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Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction

Times Now — April 2, 2024, 05:00 AM UTC

Summary: Global warming is affecting Earth's rotation, potentially leading to a "negative leap second" being subtracted from global timekeeping for the first time. Melting polar ice is influencing this shift, slowing the rotation initially but now causing it to speed up. The anticipated leap second subtraction, originally set for 2026, may be delayed to 2029 due to these effects. Climate change's impact on timekeeping and technological systems is significant and complex.

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Article metrics
Significance6.1
Scale9.0
Magnitude8.0
Potential8.5
Novelty9.5
Actionability6.0
Immediacy7.0
Positivity2.0
Credibility8.0

Timeline:

  1. [3.1]
    Global warming may cause a "negative leap second." (The Cool Down)
    35d
    Source
  2. [3.8]
    Earth's rotation slowing, leap second deletion delayed by climate change (PINKVILLA)
    38d
    Source
  3. [2.1]
    Potential need for negative leap second in 2029 debated (Mint)
    40d
    Source
  4. [5.0]
    Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping (Inquirer.net)
    41d

    ScoresSource
  5. [5.7]
    Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping (The Indian Express)
    41d

    ScoresSource
  6. [5.7]
    Global warming affects Earth's timekeeping, requiring UTC adjustments (Sambad English)
    42d

    ScoresSource
  7. [3.2]
    Possible "negative leap second" in 2029 due to Earth's faster rotation (KAGSTV.com)
    43d
    Source
  8. [3.0]
    Possible leap second in 2029 due to Earth's rotation (Nation Thailand)
    45d
    Source
  9. [4.6]
    Global warming may delay negative leap second until 2029 (RTE.ie)
    45d
    Source
  10. [6.5]
    Climate change may delay need for negative leap second (The Straits Times)
    45d

    ScoresSource
  11. [4.0]
    Melting polar ice affects Earth's rotation, timekeeping worldwide (PINKVILLA)
    45d
    Source
  12. [3.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (Wings)
    46d
    Source
  13. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    46d
    Source
  14. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    46d

    ScoresSource
  15. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    46d
    Source
  16. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    46d
    Source
  17. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    46d

    ScoresSource
  18. [5.9]
    Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes (CNN)
    46d

    ScoresSource