New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that climate change is causing the Earth's days to lengthen at an unprecedented rate. As ice sheets at the poles melt, the redistribution of mass towards the equator is accelerating sea-level rise, resulting in a slight increase in the length of a day.
Scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and ETH Zurich analyzed data and found that the length of a day increased by 0.3 to 1.0 milliseconds per century throughout the 20th century. However, since 2000, this rate has sharply accelerated to 1.33 milliseconds per century.
This rapid increase is attributed to the rapid melting of polar ice sheets, which is causing a significant shift in the Earth's mass distribution. The study highlights the significant impact that climate change is having on our planet's rotation and orbit. The researchers' findings underscore the urgent need for continued monitoring and adaptation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between climate change and the Earth's rotation, which could have significant implications for our understanding of astronomical phenomena and our daily lives.
News ID : 3498