Could next week's 'supermoon' cause chaos around the globe?

Could the moon could cause havoc on the world's weather next week? Could it even trigger a natural disaster?

On March 19th, astronomers say that the moon will pass within just 221,567 miles of the earth - the closest it has been since 1992.

This phenomena, known as the 'supermoon', or lunar perigee, has been shown in the past to precede natural disasters, including a tsunami in Indonesia in 1974.

In anticipation, the worldwide web is alive with predictions of tidal waves, volcanic eruptions and even earthquakes next week.

A lunar perigee occurs once a month. However, next week's perigee coincides with a full moon - a combination of events that happen just once every two or three years.

Scientists say it has no impact on Earth, and the Met Office made the following statement: 'The moon does not affect the weather.'

However, it is well known that the moon does affect the tides, and some experts believe that this could have an effect in coastal areas, with tides that are higher and lower than usual.

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Sensible preditcions or sheer lunar-cy? Tell us what you think!