There are a lot of theories on how the Moon came to being. But one of the most accepted theories is that it was formed from debris that resulted from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia. This collision caused a big chunk of mass to eject from Earth which later on cooled down and then became the Moon.

Our Moon, which is the fifth largest Moon in the Solar System, was given names by several cultures and tribes, one of which is “Bulan” given by the Malays, which is close to how Filipinos call the moon as “Buwan”. Because the Greeks named it “Selene” a titan and their moon goddess, the study of the Moon’s geology is called Selenology.

You might wonder why the Moon looks different every night. This is because as the Earth revolves around the Sun, the light reflected to the Moon varies everyday. This phenomenon creates the phases of the Moon.

Because our Moon is massive, its gravitational pull affects bodies of water during certain phases. This affects the tides, but most importantly the lives of people living near the bodies of water.

Tides and Their Effects on Fishing

Due to the combined gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, tides occur. Still the Moon is the major force behind tides because it is nearer to the Earth. Tides are periodic short-term changes in the height of the water surface in a particular place.

During the falling fide is the best time of day to catch fish. This occurs when the tide changes from high tide to low tide. The faster the water is moving out, the better the fishing. This is because the fish take advantage of this time to feed on the smaller fish being pushed out to the sea. Meanwhile, high tide is not ideal for fishing because of the rise in sea level.

Tides affect, not only fishing, but also sea travel. Just before a low tide occurs, sea vessels are moved to shallow spots to avoid them from getting hauled into the coastlines. Many marine animals and plants also benefit from the tides. The daily ebb sweeps nutrients from the shallows, moving the juvenile fish from seashore nurseries to the deep ocean.

The pulling of the seas toward the Moon not only affects seawater depths along the coasts, but also the Earth’s rotation, slowed down by what is called tidal friction. The movement of the bulge of tidal water across the oceans and its attraction to the Moon acts as a brake on the Earth’s rotation. As a result, the length of a day increases.

Perhaps the most important effect of the Moon is the way it stabilizes our rotation. When the Earth rotates, it wobbles slightly back and forth on its axis. Without the Moon, we’d be wobbling much more.

Psychological Effects of the Moon

From the word Luna, the Roman Goddess of the Moon, the word “lunatic” was formed. Since the phases of the Moon have a great effect on the bodies of water, Greek philosopher Aristotle suggested that because the brain is the “moistest” organ in the body, it is more susceptible to the pernicious influence of the moon. Agreeing to this is Miami psychiatrist Arnold Lieber who conjectured that since the human body is about 80% water, the moon works its mischievous magic by disrupting the alignment of water molecules in the nervous system.

This is why strange mass behavior is attributed to the presence of a Full Moon. In Europe during the Middle Ages, “Lunar Lunacy” was also known as the “Transylvania effect”, wherein some believe that certain humans transformed into werewolves or vampires during a Full Moon.

Even today, the Full Moon is associated with strange events, such as increased cases of suicides, homicides, psychiatric hospital admission, emergency room calls, traffic accidents, local fights, and animal bites.

Sleep Deprivations

A small study in 2013 by Chrono-biologist and Sleep Researcher Christian Cajochen at the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel in Switzerland was conducted. Out of 33 volunteer adults, all of them slept less during the Full Moon even when they were not aware of the current lunar phase. But a year later, a broad review of sleep-moon research done by scientists at the Max-Plank Institute of Psychiatry in Germany, found no statistically significant correlation between lunar cycle and sleep.

More recently, a research was published on March 2016 by the Frontiers in Pediatrics from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. More than 5,800 children aged 9 to 11 were analyzed in 12 different countries. The children about 5 minutes less on nights with a Full Moon. This is “unlikely to be important” from a health perspective, the researchers said, but is definitely interesting. Though the brightness of the Full Moon may be the reason for the decreased sleep, researchers doubted this suggestion because of the proliferation of artificial light these days.

Suicides and Homicides

There have been reported cases of an increased crime rate at an event of a Full Moon. A study was conducted in India on 1978 to 1982 by Dr. Siraj Misbahm a neurologist. He randomly selected 3 police stations—one rural, one urban and one industrial in Bihar, Northern India. These three police stations are at least 300 kilometers apart. Gathered data suggested that crimes committed on Full Moon Days were much higher than on all other days.

Psychiatric Hospital Admissions

A study in 2014 led by Varinder Parmar of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada looked at psychiatric emergency-department visits 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours before and after a Full Moon. During the 6 hours before and after a full moon, data showed significantly more patients with personality disorders as well as those who needed more urgent care were admitted to the hospital. However, fewer patients with anxiety disorders showed up during the 12 hours and 24 hours prior to and following the Full Moon.

We cannot argue that the Moon plays an important part in our daily lives. A lot of mysteries have yet to been proven about our satellite but until then, take time to appreciate its beauty and its many phases.

By Panahon TV Reporter Patrick Christoffer Obsuna.

Related articles:

Ten Things You Need to Know about the Moon

Five Things You Should Know When the Moon is Full

Moonstruck: A Closer Look at our Lunar Fascination

Rains in Soccsksargen areas

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to bring rains to some areas in Southern Mindanao.

