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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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Significance6.5
Scale9.0
Magnitude7.0
Potential8.0
Novelty8.5
Actionability6.0
Immediacy7.5
Positivity5.0
Credibility9.0

Timeline:

  1. [3.1]
    Global warming may cause a "negative leap second." (The Cool Down)
    21d
    Summary:Source
  2. [3.8]
    Earth's rotation slowing, leap second deletion delayed by climate change (PINKVILLA)
    24d
    Summary:Source
  3. [2.1]
    Potential need for negative leap second in 2029 debated (Mint)
    26d
    Summary:Source
  4. [5.0]
    Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping (Inquirer.net)
    26d

    ScoresSource
  5. [6.1]
    Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction (Times Now)
    26d

    ScoresSource
  6. [5.7]
    Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping (The Indian Express)
    27d

    ScoresSource
  7. [5.7]
    Global warming affects Earth's timekeeping, requiring UTC adjustments (Sambad English)
    27d

    ScoresSource
  8. [3.2]
    Possible "negative leap second" in 2029 due to Earth's faster rotation (KAGSTV.com)
    28d
    Summary:Source
  9. [3.0]
    Possible leap second in 2029 due to Earth's rotation (Nation Thailand)
    30d
    Summary:Source
  10. [4.6]
    Global warming may delay negative leap second until 2029 (RTE.ie)
    31d
    Summary:Source
  11. [4.0]
    Melting polar ice affects Earth's rotation, timekeeping worldwide (PINKVILLA)
    31d
    Summary:Source
  12. [3.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (Wings)
    31d
    Summary:Source
  13. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    32d

    ScoresSource
  14. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    32d
    Summary:Source
  15. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    32d
    Summary:Source
  16. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    32d

    ScoresSource
  17. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    32d
    Summary:Source
  18. [5.9]
    Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes (CNN)
    32d

    ScoresSource