Have you been feeling like days are going by faster and faster? It might not actually be just in your imagination. Scientists say that Earth has been spinning faster lately, and the shortest day ever since atomic clocks began in the 1960s was actually recorded.
What Happened?
On June 29, 2022, Earth completed a full rotation 1.59 milliseconds faster than the normal 24 hours that we usually have. That might be too low for it to matter to us, but it will after a few more days like this.
You and everyone else know just how important time and timekeeping are for us, in our technology. From the use of GPS, smartphones, and computers, we go through our day with an exact schedule in mind, utilizing these technologies to keep us disciplined and aligned with everyone part of society.
Read more: Scientific American
Why Is Earth Spinning Faster?
If that recorded day mentioned above is not enough, the scientific community also confirmed that the planet Earth has been spinning faster gradually since 2016.
The Earth’s rotation is important not only when it comes to time but also for shaping our climate, weather patterns, and the existence of tidal waves. Without the proper rotation, the side that is exposed more to the sun will be hotter, and the other colder.
So, what are the possible reasons for our planet to have a faster spin? One reason could be the redistribution of mass across the planet because of melting ice caps, or an increase in ice at the north and south poles. Another ones are Earth’s molten core and our own moon.
As you can guess, the majority of reasons are out of our control, but there are some that we do have that we should maximize. Such as triggering the increase in temperature on Earth because of greenhouse gases, or our technology and infrastructures. It might not mean a lot to most people, but it will surely do for our planet that we all still are living in.
Read more: AP News
What Does This Mean for Us?
If planet Earth’s rotation kept going at this pace, scientists would have to change our clocks and adjust them to make sure that we are measuring time properly. This is an event called the “negative leap second.” According to some sources, it might occur in 2029.
We need precise time measurements, but the main concern is not only about time. If our planet kept on spinning faster and faster, in the future, we are going to have more problems than our alarm clocks being wrong.
An example of this is the increase in centrifugal force on the Earth’s equator, which will push our ocean currents and water to the north and south poles. It could also affect our atmosphere and wind patterns, which could generate more storms and changes in weather systems of various places.
When those happen, we just hope that our technology is good enough to do something about it, cause today, we are helpless if the reasons the earth is spinning faster suddenly become out of our control.
Author's Final Thoughts
Earth’s faster spin is a reminder that our planet is dynamic and constantly changing, but the good news is, life has always found a way to survive on this tiny blue planet for millions of years. We are not the first form of life to ever exist and stay this long in here, and we are not going to be the last either.
Read more: Scientists Reconstruct Face of 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Woman
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