• Christos Vournas’ "Rotational Warming Phenomenon" theory claims Earth’s higher average surface temperature compared to the Moon ( 288K vs. 220K ) stems from its faster rotation ( 1 rotation/day vs. 1 /29.5 days ) and higher surface heat capacity ( water’s specific heat of 1 cal/gr°C vs. lunar regolith’s 0.19 cal/gr°C ), not atmospheric greenhouse effects, challenging the mainstream view that Earth’s atmosphere primarily drives its warmth.
  • Vournas’ equation, Tmean = [ Φ(1-a)S (βNcp)^(1/4 ) /(4σ) ]^(1/4), suggests a planet’s mean surface temperature (Tmean) rises with the product of rotation rate (N) and specific heat (cp) to the 1/16th power, implying faster-rotating planets absorb more solar energy as heat; for Earth and Moon, this ratio ( 288K /206.7K for equal albedo ) aligns closely with their ( N*cp )^(1/16) ratio, differing by just 1.63%.
  • The theory contradicts established climate science, as NASA and NOAA data attribute Earth’s warming to greenhouse gases like CO2, with a consensus from over 14,000 peer-reviewed studies (IPCC Sixth Assessment, 2021) linking human activity to a 1.5°C rise since pre-industrial times, while Vournas’ model lacks empirical validation and ignores atmospheric radiative forcing mechanisms.