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Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping

Inquirer.net — April 2, 2024, 06:00 AM UTC

Summary: The Earth's rotation is speeding up due to melting ice caps, altering timekeeping. Research from UC San Diego shows that as ice melts, Earth's mass shifts, causing faster rotation. This phenomenon, along with other factors, has been shortening days. Geophysicists compare it to a skater twirling faster with arms drawn in. To address this, a "negative leap second" may be needed globally by 2029, impacting digital systems reliant on accurate timekeeping.

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Significance5.0
Scale8.0
Magnitude7.0
Potential8.5
Novelty9.0
Actionability6.0
Immediacy7.0
Positivity4.0
Credibility6.5

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. [6.1]
    Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction (Times Now)
    41d

    ScoresSource
  5. [5.7]
    Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping (The Indian Express)
    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)
    46d
    Source
  13. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    47d
    Source
  14. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    47d

    ScoresSource
  15. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    47d
    Source
  16. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    47d
    Source
  17. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    47d

    ScoresSource
  18. [5.9]
    Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes (CNN)
    47d

    ScoresSource