On July 22,Earth is projected to complete its rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than its average speed. This event will mark the second shortest day of the year, surpassed only by July 10.
Earth’s Rotational Speed: A Persistent Enigma
Recent observations indicate a subtle but consistent acceleration in Earth’s rotation over the past few months. While the rate of this acceleration appears to be gradually decreasing, the precise reasons behind these ongoing shifts in rotational speed remain a subject of scientific inquiry.
Current research from 2024 suggests that while polar ice melt and rising sea levels do influence the planet’s equilibrium, their effect is to moderate, rather than accelerate, the rotation. Experts hypothesize that the cause may lie within earth’s core. A deceleration in the rotation of the liquid outer core could, through the principle of conservation of angular momentum, lead to an increase in the rotational speed of the mantle and crust.
Leonid Zotov, a specialist in Earth’s rotation at Moscow State University, stated, “The cause of this acceleration is not entirely explained. Most scientists believe it is due to internal processes of the planet, as oceanic and atmospheric models fail to explain this marked acceleration.”
Zotov’s projections also suggest that a slowdown in Earth’s rotation may occur in the near future. If this happens, the current acceleration would be considered a temporary anomaly within a broader trend towards slower rotation and longer days.
