Moon’s angle may speed up global warming

The Moon’s effect on tides may hasten the 1.5C temperature change global warming milestone, a study has said.

Scientists at the universities of East Anglia and Reading found the angle of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth may slightly impact when the threshold in the Paris Agreement is reached.

The Moon’s angle on its orbit changes on an 18.6-year cycle. This impacts tides and the way colder and warmer oceans mix, and therefore the sea’s ability to absorb heat, a key variable for climate change speed.

The findings narrow the window in which the threshold is likely to be crossed, from between 2028 and 2033 to between 2029 and 2032.