How Mars Influences Ocean Erosion on Earth
Strange Discovery: Mars Causes Erosion of Earth’s Oceans
Cosmic interactions between celestial bodies have a direct impact on Earth’s climate and geographical features. In a new study, scientists have uncovered a cyclical erosion phenomenon occurring on the ocean floor, suspecting that Mars is the “culprit” behind it.
Cyclical erosion on the ocean floor may be caused by Mars.
Published in *Nature* at the end of March, the study reveals gaps in the “chronicle” written by ocean sediment. Every 2.4 million years, the book loses a few pages, and researchers believe these are torn away due to interactions between the orbits of Earth and Mars.
This new finding could help scientists gain insights into Earth’s past and future. The scientific report is based on sediment samples collected over the past 50 years from hundreds of drilling sites around the globe.
After analysis, data from 293 drilling sites revealed a peculiar cycle: every 2.4 million years, fossilized sediment evidence shows a blank space. A 2022 study had already indicated the existence of these gaps, and the new research demonstrates the recurrence of this strange phenomenon.
Scientists sampled from drilling sites worldwide – (Photo: Dutkiewicz).
According to geophysicist Dietmar Müller, a researcher at the University of Sydney and co-author of the new study, it is highly likely that deep ocean currents have swept away the sediment layer on the ocean floor. The data indicate that over the past 70 million years, ocean sediment has been eroded 27 times.
Since the phenomenon occurs cyclically, the research team turned their gaze toward the Solar System for answers. After decades of research, scientists have learned that gravitational forces from other planets can affect the way Earth moves through space, even interfering with Earth’s internal systems.
In fact, the Milankovitch cycles provide clear evidence of this. They describe long-term changes in Earth’s orbit around the Sun, alongside the tilt of Earth’s axis, which influences climate changes and leads to glacial periods. It is estimated that each Milankovitch cycle lasts between 10,000 to 100,000 years.
Additionally, larger cycles that span millions to tens of millions of years also exist. These are referred to as cosmic-scale loops; however, the scientific community lacks substantial evidence to confirm the existence of these cycles.
It is highly likely that a cosmic-scale cycle related to Mars’ orbit has caused the cyclical sediment erosion phenomenon. According to researcher Dietmar Müller, “there is no other explanation for this cycle, aside from the interaction between Earth and Mars’ orbits.”
Every 2.4 million years, Mars’ orbit brings its perihelion slightly closer to the Sun.
In the newly published research report, scientists highlight the connection between Earth’s perihelion—the point at which Earth is closest to the Sun. Every 2.4 million years, Mars’ orbit pulls this perihelion slightly closer to the Sun, increasing the amount of solar radiation that Earth must endure.
This radiation is not excessive, but researchers hypothesize that it may trigger a process that alters Earth; in this case, they suggest that solar radiation could change the nature of deep ocean currents. According to Müller, the equatorial region warming due to Mars’ influence could intensify storm activity, leading to ocean floor erosion.
This is not yet a definitive conclusion. Scientists will need to conduct further research before drawing conclusions about the peculiar relationship between Mars’ orbit and ocean erosion on Earth.
Besides enhancing our understanding of Earth’s past, these discoveries could help us predict how Earth may respond in the future to external influences, such as warming phenomena caused by celestial orbital dynamics within the Solar System.
