[wmhardware]

Without a moon, there would still be tides [though smaller] from the influence of the sun. This washing motion of the super tides that is proposed would still happen but over a longer period of time and if you add rainfall then that is even more washing. So, if the washing had an effect, having no moon would slow down the effect but it wouldn't stop it.

Though I have heard an alternative theory that the moon stabilises the earth's spin so that if this spin was not stable then the climate [or something] would be, well, unstable and not be settled enough in one place for anything to start off.

I am sure I am misquoting this theory horrendously, it is something in the back of my mind that I once saw on a documentary - about the moon I think...