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Climate change may delay need for negative leap second

The Straits Times — March 28, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC

Summary: Climate change affects Earth's rotation, potentially delaying the need for a "negative leap second" until at least 2029. This adjustment is crucial for global timekeeping, as Earth's rotation has been speeding up. The last leap second was added in 2016, with 27 added since 1972. Experts are concerned about the impact on computer systems if a negative leap second is introduced.

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Timeline:

  1. [3.1]
    Global warming may cause a "negative leap second." (The Cool Down)
    111d
    Source
  2. [3.8]
    Earth's rotation slowing, leap second deletion delayed by climate change (PINKVILLA)
    114d
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  3. [2.1]
    Potential need for negative leap second in 2029 debated (Mint)
    115d
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  4. [5.0]
    Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping (Inquirer.net)
    116d

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  5. [6.1]
    Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction (Times Now)
    116d

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  6. [5.7]
    Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping (The Indian Express)
    117d

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  7. [5.7]
    Global warming affects Earth's timekeeping, requiring UTC adjustments (Sambad English)
    117d

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  8. [3.2]
    Possible "negative leap second" in 2029 due to Earth's faster rotation (KAGSTV.com)
    118d
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  9. [3.0]
    Possible leap second in 2029 due to Earth's rotation (Nation Thailand)
    120d
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  10. [4.6]
    Global warming may delay negative leap second until 2029 (RTE.ie)
    120d
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  11. [4.0]
    Melting polar ice affects Earth's rotation, timekeeping worldwide (PINKVILLA)
    121d
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  12. [3.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (Wings)
    121d
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  13. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    121d
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  14. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    121d

    ScoresSource
  15. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    121d
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  16. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    121d
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  17. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    121d

    ScoresSource
  18. [5.9]
    Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes (CNN)
    121d

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