Climate change messing with time more than we thought: Study
- Melting polar ice leads to longer days
- Changes in day length can affect computing systems we use daily
- Study says the effects of climate change are 'unprecedented'
(NewsNation) — Climate change is changing the speed of the Earth’s rotation and increasing the length of each day, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The melting of polar ice caused by global warming is leading to a rise in sea level that is changing the speed of Earth’s rotation. This is increasing the length of each day.
Scientists previously found the link between polar ice melt and longer days, but this new research suggests the influence is even larger than previously thought.
The changes are a matter of milliseconds a day, but they can affect computing systems we now use daily, including GPS.
Increasing day length is a trend set to accelerate as climate change continues to affect the Earth according to the study.
“These findings signify the unprecedented effect of climate change on planet Earth and have implications for precise timekeeping and space navigation,” the study said.