A new study by Indian researchers has discovered a surprising effect of the global COVID-19 lockdown: a noticeable decrease in lunar surface temperatures. The study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, shows that the Moon’s nighttime temperatures dropped by 8-10 Kelvin during the peak lockdown in 2020.
The research, led by K Durga Prasad and G Ambily from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in India, analyzed data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which revealed that the decrease in lunar temperatures coincided with a sharp reduction in human activity on Earth. The lockdown led to a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions and aerosols, which altered Earth’s atmospheric radiation and may have triggered this cooling effect on the Moon.
The study examined lunar temperature data from six locations between 2017 and 2023, finding that as human activity resumed post-lockdown, lunar temperatures began to rise again. The findings suggest a direct link between human activity on Earth and the environment of our celestial neighbor.
Anil Bharadwaj, director of PRL, highlighted the importance of the study, calling it a “unique opportunity” to explore the Earth-Moon dynamic and how human activities might influence not only Earth’s atmosphere but also other cosmic environments.
This research sheds new light on the interconnectedness of Earth and the Moon, providing a fresh perspective on the broader impact of global human actions. However, researchers emphasize that more data and studies are needed to fully understand the Earth-Moon relationship and how human-induced changes affect the cosmos. Future lunar observatories may play a key role in unraveling these mysteries.