Earth sets new record for fastest rotation since atomic clock era

[gary]

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service at the Paris
Obervatory reported that on June 29, Earth set a new record for the shortest
day of the atomic-clock era: -1.59 milliseconds.

If Earth’s fast rotation continues, it could lead to the introduction of the first-ever negative leap second.

Story at timeanddate.com here :-
https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astronomy/shortest-day-2022

Chart here at the Paris Observatoire :-
https://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/index.php

[Dennis]

Wow, thanks Gary, no wonder that I was feeling dizzy on the day.;)

Cheers

Dennis

[RB]

This year’s really gone quick.

:D

[Stonius]

One and a half milliseconds is really not that small, when you think about it. I mean, a 10 millisecond delay can be detected by human ears.


I wonder what the physical distance that would work out to in terms of rotation on the earth's surface at the equator.



I could probably figure it out, but my maths-ing is remedial and it would take me all day to make sure I got it right.

[gary]

Probably around 618 millimetres in Sydney.

[Stonius]

So what do you do, take the circumference of the earth and divide it by the number of milliseconds in a day, then multiply that number by 1.59?


I must be doing it wrong (no surprise there!)


I have circumference of the earth at the equator (40,075,017m)
Divided by the number of milliseconds in a day (86,400,000ms)
Which gives 0.46m per millisecond travel.

Multiply by 1.59 and the earth was 0.74m 'early' on the fastest day of rotation.
Which I guess is about what you're saying.


I guess it also means that to stay at the same spot on earth relative to the sun, you'd have to drive at 1,670km/h just to have 'permanent noon'.


If my figures are right (40,075km divided by 24h)


Cool!

[blindman]

Michelson-Morley experiment proved that Earth is not moving.
Did you know?

[gary]

Multiplied by the cosine of your latitude, about 33 degrees for Sydney.

[ChrisD]

First I thought you were joking. Then I read your location and tag line, now I'm not so sure. I will say that that is an interesting interpretation of the Michelson-Morley experiment results.

Chris