Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Meaningful Beauty Lifting Eye Crème Buy Now
Legendary Flannel Buy Now
Multiport USB Charger for Multiple Devices Buy Now
Men's Slim Fit Knit Cardigan Buy Now
Crystal Accented Bracelet Watch Buy Now
Outdoor Casual Vintage Long Sleeve Shirt Jacket Buy Now
Casio MDV106 Diver's Watch Buy Now
Striped Hawaiian Shirt Buy Now
Womens High Waist Yoga Pants Cutout Ripped Leggings Buy Now
SAMPEEL Crop Tops Buy Now
Flowy Maxi Skirt with Pockets Buy Now
Into the AM Men's T-Shirt Buy Now
Braun Silk·Expert Pro 5 IPL Buy Now
COOFANDY Waffle Knit Hoodie Buy Now
3-in-1 Charger for iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch Buy Now
Oil Sprayer for Cooking Buy Now
SUNGAIT Ultra-Light Polarized Sunglasses Buy Now
Ripped Regular Fit Jeans Buy Now
OLCHEE Women’s Workout Sets 2 Piece Buy Now
Fitpolo Smart Watch for Women Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Explained | Is the Earth’s change in rotational speed a cause for concern?

Explained | Is the Earth’s change in rotational speed a cause for concern?

The Hindu
Friday, August 5, 2022 11:13 AM GMT

Earth’s rotational speed has varied in the past and the phenomenon is normal

The story so far: On June 29, 2022, the Earth completed its axial spin at a record speed, shortening the day by 1.59 milliseconds. According to reports, this new record could indicate the heavenly body’s move towards a faster rotational axis in the short run but it could slow down over a period.

Tech giants like Meta have apparently raised an issue as it could necessitate the adding of a leap second, which may in turn affect software that has been programmed to display time a certain way. In fact, the Earth does periodically slow down and speed up in its rotation about its axis. This is a wavelike change.

There are several factors that have been linked to the change in the Earth’s rotation rate ranging from the transfer of angular momentum from its interior to the outside to the oxygenation of its atmosphere. Anything that changes the composition and distribution of material on the Earth’s surface can also have this effect. Dr. Binod Sreenivasan, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at IISc Bengaluru, explains one of the dominant effects: “The Earth’s magnetic field is produced by convection that occurs in the outer core, creating waves. These are called torsional waves. They originate from the outer core or from the fluctuations of buoyancy in the inner molten core. We can think of these as concentric cylinders that oscillate back and forth, all the way from the inner core to the mantle, creating waves that travel outward…this has been correlated to the length of day for a century now.” 

He added that in the recent past, the Earth’s rotation has varied between one or two milliseconds and this phenomenon has been termed normal.

Speaking of alternate reasons for this change, he said, “To some extent, tidal waves and tidal motion can also contribute to the variations in the length of night and day and can indirectly be associated with climate change.”

Another plausible reason could be the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps that result in a change of mass distribution on the surface or interior of the Earth. If ice melts rapidly or continuously in a particular region of the planet, it could cause a tip in balance. The Earth also wobbles because of the fact that its axis of rotation is tilted with respect to the geographical axis. This is called the Chandler wobble, named after American astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler who also discovered the effect, and a change in this angle can cause a variation in rotation time too. 

“To an extent, we can predict because we have enough records of the past to tell between what upper and lower bounds length of day variation can occur. It is very unlikely to get extremely abnormal behaviour that should be a cause of concern,” the professor clarified.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Group Captain Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments onboard ISS: ISRO

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla completes 7 microgravity experiments during 18-day stay at ISS, returning to Earth.

‘Lord of the Rings’ director backs idea to revive New Zealand’s moa

Filmmaker Peter Jackson partners with Colossal Biosciences to genetically engineer extinct moa birds, sparking scientific and ethical debates.

Why must India recognise its open ecosystems? | Explained Premium

Deserts are not failures, but ancient, diverse ecosystems needing protection and respect from human interventions and policies.

Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla describes India from space as ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride.

