Melting Ice Caps Slowing Earth’s Rotation, Disrupting Timekeeping

Scientists have discovered a surprising consequence of climate change: melting ice caps are causing the Earth’s day to lengthen, the Guardian reported yesterday.

This may seem insignificant, with changes measured in milliseconds, but it could disrupt critical technologies like GPS and internet traffic.

The culprit is the redistribution of water from the poles to the equator as glaciers melt. This shift in mass alters the Earth’s shape, making it slightly fatter at the equator. This, in turn, disrupts the planet’s rotation, causing days to become a fraction of a second longer.

While this change is minuscule on a human timescale, it’s significant for precise timekeeping. Our modern world relies on atomic clocks and the exact length of a day for various functions, including internet communication, financial transactions, and satellite navigation.

The research highlights the profound impact humanity is having on the planet, not just in terms of rising temperatures but also on its fundamental movements in space. The observed changes are happening at an unprecedented rate, far exceeding natural processes that have occurred over billions of years.

While immediate solutions are unlikely to entirely reverse the trend, the study emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change to minimize future disruptions. The longer we wait, the greater the impact on critical technologies that underpin our daily lives.