In an unexpected twist of cosmic proportions, scientists have discovered that the global COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 had a measurable effect not just on Earth but also on our nearest cosmic neighbour, the Moon. It affect the lunar surface temperature.
A groundbreaking study by Indian researchers, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, reveals that lunar nighttime temperatures experienced an anomalous dip during the strictest lockdown period of April-May 2020.
The research team, led by K Durga Prasad and G Ambily from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), analysed data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for six different sites on the Moon's nearside between 2017 and 2023.
Their findings showed a consistent decrease of 8-10 Kelvin in lunar surface temperatures during the lockdown months compared to the same period in other years.
This temperature drop coincided with a significant reduction in Earth's outgoing radiation during the lockdowns. As human activity dramatically decreased, there was a marked reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and aerosols, leading to less heat being trapped and re-emitted by Earth's atmosphere.
"Results showed an anomalous dip in the lunar night-time surface temperatures for all the sites during April–May 2020, the strict COVID-19 global lockdown period, when compared to the values of the same period during the previous and subsequent years," the paper read.
This unique global event provided us with a rare opportunity to observe how changes in human activity on Earth can affect our nearest celestial neighbor.
The study observed considerable temperature variations across sites and years.
The lowest overall temperature was 96.2 K at one site in 2020, while the highest of the lowest temperatures was 143.8 K at another site in 2022. Generally, 2020 saw the coldest temperatures across most sites, with a noticeable warming trend in 2021 and 2022 as human activity resumed on Earth.
While the research presents an intriguing correlation, the authors acknowledge that more data is needed to fully establish the link between Earth's radiation changes and lunar surface temperatures. They suggest that future Moon-based observatories could play a crucial role in studying Earth's climate and environmental shifts.
This discovery not only highlights the interconnectedness of Earth and its celestial neighbor but also offers a fresh perspective on the broader cosmic effects of global human activity.
As we continue to explore and understand our planet's influence on nearby celestial bodies, studies like this pave the way for innovative approaches to monitoring Earth's environmental health from a cosmic vantage poin