Monsoon treks near Visakhapatnam: Explore scenic Eastern Ghats trails

Discover monsoon treks in the Eastern Ghats near Visakhapatnam, offering scenic trails, cultural immersion, and challenging adventures for all levels.

Immune cells’ fat blocks brain’s ability to clean Alzheimer’s plaques Premium

Alzheimer's disease progression linked to microglia fat metabolism, potential new treatment target identified in recent study.

A probe that penetrated Jupiter’s atmosphere

On July 13, 1995, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft released the atmospheric entry probe that it carried. A.S.Ganesh tells you more about this mission with particular emphasis on the probe, which hit Jupiter’s atmosphere in December 1995.

Kolhapuri chappal row: Prada to launch capsule collection of ‘Made in India’ sandals with local artisans in Maharashtra 

Prada collaborates with local artisans in Maharashtra to launch 'Made in India' leather sandals, addressing cultural appropriation concerns.

Why the 2.5 BHK is redefining urban Indian living today

Discover the rising demand for 2.5 BHK homes in Indian cities, offering flexibility and value for modern living.

Ranga Shankara’s Theatre for Children Festival  returns to Bengaluru

Ranga Shankara’s Theatre for Children Festival  returns to Bengaluru

KSOU faculty play key role in development of AI-driven device for cardiovascular health

MyoBioScan: A non-invasive wearable patch for real-time cardiovascular monitoring, integrating ECG acquisition and sweat-based biomarker analysis.

Meet the Tangaliya weavers behind Brad Pitt’s shirt in F1

The Tangaliya weave, practised by only 100 weavers today, was used in fashion label 11.11/eleven eleven’s shirt for Brad Pitt. Can Hollywood bring more attention to this craft?

KTM’s ADV portfolio in India introduces two distinct variants

KTM has reinforced its middleweight ADV portfolio in India with the introduction of two distinct offerings — the updated KTM 390 Adventure X and the globally-spec KTM 390 Adventure Enduro R. While the former caters to long-distance touring enthusiasts now seeking more value and tech, the latter is purpose-built for riders who demand uncompromised off-road performance, rooted in Dakar DNA.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
‘Desi Oon’ and Suresh Eriyat’s dialogue with shepherds

Filmmaker Suresh Eriyat’s award-winning stop-motion animation Desi Oon is a tactile masterpiece in storytelling and a reminder to look to artisans as equals

Pattu, the Doberman rescued in Chennai, finds forever home 7,200 km away in Prague

Rescued and brought to Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary in Besant Nagar, in a state of malnourishment and paralysis, Pattu the Doberman now lives it up in the Czech Republic

What is the universe’s antimatter mystery? | Explained Premium

Scientists discover CP violation in baryon decays, shedding light on why the universe is mostly made of matter.

Shubhanshu Shukla undergoing rehabilitation to mitigate any adverse effect of microgravity: ISRO

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla undergoes rehabilitation post-space mission to counter microgravity effects, monitored by ISRO and Axiom.

Gujarat launches India’s first tribal genome project to tackle inherited diseases

Gujarat launches genome sequencing project for tribal communities to identify genetic health risks and enable precision healthcare.

A tectonic shift in thinking to build seismic resilience Premium

With seismic activity intensifying, India cannot afford delay and the Government of India must lead with stringent enforcement, public education, and resilient infrastructure investment

CERN collider reveals major clue to universe’s bias against antimatter Premium

Scientists observe CP violation in baryons, a key clue in understanding why matter dominates the universe over antimatter.

For Kerala musician Alex Immatty his songs are a means of protest

Thrissur-based rock musician Alex J Immatty uses his music as a tool for change and awareness, questioning social issues.

Science Quiz: Properties of light

How well do you know light and its properties?

Searching for alien life means asking the right questions first  Premium

Exploring the quest for alien life through Bayesian analysis, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions in research.

ANRF unveils PM Professorships to bolster research in State universities

ANRF offers Prime Minister Professorships with ₹30 lakh fellowship for retired scientists to mentor emerging research at State universities.

New study shows cysteine withdrawal causes rapid weight loss in mice Premium

Unraveling the impact of cysteine deficiency on rapid weight loss, highlighting the importance of amino acids in nutrition.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us