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Evolution of the Moon's orbit and the origin of life

Nature volume 251, pages 124–125 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

PERIODICITIES in fossil corals may be used to determine the number of days in a year1; both daily and seasonal variations are visible in the growth patterns. Scrutton2 used similar data to determine the number of days in a lunar month; monthly and fortnightly periodicities are present because of tides. The available data3–6 through the Palaeozoic are given in Fig. 1a and b. We conclude, from studies of living crustaceans and recent fossils, that the growth patterns are sensitive to the solar day. So, the data represent the number of solar days in a year and in a lunar month; the present values are 365.25 and 29.53 d respectively. Panella3 has also used periodicities in stromatolites to determine the number of solar days in a lunar month during the Precambrian. His results are given in Fig. 1c.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 18450

    D. L. TURCOTTE, J. C. NORDMANN & J. L. CISNE

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TURCOTTE, D., NORDMANN, J. & CISNE, J. Evolution of the Moon's orbit and the origin of life. Nature 251, 124–125 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/251124a0

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