艾莉丝·卡茨: 为什么地球的倾斜角度如此重要？

为什么地球的倾斜角度如此重要？

45亿年前，一颗体积相当于火星的巨石以每秒9公里的速度撞击地球。这次碰撞产生的巨大能量使地表暂时化作熔融岩浆的汪洋。如今，部分科学家将这场宇宙撞击称为“大撞击”，而我们至今仍在应对这场灾难的后续影响。艾莉丝·卡茨深入探讨了地球倾角在行星演化进程中发挥的关键作用。[导演：伊戈尔·乔里奇，Artrake工作室制作；旁白：贝瑟尼·卡特摩尔·斯科特；配乐：塞姆·米西尔利奥卢]

A colossal collision billions of years ago knocked Earth off its axis, gifting our planet a 23.5-degree tilt. This subtle angle, kept steady by the moon’s gravitational pull, is what gives rise to the cycle of seasons. Even minor changes in this tilt have triggered ice ages and shaped the planet’s climate. Without it, Earth could freeze over, losing the balance that makes life as we know it possible.

Earth’s Tilt Is the Hidden Engine Behind Life’s Rhythms

Earth’s unique tilt was born from a colossal impact 4.5 billion years ago, when a Mars-sized rock struck our young planet and set it spinning at an angle. This seemingly small tilt—23.5 degrees—drives the seasons, shapes climate patterns, and keeps Earth habitable for life as we know it. Even minor shifts in tilt have triggered ice ages, while losing it entirely could plunge our planet into a permanent deep freeze. The moon’s gravitational pull helps stabilize this delicate balance, making life on Earth possible.