Recent research has brought to light a startling revelation: global warming is causing the days to lengthen. This surprising effect is due to the melting of polar ice sheets and the resulting redistribution of mass on Earth’s surface. It is a clear indication of the planetary-scale impact of human-induced climate change.
The Earth’s day length has been steadily increasing by a few milliseconds per century due to various factors. These include the moon’s gravitational pull, the movement of the Earth’s mantle, and the melting of ice sheets and glaciers. Of these, the latter is directly linked to climate change, demonstrating the far-reaching implications of our actions on the planet’s natural systems.
Previously, the rate of increase in day length occurred over thousands of years. However, due to the accelerated pace of climate change, this increase is now expected to happen within this century. The Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets‘ melting over the last two decades has driven this redistribution of mass.
Yet, the potential implications of this phenomenon extend far beyond longer days. If greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled, the length of day could increase by an additional 2.62 milliseconds per century by the end of the 21st century. This change, while seemingly small, could impact timekeeping and necessitate the use of advanced clocks.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences supports this finding. It affirms that human-caused climate change is impacting Earth’s rotation and day length and could become the dominant factor in these shifts if unchecked.
While the changes occurring amount to mere milliseconds per day, they can significantly affect precise timekeeping systems such as GPS. These systems rely on incredibly accurate measurements of time, and even slight variations could lead to disruptions.
Moreover, if emissions continue to rise at their current pace, climate change could increase the length of a day by 2.62 milliseconds by the end of the century. This change may not only affect technology but could potentially increase the occurrence of earthquakes.
Ultimately, these findings underscore the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change. The impacts of our activities on the planet are far-reaching and multifaceted, affecting not just our weather systems and ecosystems but the very rotation and day length of the Earth itself.
Science4Data is committed to cut through greenwashing and measure real impact. Join the journey to a sustainable future. Your actions matter.
