Last year in 2022, the planet Earth set a series of records.
First, on June 29, 2022, the planet recorded its shortest solar day by completing its rotation in 1.50 milliseconds less than 24 hours.
Then the record was broken for a second time in the following month. On July 26, 2022, Earth completed its rotation in 1.47 milliseconds less than 24 hours breaking its June record.
Prior to 2022, Earth's shortest rotation was on July 19, 2020.
On a typical day, Earth may take just under 24 hours to complete one rotation on its axis. And that exact time is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09053 seconds.
Earth's spinning time is measured using atomic clocks.
According to scientists, there could be several reasons the Earth is spinning faster. One theory is that it could be due to the motions of the planet's inner molten core. It could also be due to seismic activity or the melting of the glaciers.
Another reason is the Chandler Wobble which refers to a slight deviation in the Earth's axis of rotation.
While the Earth's rotation speed may seem insignificant right now, if it suddenly starts spinning much faster, there may be some long-term consequences.
A faster rotating Earth would result in a shorter length of the day, which could disrupt our daily routines and have an impact on the timing of astronomical events.
It could also cause changes in weather patterns, increase seismic activity and volcanic eruptions as well as cause changes in the distribution of mass within the planet.
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