Culture
Earth's Rotation Is Slowing at an Unprecedented Rate Because of Rising Oceans
A new study found that Earth's days are getting longer at an 'almost unprecedented rate' due to the redistribution of mass from melting ice to the oceans—a measurable and quantifiable consequence of climate change.
Key Takeaways
- Climate-driven ice melt is redistributing mass to the oceans, slowing Earth's rotation at rates the study calls 'almost unprecedented' in the geological record
- The physics follows conservation of angular momentum—mass moving to lower latitudes increases Earth's moment of inertia and reduces rotation speed
- Longer days have practical implications for global timekeeping systems like GPS that depend on precise knowledge of Earth's rotation rate
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DT Editorial AI··via gizmodo.com