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Is The Earth's Rotation Changing?
Roland Piquepaille writes "We all know about the current controversies associated with the ozone layer or the global warming phenomenon. Now, the NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) is warning us that atmospheric changes or El Niño events can affect the Earth's rotation. During El Niño years, for example, the rotation of the Earth may slow ever so slightly because of stronger winds, increasing the length of a day by a fraction of a millisecond. David A. Salstein, an atmospheric scientist from Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc., led a recent study about this possible effect. Salstein looked at meteorological and astronomical measurements from different sources and found they were in good agreement. Check this column for a synthesis. For technical explanations, images and animations, please read this NASA paper, Changes in the Earth's rotation are in the wind."
It seems like a reasonable enough argument that the rotation period of the earth would change during an el nino period. But once this the el nino effect had ended the rotation of the earth would have to return to normal, so any effect that might occur would be only short term. Also due to the large difference in the mass of the solid earth and the earths atmosphere, the change in the earths period of rotaion would be so small as to be unmeasurable and therefore unimportant.
And what are you talking about with your statement about the change being "unmeasurable"? The point of the article is that it is being measured.
I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
Well-known branch of astronomy called "LOD" or length of day measurements. Changes up to a millisecond or so each year. Atomic clocks and satellites allowed microsecond precision now. Weather, magnetic storms, earthquakes, ocean currents all tought to affect LOD.
Just like the last one planted by the same folks. Who? its a promo for the movie "the CORE" about what? the slowing rotation of the earth's core (caused by a secret weapon project).
the last one was also in slash dot too. its was on drilling to the earths core with advanced materials. (sorry I cant locate the slashdot article right now, though I did see the last one about the mars core
in that case the movie distibuter's publicity folks were using real science and real information. They were just responible for planting news articles about it strategically. this smells the same, and the timing makes it clear.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
It seems everyone here is missing the main topic. (And not just the ones modded Offtopic)
The main cause of the earth's rotation slowing _during EL Nino years_ is the change in the angular momentum of the earth. This means, that as some point, the angular momentum will change BACK!! Hence, CONSERVATION of momentum. The net effect in the long run is no change in the earth's rotational period due to this phenomenon.
However, it has been a well known fact that the earth's day will gradually grow longer. One of the causes of this is the earth becoming tidally locked with the moon, the way the moon is now. It's just a function of relative gravitational force.
And offtopic: The geologic record does indicate the magnetic poles reversing every 10k-12k years. You'll have to research the 'why' on your own though. I only remember from my astronomy classes that it does...
The truth is out there, but the server is down or not responding.
If I recall correctly, earth rotation, in the beginning, was just 12 hours, and it's been slowing down mainly due to the tides.
It appears the link between warming and rotation is pretty good. What is not good is the link between man's action and what appears to be part of the Earth's normal warming and cooling cycles.
Besides, I thought we were to all have died from Global Cooling by now, at least that was what they were saying in the 1970s. How did cooling switch to warming so fast?
Another important factor that contributes to the slowing down of Earth's rotation is definitely space dust. Every year, the Earth gains at least 30 million kilograms of space dust. This added mass will indeed reduce the time it takes for the Earth to complete a rotation by fraction of a second.
We need a space vacuum to suck up all of the dust before it gets here...wait a minute, space is already a vacuum!
Just because you don't want something to be true doesn't mean that it isn't true
And the reverse too. Of course they want global warming to be true, as they've based their whole being on that hypothesis. Disproving global warming to a green would be like disproving God to a Christian; both would result in a crushing blow to the psyche and massive denial.
Panic sells, and simply saying that the Earth has warming and cooling cycles doesn't. A lot of people have a lot to loose if it turns out the latest catastrophe fad is as valid as its predecessors.