https://phys.org/news/2021-01-earth-faster.html
Phys.org
Topics
* Week's top
* Latest news
* Unread news
* Subscribe
[ ]
Science X Account
[ ]
[ ]
[*] Remember me
Sign In
Click here to sign in with or
Forget Password?
Not a member? Sign up
Learn more
* Nanotechnology
* Physics
* Earth
* Astronomy & Space
* Technology
* Chemistry
* Biology
* Other Sciences
*
* share this!
*
48.2K
*
500
*
Share
*
Email
1. Home
2. Earth
3. Earth Sciences
*
*
*
---------------------------------------------------------------------
January 7, 2021 report
The Earth has been spinning faster lately
by Bob Yirka , Phys.org
earth Credit: CC0 Public Domain
Scientists around the world have noted that the Earth has been
spinning on its axis faster lately--the fastest ever recorded. Several
scientists have spoken to the press about the unusual phenomenon,
with some pointing out that this past year saw some of the shortest
days ever recorded.
For most of the history of mankind, time has been marked by the
24-hour day/night cycle (with some alterations made for convenience
as the seasons change). The cycle is governed by the speed at which
the planet spins on its axis. Because of that, the length of a day
has become the standard by which time is marked--each day lasts
approximately 86,400 seconds. The day/night cycle is remarkably
consistent despite the fact that it actually varies slightly on a
regular basis.
Several decades ago, the development of atomic clocks began allowing
scientists to record the passage of time in incredibly small
increments, in turn, allowing for measuring the length of a given day
down to the millisecond. And that has led to the discovery that the
spin of the planet is actually far more variable than once thought.
Since such measurements began, scientists have also found that the
Earth was slowing its spin very gradually (compensated by the
insertion of a leap second now and then)--until this past year, when
it began spinning faster--so much so that some in the field have begun
to wonder if a negative leap negative second might be needed this
year, an unprecedented suggestion. Scientists also noted that this
past summer, on July 19, the shortest day ever was recorded--it was
1.4602 milliseconds shorter than the standard.
Planetary scientists are not concerned about the new finding; they
have learned that there are many factors that have an impact on
planetary spin--including the moon's pull, snowfall levels and
mountain erosion. They also have begun wondering if global warming
might push the Earth to spin faster as the snow caps and
high-altitude snows begin disappearing. Computer scientists, on the
other hand, are somewhat concerned about the shifting spin speed--so
much of modern technology is based on what they describe as "true
time." Adding a negative leap second could lead to problems, so some
have suggested shifting the world's clocks from solar time to atomic
time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Explore further
Leap second 2016: Why this New Year's Eve will have an extra second
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) 2021 Science X Network
Citation: The Earth has been spinning faster lately (2021, January 7)
retrieved 8 January 2021 from https://phys.org/news/
2021-01-earth-faster.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing
for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be
reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided
for information purposes only.
48775 shares
*
Facebook
*
Twitter
*
Email
Feedback to editors
* Featured
* Last Comments
* Popular
Experiments with bifluoride ions show evidence of hybrid bonds
7 hours ago
0
Evidence of water movement found in meteorites that only recently
fell to Earth
7 hours ago
0
Using the SYK model to examine the fast-charging process of quantum
batteries
8 hours ago
0
The Earth has been spinning faster lately
Jan 07, 2021
28
Extremely fast electrochromic supercapacitors
Jan 07, 2021
0
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[gif]
Bacteria can tell the time
4 hours ago
[gif]
Study reveals jellyfish create a 'virtual wall' to enhance
performance
4 hours ago
[gif]
Chandra observations reveal extraordinary magnetar
5 hours ago
[gif]
Possible explanation for more efficient maize growth
5 hours ago
[gif]
How 'Iron Man' bacteria could help protect the environment
5 hours ago
[gif]
Scientists develop a cheaper method that might help create fuels from
plants
6 hours ago
[gif]
Experiments with bifluoride ions show evidence of hybrid bonds
7 hours ago
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Relevant PhysicsForums posts
If the Sahara is caused by the Hadley cell, it should ring the Earth
like the Hadley cell, surely?
22 hours ago
Why is the CO2 level lower in my house than outside?
Dec 29, 2020
Mw 6.4 Quake Croatia
Dec 29, 2020
Mw 6.8, Chile ... NOW
Dec 27, 2020
Clair Patterson, Measuring Earth's Age, Discovery of Pb contamination
Dec 26, 2020
Why Grid North doesn't agree with True North on maps
Dec 25, 2020
More from Earth Sciences
---------------------------------------------------------------------
* Related Stories
[gif]
Leap second 2016: Why this New Year's Eve will have an extra
second
Dec 30, 2016
[gif]
Adding leap second this year expected to cause Internet problems
Jan 07, 2015
[gif]
How a seasonal snarl-up in the mid-1500s gave us our strange
rules for leap years
Feb 28, 2020
[gif]
Supercomputer simulations could unlock mystery of Moon's
formation
Dec 03, 2020
[gif]
2016 will be one second longer
Jul 06, 2016
[gif]
Electrical spin filtering the key to ultra-fast, energy-efficient
spintronics
Dec 04, 2020
* Recommended for you
[gif]
New analysis highlights importance of groundwater discharge into
oceans
13 hours ago
[gif]
Research confirms increase in river flooding and droughts in
U.S., Canada
Jan 07, 2021
[gif]
Researchers propose a framework for evaluating the impacts of
climate change on California's water and energy systems
Jan 07, 2021
[gif]
Hawai'i drought during El Nino winter? Not always, according to
new research
Jan 07, 2021
[gif]
Ice arches holding Arctic's 'last ice area' in place are at risk,
researcher says
Jan 06, 2021
[gif]
Will global warming bring a change in the winds? Dust from the
deep sea provides a clue
Jan 06, 2021
User comments
What do you think about this particular story?
Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors.
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Your message to the editors [ ]
Your email (only if you want to be contacted back)
[ ]
Send Feedback
Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to
Science X editors.
You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent
and will take appropriate actions. Your opinions are important to us.
We do not guarantee individual replies due to extremely high volume
of correspondence.
E-mail the story
The Earth has been spinning faster lately
Your friend's email [ ]
Your email [ ]
[ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more
Your name [ ]
Note
Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent
the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be
used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in
your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Your message [ ]
Send
Newsletter sign up
Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can
unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third
parties.
[ ]
Subscribe
More information Privacy policy
Medical Xpress
Medical Xpress
Medical research advances and health news
Tech Xplore
Tech Xplore
The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances
Science X
Science X
The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web
Newsletters
[ ]
Subscribe
Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features
that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your
email inbox
Follow us
*
*
*
*
* Top
* Home
* Search
* Mobile version
* Help
* FAQ
* About
* Contact
* Science X Account
* Sponsored Account
* Archive
* News wire
* Android app
* iOS app
* RSS feeds
* Push notification
(c) Phys.org 2003 - 2021 powered by Science X Network
Privacy policy Terms of use
Your Privacy
This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of
our services, and provide content from third parties. By using our
site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy
Policy and Terms of Use.
Ok More Information
E-mail newsletter
[ ]
Subscribe
Follow us
*
*
*
*
It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What
are the consequences? x
Quantcast