BENGALURU, India – Researchers in India have made a fascinating discovery that suggests the global Covid lockdowns of 2020 may have had an unexpected impact on the Moon. A recent study published in the prestigious Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters has revealed that there was a significant drop in lunar surface temperatures during the strict lockdown period of April-May 2020.
The study was conducted by K Durga Prasad and G Ambily from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in India. Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the researchers analyzed night-time surface temperatures at different sites on the Moon’s nearside between 2017 and 2023. The findings showed an average decrease of 8-10 Kelvin in temperatures during the lockdown months compared to other years.
According to PRL director Anil Bharadwaj, this research is considered to be important and unique. The researchers attributed the drop in temperature on the Moon to the reduction in Earth’s outgoing radiation during the lockdowns. With a significant decrease in human activity leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and aerosols, less heat was trapped and re-emitted by the Earth’s atmosphere, which in turn affected the lunar surface temperatures.
Notably, the study revealed variations in temperature across different sites and years, with the lowest overall temperature recorded at 96.2 K in 2020. The authors noted a warming trend in 2021 and 2022 as human activity resumed on Earth, indicating a direct link between human activities and the lunar surface temperatures. The researchers emphasized the Moon’s role as an amplifier of Earth’s radiation signature, providing a rare opportunity to study the impact of changes in human activity on our celestial neighbor.
While the correlation between Earth’s radiation changes and lunar surface temperatures is intriguing, the researchers acknowledged the need for more data to fully establish this link. They suggested that future Moon-based observatories could help in studying Earth’s climate and environmental changes. The findings of this study shed light on the interconnectedness of Earth and the Moon and raise questions about the broader implications of human activities on celestial bodies beyond our planet.