The rotation of Earth is slowing down, possibly due to the effects of climate change. Earth’s rotation rate has been gradually accelerating since the last Ice Age, because of the melting of polar ice sheets. However, a new study in Nature finds that climate change is causing changes in the distribution of water mass around the globe, which is in turn affecting the planet’s rotation rate.
The study found that the redistribution of water mass towards the equator is causing a slight braking effect on Earth’s spin. This is delaying the need for a negative leap second, which would have been required within just two years without climate change. The researchers suggest that this time could be used to develop new technologies to handle negative leap seconds or to eliminate the need for them altogether. The study’s findings have important implications for organizations relying on precise timekeeping.
The effects of climate change on Earth’s rotation rate are still being studied, but the new research suggests that the planet’s rotation may be slowing down more than previously thought. This could have implications for timekeeping and other applications that rely on precise measurements of time.
In addition to the effects of climate change, other factors may also be contributing to the slowing down of Earth’s rotation. These include tidal forces and the roiling currents in Earth’s core. However, the new study suggests that climate change is playing a significant role in the observed changes in Earth’s rotation rate.
The study’s findings raise important questions about the future of timekeeping. If Earth’s rotation continues to slow down, it could eventually require changes to the way that time is measured. However, the new research suggests that we may have a few more years before we need to worry about that.
