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Jan. 18, 2021
The Earth has revolved around the Sun faster over the past year. A new phenomenon which should continue in 2021.
The Earth revolved around the sun faster in 2020. Image Credit: NASA
Will the clocks have to be moved forward in 2021? Not those of ordinary people certainly, but atomic clocks with ultra-precise measurements certainly! Blame it on our good old Earth, which rotated faster than usual around the sun in 2020.
Thus, the planet has beaten 28 times the previous record for the shortest day which dated back to 2005. For illustration, on July 19, the day was shortened by 1.4602 milliseconds, a new historic mark. A trend that seems to be confirmed in 2021. With all the accumulated delays, it therefore appears more and more likely that the clocks will be withdrawn for a second.
The Moon slows down the Earth's rotation
But what is this phenomenon due to? Scientists put forward several reasons: the movement of the oceans, the core and the atmosphere. But snowfall in the mountainous areas could also have had its effect. Still, this will not have any impact on human life.
On the contrary, it is even a reversal of developments observed for decades. This is indeed the first time that the needle should turn back. The duration of the Earth's rotation decreases over the years due to the force of gravity exerted by its satellite, the Moon. 27 seconds have been added since the 1970s, the last in 2016. A dynamic that should continue in the long term.
Image (mentioned), Animation (mentioned), Text, Credits: AFP/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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