May 20, 2024 8:03 am
Physics World: Climate change’s impact on time correction through ‘negative leap seconds’

As the Earth’s rotation gradually slows down due to climate change, it may require more frequent adjustments to atomic time to keep it in sync with solar time. This could mean that negative leap seconds may be needed in the future, as opposed to the positive leap seconds that have been added to atomic time in the past.

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) is responsible for managing these time corrections. They must take into account how climate change affects the length of a day and adapt their methods accordingly. Negative leap seconds may be required to account for this change, which would affect how we measure and keep track of time.

Scientists are continuously monitoring the Earth’s rotation and making adjustments as needed. This is essential to maintain accurate timekeeping despite the changing conditions on our planet. As climate change continues to impact our world, it is important to consider how it might affect other aspects of our lives, including how we measure and keep track of time.

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