Did you know that Earth is spinning faster than usual? Yes, you heard that right! Our planet is rotating at a slightly higher speed than the average of the past 50 years. In fact, 2020 had some of the shortest days ever recorded in history. But what does this mean for us and our daily lives? Let's find out!
First of all, why is Earth spinning faster? Well, there are many factors that affect the rotation of our planet, such as the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, the movement of the tectonic plates, the melting of glaciers, and even the wind and ocean currents. These factors can cause small changes in the distribution of mass and angular momentum of Earth, which in turn can speed up or slow down its spin.
How fast is Earth spinning now? According to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which monitors the length of day (LOD), the shortest day of 2020 was July 19, when Earth completed a full rotation in 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59.9998927 seconds. That's about 1.4603 milliseconds shorter than the standard 24 hours. The average LOD for 2020 was about 0.5 milliseconds shorter than usual.
How does this affect us? Well, for most of us, these tiny changes are not noticeable at all. We don't feel any difference in our daily routines or activities. However, for some precise scientific and technological applications, such as GPS, satellites, and radio communication, these changes can have some impact. That's why scientists use atomic clocks to keep track of the exact time and synchronize it with the Earth's rotation.
Sometimes, when the Earth's rotation is too slow compared to the atomic time, scientists add a "leap second" to the end of a year or a half-year to keep them aligned. The last leap second was added on December 31, 2016. However, since the Earth is now spinning faster than usual, some experts have suggested that we might need a "negative leap second" or a "leap second deletion" to subtract a second from the atomic time.
But don't worry, this doesn't mean that we will lose a second of our lives or that the world will end sooner. It just means that we will have to adjust our clocks and calendars accordingly to keep up with the Earth's rotation. And who knows, maybe we will get used to living in shorter days and enjoy them more!
So there you have it! Earth is spinning faster than usual and it might affect us in some ways. But don't let that stop you from living your life to the fullest! Remember, every day is a gift and we should make the most of it!