Weather and the phases of the moon: old wives tale?

[armchairsailor]

I was chatting with a farmer a while back, who made the observation that the weather tends to be more settled around full moon. I've observed this for the last couple of months as being generally true - we get a lot of rain in my part of the world, so it's easy enough to notice. Is this just coincidence or is there some meteorological reason for weather patterns being affected by moon phase?

 

[sarabande]

well, it's to do with the full moon producing spring (higher) tides. This means that any wind there is, impacts the land perhaps 3 to 15m higher. So you perceive the difference as if the wind is blowing 15m further away from the ground.




I think....





You are not alone.

http://www.predictweather.co.nz/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=438&type=home

 

[macd]

Well, the good news is that a comparative neighbour of yours wrote a book about it: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1935JRASC..29..108H
The bad news is that he wrote it 81 years ago.

This is rather more recent and suggests there may be some lunar influence: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2010/10/folklore-confirmed-moons-phase-affects-rainfall

Incidentally, it's true that if you stand directly under the full moon you probably won't get sunburnt. Especially where you live

 

[obmij]

Always thought the opposite - but appreciate this is probably due to sea state

 

[KellysEye]

I thought in the Autumn a full moon heralds bad weather. We were anchored in Los Aves in the Venezuelan out islands when a fleet of fishing vessels came in and anchored. We went over to one to to buy fish and asked why they had come in - a full eclipse of a full moon causes a gale the eclipse was awesome, particlary with binoculars, the moon turned orange

 

[NormanS]

From the Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens:-

"I saw the new moon late yestreen
Wi' the auld moon in her arm,
And if we gang to sea, master,
I feel we'll come to harm"

They had a sailed a league,
A league but barely three,
When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
And gurly grew the sea"

To cut a long story short, the ship was wrecked in the storm, and lost with all hands.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

Hi, surely the only possible effect on the weather could be related to different water levels at springs and neaps? Don't forget the moon is always up there, its appearance varies because of our earthlings' point of view.
I would be highly sceptical of any claimed influence of moon phases on the weather, or influence on life on earth, except for obvious things like crabs and jellies responding to spring tides for example.
Moon phases have no other effect on animals (such as wolves howling at the moon (they howl anyway) or people committing crimes (they do anyway)) and the moon does not temporarily change anybody's personality either, unless they are both mentally ill and culturally conditioned to respond to moon phases.
I would be fascinated to hear by what actual mechanism the amount of light reflected off a satellite can change the weather. How does the farmer explain the phenomenon?
He or she can't. It's the mother of all old wives' tales.
Enjoy the sunshine LD

 

[sarabande]

there's a real link between the full moon and productive sea fishing off the beach. The extra light helps the benthic and pelagic feeders see movement in prey.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

there's a real link between the full moon and productive sea fishing off the beach. The extra light helps the benthic and pelagic feeders see movement in prey.

Very interesting, I should imagine there are many life forms which have evolved to take advantage of the extra light, or indeed to take extra care because predators can see them better.

 

[simonjk]

Hi all,

This is an interesting one!

A student of mine did some research on this a few years ago. He revisited the old school texts and used modern techniques to evaluate any influence of the Moon on the earths weather.

Now, the conclusion he came too was that there probably was something in the impacts, but it was very difficult to pin down what they were. It appeared that the position of the Moon in orbit had the most impact.

I am still in contact with the student, and he has shown me further research he has done. He is very reluctant to try and publish anything for fear of being branded an 'eccentric' and being ousted by the scientific community (something which is important when funding is your income).

It's a little like back in the 90's the met Office made statements like it was impossible to forecast beyond a couple of weeks; computers now make predictions months in advance.

Without wanting to ramble on my thoughts are there is something in the research, we don't quite know what the effect of the Moon is, although don't be surprised if in the coming years it is revealed to have an impact.

I guess I'm happy enough with my lot (and your good-selves who come along to Weather School and use my forecasts) right now to not fear the thoughts of other, less open-minded meteorological scientists

Best wishes,
Simon

 

[Daydream believer]

Do not know about the weather but my mother in law is a test pilot in a broom factory & you can always see her doing barrel rolls over the Blackwater when there is a full moon

 

[Robert Wilson]

From the Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens:-

"I saw the new moon late yestreen
Wi' the auld moon in her arm,
And if we gang to sea, master,
I feel we'll come to harm"

They had a sailed a league,
A league but barely three,
When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
And gurly grew the sea"

To cut a long story short, the ship was wrecked in the storm, and lost with all hands.

Who wrote the lines, and when?

 

[NormanS]

Who wrote the lines, and when?

It was written by that well known poet, Anon. If you Google Sir Patrick Spens, you'll get several versions of it. It's obviously old, as I remember it from school.

 

[Robert Wilson]

It was written by that well known poet, Anon. If you Google Sir Patrick Spens, you'll get several versions of it. It's obviously old, as I remember it from school.

Sorry, it was a feeble attempt at mirth, on this foul dark, wet and thoroughly unpleasant morning.