrument's orange (red), green, and blue filters. The photograph was taken from a distance of approximately 149,129 miles (240,000 km) from the planet. Its resolution is about 1 pixel = 3.1 miles (5 km). The stronger currents, called "giant eddies," can reach the ocean floor, eroding sediments that accumulate during calm periods. This erosion is interrupted according to the astronomical cycles. These observations are based on the analysis of satellite data covering millions of years of sediment accumulation.
According to the authors of the study, the gravitational resonance induced by Mars would slightly bring Earth closer to the sun, exposing our planet to more solar radiation and resulting in a warmer climate, before moving away again, in a cycle of 2.4 million years.
This influence of the Red Planet on our climate resembles that of other astronomical objects on Earth. However, the researchers emphasize that this warming effect is not related to the current global warming caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
Although these findings are speculative, they suggest that this cycle could contribute to maintaining some of the ocean's deep currents. The deep currents, particularly the "Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation" (AMOC), play a key role in transporting heat from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere. Seafloor data suggest that warmer oceans promote a more vigorous deep circulation, which could prevent ocean stagnation even if the AMOC slows down or stops entirely.