Monday, August 1, 2022

Why is the Earth in Such a Hurry?

 June 29th was the shortest day since we invented atomic clocks in the 1960s. In general, the Earth is slowing down, so why did this happen?

The answer appears to be related to the Chandler wobble, which is the typical small irregular movement of the geographical poles. From 2017 to 2020 it stopped, for reasons that presumably have to do with shifts deep in the Earth's core.

If it speeds up further we may have to institute a negative leap second to keep civic time with solar time. Let's hope not...because I can hear every IT professional groaning from here.

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