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I've long suspected that tidal forces from our moon may be a big factor in keeping the outer core liquid, and thereby keeping our magnetic field active. I have
by mcv 4y ago
I've long suspected that tidal forces from our moon may be a big factor in keeping the outer core liquid, and thereby keeping our magnetic field active. I have no idea if that's actually true, but if it is, both rotation and a large moon might be requirements for advanced life.
- moloch-hai 4y agoTidal forces from the sun are remarkably close in magnitude to those from our moon. Their chaotic interaction seems to me to interfere with any big, systematic effect on Earth's rotation. It seems possible that during certain times in the past, the lengths of the day and month (and year?) were in close enough resonance to accelerate loss of rotation for a while, until the change drove them back out of it .