Earth Spinning in Hurry, Sets Record for shortest day
As we all know the earth completes one rotation in 24 hours, but recently it completed it in lesser time than 24 hours.
On 29th July, the planet earth completed the rotation on its axis in 1.59 milliseconds less than the standard 24 hours
That was the second time this month, after the 26 July being 1.50 milliseconds shorter than 24 hours
The reason behind this rare occurrence is still unknown.
A couple of years back on 19th July, 2020, the day was 1.47 millisecond shorter than 24 hours.
Irregular rotations create the need for something known as a leap second, a second added to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) that keeps our clocks as close to solar time – the movements of the sun – as possible.
According to Interesting Engineering (IE), a 50-year phase of shorter days may be starting right now.
Some researchers believe that this is happening due to ‘Chandler wobble’.
According to NASA, Chandler Wobble is a motion exhibited by Earth as it rotates on its axis.
More details about this new trend in Earth's rotation are expected to be revealed during the annual meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society.