(ORDO NEWS) — Scientists from the University of California have calculated how life conditions on Earth can change if the parameters of Jupiter’s orbit change.
Using data on the solar system, the authors of the work created its alternative model. It turned out that if the orbit of Jupiter became more elongated, this would lead to changes on Earth.
Our planet would approach the Sun, as a result of which all our glaciers would melt. This would increase the area of the Earth suitable for life.
This conclusion refutes the belief that the Earth is an ideal planet for life, on which any change in the orbit of Jupiter could only have a negative impact.
However, Jupiter could still wipe out much of life on Earth: if it were closer to the Sun, it would change the tilt of the Earth. In this case, a significant part of the planet could freeze.
The scientists’ findings could be useful in the search for habitable exoplanets, as astronomers now focus on the distance between a planet and its star, not taking into account the shape of the orbit and the inclination of the planets.
In addition, the work will help to understand what impact Jupiter has had on the Earth’s climate in the past and how it can change us again in the future.
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