Everyone understands that a day consists of 24 hours which are further divided into hours, minutes, and seconds. That means, a day is defined as the period from one dawn to the next, determined by the Earth’s rotation on its axis. But recently a confusion has arisen regarding the Earth’s rotation time which is attributed to climate change.
A study published in a journal highlights that global warming is altering the Earth’s speed which is affecting its rotation. The melting of polar ice due to rising temperatures is causing the Earth to rotate at a slower pace than usual.
Scientists are now urging timekeepers worldwide to consider subtracting a second from our clocks by 2029, a phenomenon known as a negative leap second. Climate change-induced alterations in watersheds are contributing to the Earth’s rotation slowing down.
The Earth’s rotation on its axis has notably increased, but there is a slight deceleration. This shift in rotation speed could significantly impact clock time. The accelerated melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica compared to three decades ago is a stark indicator of this change.
The substantial change in Earth’s rotation due to climate change may necessitate the subtraction of a second from clocks. This adjustment could pose significant challenges for computer and network timing systems.
Global timekeeping relies on the Earth’s rotation which is subject to variability. Consequently the duration of day and night may not always be equal. Scientists are contemplating the possibility of implementing the first second subtraction in 2026 as a response to these changes.
