"As Mars gets closer to earch, what affect, if any, will it have on
Earth's weather"?

Hello Queeniemar! This is a quite an interesting question. The
question you have implies absolute certainty that Mars is getting
closer to our homeworld. Anyway, I will try to provide you an answer
or answers in as much as I can but let me remind you that your
question is a theoretical one so you should understand that the answer
will also be theoretical.

Perhaps the best source on Mars related Q and A is the “Mars Team
Online” (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/mars/), which is a part of “NASA
Quest” (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/index.html) – an educational website
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is perhaps,
the one-stop-shop for Mars-related Q and A. Here is one question I got
from the site:

“When the orbits of Mars and the Earth bring them in close proximity
of each other, what effect can this have in regards to the asteroid
belt between our planets, and the effects of the gravitational pulls
on our Earth's geological aspects such as it's platelets, causing
earthquakes, tidal waves and possible increased volcanic activity?"
(http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/mars/ask/orbit/Effect_of_Mars_and_Earth_on_the_asteroid_belt.txt)

According to the answer, if two planets came close together, they
would affect the orbit of each other or possibly result in a
collision. It also implies, based on the details that were given, that
in a certain degree, you are right about Earth and Mars getting close
together, but at 0.4 astronomical units from each other they are still
far apart.

Unfortunately, that is all we can get. In as much as I want to provide
you with the best answer for your question, I cannot find any other Q
and A that is near or related to your query. Since there is no
definitive answer for a theoretical question, let us now “imagine” the
possible effects of Mars as it gets nearer and nearer to Earth. Below
are the following possible effects:

1.) The Earth’s orbit and tilt will change. Since Mars is nearer the
Earth it is possible that the Earth will move away from the sun.
2.) There will be very noticeable changes in the tides that may result
in severe flooding in areas that are already below the current sea
level.
3.) Severe changes in climate and weather will take place all over the
world.
4.) Some parts that are formerly warm will experience severe cold
weather and vice versa.
5.) The Earth’s magnetic field will also be affected. As a result, the
Aurora’s (north and south) may become longer or shorter and may be
seen in places where it is formerly not seen at all because of the
change in the Earth’s tilt.
5.) We will experience strange weather conditions and even stronger
storms, tornadoes, blizzards, etc.
6.) Since there are now three bodies (the moon, Mars, and the Sun)
pulling at our planet, conditions in the Earth’s core will also be
affected. Because of this, there will be frequent earthquakes and
volcanic activities all over the world.
7.) With so many volcanoes erupting, the Earth will become cooler
because of the suspended ash that blankets the whole world. A majority
of plant species will die, our population will be reduced as people
die from starvation, and the Earth will become an even more polluted
place because of the decaying matter.
8.) Eventually, Mars will collide with the Earth or probably the moon
before the Earth depending on the moon’s location at the time.
Whatever happens, the end result will be the total annihilation of all
life on Earth and a second belt of debris in the solar system.

Luckily for us, these are only theories. If you want to know more info
and questions about Mars, just type in ““Mars Questions” in Google Web
search. You will find more than a million results for you to read.


Search strategy:

“As Mars gets closer to earth, what will be the effects on our
weather?” in Ask Jeeves.com
“Mars Questions” in Google Web search


I really hope I helped you on this one. Thanks you very much.

Feilong-ga

Hi

 This question can be interpreted in two ways:

1) Consider the Solar System  as it is. Then distance of any two planets 
  (e.g. Mars and Earth)  exibits a cycle. They are getting close and 
   further away, repeatedly, on a regular basis. 
  (They are close when on the same side of the Sun, far when on the oposite).

2) Consider Solar System changing - either over very long time, or due
   to some external cause.

 Feilong covered case 2). His answer could be argued, depending on what cause
  for a change we would consider but I will not go into that.

 In the case 1), the answer is easier: The cycle is calculated easily, and
 its effect on the Earth climate is negligeable.

Mars and Earth will be at their closest opposition for 17 years in
August 2003, so my money's on case 1) being the intended question.

Ian G.

Earth catches up with Mars at about 2 year intervals. This has
probably not changed much in 4 billion years. Some of the close
approches are about 1% closer than others, due to the 3 dimentional
orbits of both planets. I don't think these passages will get
significantly closer unless another body more  massive than Mars, has
an almost collision with Earth or Mars. There likely are a billion
objects like this sailing arround our galaxy at faster than orbital
speed when they pass close to a star, but the probability of a near
miss (or hit) is tiny. At recent distances, effects on Earth's weather
are too small to measure. 100 times closer will produce some weather
and tide effects, but we have no good reason to think that is likely
in the next billion years or so.  Neil