Scientists say Earth’s rotation experiences ‘unprecedented’ changes

Every day, Earth is taking a bit longer to spin around. The change is very small, just a few milliseconds. But the reasons behind this change are very big.

A new study says that this change is now the largest in 3.6 million years. As ice at the North and South Poles melts because of climate change, the water flows into the oceans. This change moves weight away from the poles and slows down Earth’s spin.

Researchers from the University of Vienna and ETH Zurich looked back in time to see if this change happened before. They found that it has never happened like this. Earth’s spin changes because of the Moon’s gravity and other natural forces too. But now, climate change is becoming a powerful force.

Today, Earth’s days are getting longer by 1.33 milliseconds each century. This means a huge amount of ice is melting. If we keep using fossil fuels, climate change will change the spin of Earth even more by the end of the century. This could affect GPS and our weather. Scientists are studying other ways that human actions change the planet.

How much do you know?

What is the change in Earth's spin period as mentioned in the study?

A few seconds

A few milliseconds

A few minutes

A few hours

How long has this change in Earth's spin been the largest?

3.6 million years

1.2 million years

500,000 years

10 million years

Which two institutions conducted the research on Earth's spin?

University of Vienna and ETH Zurich

Harvard University and Stanford

MIT and Caltech

Oxford and Cambridge

What force causes changes in Earth's spin along with climate change?

The Sun's gravity

Mars' gravity

The Moon's gravity

Jupiter's gravity

How much longer are Earth's days getting each century?

1.00 milliseconds

1.25 milliseconds

1.33 milliseconds

1.50 milliseconds

What could be affected by the changing spin of the Earth due to climate change?

Ocean currents

GPS and weather

Animal migration

Vegetation growth

Earth's spin is getting faster due to climate change.

True False

The change in Earth's spin has occurred for the first time in 3.6 million years.

True False

Researchers found that climate change is becoming a powerful force affecting Earth's spin.

True False

The study indicates that Earth is currently spinning faster than in the past.

True False

The melting ice at the North and South Poles is a result of climate change.

True False

Earth's days are getting shorter by 1.33 milliseconds each century.

True False

The change in Earth's spin is now the largest in million years.

Researchers from the University of Vienna and ETH Zurich found that Earth's spin changes due to gravity.

As ice at the poles melts, the flows into the oceans.

Today, Earth's days are getting longer by milliseconds each century.

If fossil fuel use continues, climate change will change Earth's spin even more by the end of the

Scientists are studying other ways that actions change the planet.

This question is required