Breaking: Earth‘s Increasing Spin Rate Could Trigger Major Geological Events, Scientists Warn
The Earth is spinning faster, and while the changes are currently measured in milliseconds, scientists are investigating the potential for meaningful consequences if the trend continues. recent data shows the planet’s rotation is accelerating, with July 5, 2023, marking the fastest recorded day – spinning 1.66 milliseconds quicker than a standard 24 hours. Subsequent days, including July 9, July 22, and August 5, 2023, were also shorter, ranging from 1.3 to 1.51 milliseconds.
While Earth’s rotation has always fluctuated slightly, these recent shifts have prompted concern among researchers. scientists began meticulously tracking these changes in the 1970s using atomic clocks – machines that measure time based on atomic vibrations.
“A billion years ago the day was maybe 19 hours long,” explained one expert to the Daily Mail.”If you went back to when there were dinosaurs and didn’t have a clock you wouldn’t probably notice that the day was 30 minutes shorter.”
However, a sustained increase in rotational speed could have dramatic effects. Dr. Judah Levine, a Fellow at the US government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland, points to a fundamental principle of physics: “If the story is loosely connected to reality, then the speed-up of Earth had to be accompanied by something else losing angular momentum, maybe the orbit of the moon.”
He elaborated that if the moon’s orbit were to lose angular momentum to accelerate Earth’s spin, the moon would draw closer, leading to considerably stronger and more frequent tidal effects.
Beyond lunar interactions, scientists are examining several potential drivers of the acceleration, including climate change, shifting molten layers within the Earth’s core, and changes in ocean currents and wind patterns. Accelerated glacial melt and weather patterns like el Niño are theorized to be subtly altering the planet’s balance. The Earth’s core, composed of swirling liquid metal, can also shift, impacting the planet’s shape and equilibrium.
While the current changes are minor, a substantial increase in earth’s rotational speed could trigger devastating geological events. Increased centrifugal force could exacerbate existing fault lines,possibly leading to more frequent and powerful earthquakes. Simultaneously, amplified tidal forces, coupled with rising sea levels, could result in catastrophic flooding of coastal regions worldwide.
Scientists are continuing to analyze data from atomic clocks, observing the moon’s orbit, monitoring core activity, and studying ocean and wind patterns to understand the complex interplay of forces driving these changes and to better predict potential future impacts.
