This summer, our planet again demonstrates anomalous rotation. In two days - July 22 and August 5 - the duration of the day will be reduced by 1.3-1.5 milliseconds. Although such a change remains imperceptible to people in everyday life, it is of great importance for science and technology.
On July 5, 2024, the shortest day in the history of observations was already recorded - the Earth turned around its axis for 1.66 milliseconds faster. New acceleration bursts can break this record or confirm its recurrence.
There are several reasons for this phenomenon:
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The moon changes gravitational effects. In the summer of 2025 it moves along the trajectory, which is further from the equator, and is weaker than inhibits the rotation of the Earth. This allows the planet to rotate a little faster.
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Redistribution of mass. In the northern hemisphere, trees accumulate the mass above the sea in summer. It looks like a skating, which presses your hands against the body - it begins to rotate faster.
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Climate changes. The melting of glaciers and the redistribution of water on the oceans, on the contrary, increase inertia, slowing down rotation. But this affects in the long run.
Although we do not notice the difference in the length of the day, it is critical to many technological systems: satellite navigation, telecommunications, high -precision scientific measurements.
Scientists carefully monitor the rate of rotation of the planet, trying to find out how climate, geophysics and cosmic factors affect this dynamics. In the future, such data can play a key role in promoting new digital infrastructures and global time systems.
