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A constant daylength during the Precambrian era?

K Zahnle¹, J C Walker

¹NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.

Precambrian Research

|January 1, 1987

Summary

Ancient Earth may have had a 21-hour day due to resonant atmospheric tides. This atmospheric resonance, driven by the Sun

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Area of Science:

Earth Science
Atmospheric Science
Astronomy

Background:

The length of Earth's day has changed over geological time.
Atmospheric tides are daily cycles of atmospheric pressure and temperature.
The semidiurnal atmospheric thermal tide is a component of these cycles.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that Earth's rotation was once synchronized with the atmospheric thermal tide.
To explore the implications of a resonant 21-hour day for Earth's rotation and lunar orbit.

Main Methods:

Modeling the interaction between solar gravitational torque on atmospheric tides and lunar torque on oceanic tides.
Integrating the history of the lunar orbit under conditions with and without sustained resonance.
Comparing model predictions with geological evidence, such as stromatolites.

Main Results:

A 21-hour day, approximately 600 million years ago, could have led to resonant atmospheric tides.
This resonance could have generated significant surface pressure oscillations (over 10 mbar).
The Sun's torque on atmospheric tides may have balanced the Moon's torque on oceanic tides, maintaining a stable, shorter day.

Conclusions:

A sustained resonant 21-hour day is a plausible hypothesis for a period in Earth's history.
Escape from resonance could be linked to global warming or increased oceanic tidal dissipation.
The impact of such a resonance on other Earth-Moon orbital parameters appears to be minimal.

Keywords:

NASA Discipline Exobiology Non-NASA Center

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