Earth completes a rotation in less than 24 hours: Here’s what this change could mean
The Earth set a new record for the shortest day on July 29 when it completed a full rotation on its axis in 1.59 milliseconds less than the standard 24 hours. The rotational speed has recently increased, but the reasons are unknown. Let’s learn more about it.
More About Earth’s Rotation
On June 29, this year, the Earth completed its spin in 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours, confirming scientists’ suspicions that the Earth’s rotation is accelerating. The minute change was detected by the atomic clock, which is used to precisely measure the rotational speed of the planet. This is a shift from the past, when time and date in 2020 reported that the shortest day was 1.47 milliseconds, or less than 24 hours, on July 19 of that year. The shortest day was slightly longer last year than it will be in 2020.
Why Is Earth’s Rotation Speeding?
The rotation of the Earth is influenced by natural forces such as the oceans, tides, churnings in its inner and outer layers, and even the climate, which is currently undergoing significant changes. While scientists have yet to determine the cause of the decrease in Earth’s rotational speed, it has been attributed to the Chandler wobble.
According to NASA, Chandler Wobble is a motion displayed by Earth as it rotates on its axis. Scientists solved this mystery in 2000, stating that the main cause of the Chandler wobble is fluctuating pressure on the ocean’s bottom caused by temperature and salinity changes, as well as wind-driven changes in ocean circulation. While two-thirds of the Chandler wobble is caused by changes in ocean bottom pressure, the remaining one-third is caused by changes in atmospheric pressure.
What Happens Now?
Scientists have yet to fully comprehend the consequences of this minute change when accumulated over a century. They believe that if the planet continues to rotate faster and complete days in less than 24 hours, they will be forced to include a negative leap second.
However, including it would create more problems than solutions, particularly in the world of information and technology. The clock moves from 23:59:59 to 23:59:60 before resetting at 00:00:00, according to a blog published by Meta, which has been campaigning against the addition of a leap second, and the addition of a negative leap second would result in a time jump.
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