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Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping

The Indian Express — April 1, 2024, 09:00 AM UTC

Summary: A study in Nature reveals that melting glaciers due to climate change are slowing Earth's rotation, affecting timekeeping. Leap seconds have been added 27 times since the 1970s to adjust for Earth spinning faster. Anticipated "negative leap second" in 2026 may be delayed until 2029 or later. Concerns arise about potential disruptions to computer systems. Experts debate the predictability of Earth's rotation changes.

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Article metrics
Significance5.7
Scale8.0
Magnitude7.0
Potential8.5
Novelty9.0
Actionability6.0
Immediacy7.5
Positivity2.0
Credibility8.0

Timeline:

  1. [3.1]
    Global warming may cause a "negative leap second." (The Cool Down)
    36d
    Source
  2. [3.8]
    Earth's rotation slowing, leap second deletion delayed by climate change (PINKVILLA)
    39d
    Source
  3. [2.1]
    Potential need for negative leap second in 2029 debated (Mint)
    41d
    Source
  4. [5.0]
    Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping (Inquirer.net)
    42d

    ScoresSource
  5. [6.1]
    Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction (Times Now)
    42d

    ScoresSource
  6. [5.7]
    Global warming affects Earth's timekeeping, requiring UTC adjustments (Sambad English)
    43d

    ScoresSource
  7. [3.2]
    Possible "negative leap second" in 2029 due to Earth's faster rotation (KAGSTV.com)
    44d
    Source
  8. [3.0]
    Possible leap second in 2029 due to Earth's rotation (Nation Thailand)
    46d
    Source
  9. [4.6]
    Global warming may delay negative leap second until 2029 (RTE.ie)
    46d
    Source
  10. [6.5]
    Climate change may delay need for negative leap second (The Straits Times)
    46d

    ScoresSource
  11. [4.0]
    Melting polar ice affects Earth's rotation, timekeeping worldwide (PINKVILLA)
    46d
    Source
  12. [3.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (Wings)
    47d
    Source
  13. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    47d

    ScoresSource
  14. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    47d
    Source
  15. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    47d
    Source
  16. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    47d

    ScoresSource
  17. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    47d
    Source
  18. [5.9]
    Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes (CNN)
    47d

    ScoresSource