This Saturday, portions of the Soccsksargen Region, including Sarangani and South Cotabato should still brace for light to moderate rains. Meanwhile, in the rest of Mindanao, a generally fair weather will be experienced. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Luzon and Visayas.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Obet Badrina, he mentioned that no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country this weekend.

Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017
Meanwhile, to further strengthen the nation’s readiness for tropical cyclones and their possible effects, the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017 was officially launched.

In a press conference held in Quezon City yesterday, Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, the chief of PAGASA Weather Division, highlighted that the bureau will now use “impact-based” information dissemination instead of focusing on the figures and data.

Nine to 14 tropical cyclones are expected to enter or develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until November this year.

Warm Wednesday and Monsoon Break

In the midst of the Rainy Season, generally fair and warm weather is expected with the presence of the Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) today.

“Ridge” refers to the extended part of an HPA or an anticyclone. Unlike a Low Pressure Area, this indicates an area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than its surroundings. Formation of clouds is usually suppressed, thus, less chance of rains. As it extends across Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Robert Badrina said that the country is on a monsoon break.

Badrina also said that the country will experience a storm-free week.

Potential LPA spotted

A possible weather disturbance was spotted in Mindanao today.

Based on an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, the possible Low Pressure Area (LPA) is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ.

“Ang nakapaloob dito sa ating Intertropical Convergence Zone ay mga maliliit na vortices ng Low Pressure Area at posible itong panggalingan nga ng sama ng panahon.” (Embedded within the Intertropical Convergence Zone are small vortices of Low Pressure Area, which may develop into a weather disturbance.)

Considered to be a breeding ground of weather disturbances, the ITCZ refers to the area where winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet and create interaction. Meanwhile, vertices are mass of whirling air that may develop into weather disturbances.

Today, Mindanao and Eastern Visayas will continue to experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms this Thursday. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

ITCZ soaks parts of Mindanao

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to affect Southern Mindanao.

ITCZ is characterized as an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results to rains in the affected areas.

As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in Mindanao today. Rains have been affecting the region since last week, prompting the cancellation of classes and declaration of State of Calamity in Kabuntalan and other areas in Maguindanao due to widespread flooding.

Light to moderate rains will also affect the regions of Central Visayas and Negros Island. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Rainy first day of school in parts of Luzon and Mindanao

According to the Department of Education, an estimated 28 million students officially opens the school year 2017-2018 today. As students and teachers head back to school, rains will prevail in some parts of Luzon and Mindanao.

According to PAGASA, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat is still affecting the western section of Northern and Central Luzon, while the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is affecting Southern Mindanao. Due to these weather systems, cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced in the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Maguindanao, Soccsksargen and Davao Del Sur including Davao City. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, he mentioned that morning rains will be more frequent as Habagat prevails.

However, Duran clarified that there is no weather disturbance in the county within the next three days.

Moderate rains continue in Palawan

The Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat continues to affect the eastern section of Luzon.

As this weather system prevails, Palawan will continue to experience light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

With rains concentrated in Palawan, humid weather is still expected to prevail in most parts of the country.

Get to Know Habagat
Every year, when the rainy season begins, Habagat begins to affect the country. Due to its warm and moist characteristics, Habagat causes monsoon rains that could last for a couple of days or even a week. Here are things you must know about this weather system:

Light to moderate rains in Palawan
On the first Saturday of June, the Southwest Monsoon, which is warm and moist air locally known as Habagat is still affecting the western section of Luzon.

As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced in the province of Palawan. In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail.

While the Habagat dumps rains on some parts of Luzon, residents are alerted against heavy rains, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It can be recalled that five persons perished in a landslide that occurred in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last Monday night. According to reports, the victims were composed of a family of four and an infant.

Photos courtesy of Brigada News FM Palawan.

However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza clarified that there is no weather disturbance affecting the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIE_MuLGYuQ

Frontal system and Habagat bring rains to Luzon

Rains will prevail in most parts of Luzon on the last Sunday of May 2017.

According to PAGASA, the Frontal System is affecting the extreme Northern Luzon, while the Southwest Monsoon dominates the western section of Northern and Central Luzon. Frontal System refers to the boundary of two different air masses. Once this weather system becomes dominant in an area, it will generate convective clouds which will bring thunderstorms. Southwest Monsoon is defined as warm and moist winds moving in a southwest direction. Due to these characteristics, Habagat can cause monsoon rains that can last for a couple of days or even a week

As these weather systems prevail today, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Batanes will experience moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms. Residents of these areas are alerted against flash floods and landslides. In Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced. For the rest of Luzon, down to Visayas and Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail, only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

While the present Habagat is categorized as weak, this, along with the Frontal System, has brought significant rainfall to some areas in Luzon. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, last week’s top three highest rainfall were recorded in these areas;

Batanes – 232 millimeters (mm) of rain in 24 hours – May 26, 2017
Calapan – 75.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 25, 2017
Casiguran – 76.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 24, 2017