Climate change slows Earth's spin, makes days longer
A NASA-funded study reveals that human-caused climate change, specifically melting ice and groundwater loss, is altering Earth's mass distribution. This shift is causing the planet's rotation to slow down, resulting in slightly longer days.
Why it matters
Understanding these planetary shifts is crucial for maintaining precise timekeeping systems and satellite navigation, which rely on accurate Earth rotation data.
Ever feel like the days are getting longer? If so, it turns out you're absolutely right, according to NASA.
A study has found that Earth's days are getting longer because the planet's spin in slowing down.
What's more, the melting of ice by human-caused climate change is partly to blame.
The NASA-funded study looked at over 120 years of data to reveal how melting glaciers and ice sheets, dwindling groundwater and rising seas are affecting Earth's spin axis and lengthening its days.
Data shows that since the year 2000, days have been getting longer by 1.33 milliseconds per 100 years.
It's the fastest recorded change in the previous century.
Find out about Schumann resonances , how Earth-orbiting satellites measure climate change and how astronomy helps us protect Earth .
Earth's days are getting longer, and the extent of this change is accelerating.
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