The Earth’s spin is slowing down due to the effects of climate change, causing days to lengthen by 1.33 milliseconds per century. This unprecedented rate of increase in day length is the highest in at least 3.6 million years, according to a recent study.
While most people assume that a day lasts exactly 24 hours, various factors can influence the length of a day, including the moon’s gravitational pull and geophysical processes. However, climate change is expected to have a greater impact on day length than the moon by the end of this century.
Researchers have found that rising sea levels, a result of melting glaciers and shrinking polar ice sheets, are affecting Earth’s rotation. This slowdown is attributed to the redistribution of mass from the poles towards the planet’s midsection, much like a figure skater spinning slower when extending their arms.
In a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, scientists analyzed fossil records to track sea-level changes over the past 3.6 million years and linked them to changes in day length. Using a deep-learning algorithm, they found that the current rate of increase in day length is unprecedented in Earth’s history.
Lead author Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi compared the current rate of change in day length to a period around 2 million years ago but noted that the current rate is much higher. The study highlights the impact of climate change on Earth’s rotation and emphasizes the need to address these issues for accurate space navigation and other critical applications.
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