Climate change is causing Earth to become 'fatter' at the equator, leading to longer days.
Melting ice and water is causing Earth's rotation to slow down, making days slightly longer since 2000.
Melting polar ice caps and glaciers have caused an increase in Earth's oblateness since 1900.
The length of a day could increase by an extra 2.62 milliseconds per century by the end of the 21st century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate.
The melting of ice sheets and glaciers is also shifting Earth's axis position by about 30 feet (10 meters) in the past 120 years.
Climate change is causing the Earth to become 'fatter' at the equator, leading to longer days. This phenomenon is due to melting polar ice caps and glaciers, which have caused a significant increase in Earth's oblateness since 1900. The length of a day could increase by an extra 2.62 milliseconds per century by the end of the 21st century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate.
The redistribution of mass from polar regions to the equator due to melting ice and water is causing Earth's rotation to slow down, making days slightly longer. This effect has been observed since 2000, with an increase in the rate of change from 1.33 milliseconds per century to a projected 2.62 milliseconds per century by the end of this century.
The melting of ice sheets and glaciers is not only affecting Earth's rotation but also its axis position, which has been meandering by about 30 feet (10 meters) in the past 120 years. This shift can have implications for precise timekeeping and space navigation.
The findings come from various NASA-funded studies that analyzed over 120 years of data on Earth's rotation, ice melting, and groundwater levels. These studies suggest that human-caused greenhouse emissions are accelerating the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, contributing to the observed changes in Earth's rotation.
Sources:
[1] Sky News: Climate change is making days longer, scientists discover
[2] NASA: NASA-Funded Studies Explain How Climate Is Changing Earth's Rotation
[3] Washington Post: Why melting ice sheets are making our days longer
[4] NPR: Days are getting slightly longer – and it's due to climate change
Researchers used 120 years of data to decipher how melting ice, dwindling groundwater, and rising seas are nudging Earth’s spin axis and lengthening days.
Groundwater, ice sheets, glaciers, and sea levels have caused nearly all periodic oscillations in the axis position since 1900.
Since 2000, days have been getting longer by about 1.33 milliseconds per 100 years due to accelerated melting of glaciers and ice sheets caused by human-caused greenhouse emissions.
Accuracy
Days on Earth are growing slightly longer, with the change accelerating.
Melting ice from Greenland and polar regions is causing sea levels to rise and shifting mass around the planet, slowing its spin.
Melting ice from Greenland and polar regions is causing sea levels to rise and shifting mass around the planet, slowing its spin.
Earth’s rotation is slowing down, extending the length of a day slightly due to melting ice.
Global sea levels have risen by 4 inches on average since 1993 and are expected to rise by 2 feet or more by the end of the century.
Melting ice has slowed the planet’s rotation by 1.33 milliseconds per century since 2000, which will increase to 2.62 milliseconds per century if emissions remain high.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article makes several scientific statements that are accurate and do not contain any identified fallacies. The author correctly reports on the findings of scientists regarding the Earth's rotation slowing down due to melting ice. However, there is an instance of an informal fallacy in the form of a slippery slope argument when the author states 'As a result, the Earth is now slightly wider at its center, which slows its rotation much like a spinning figure skater.' While this analogy may help illustrate the concept for readers, it is not necessary to make the scientific point and could be misleading if taken out of context.
As a result, the Earth is now slightly wider at its center, which slows its rotation much like a spinning figure skater.
Climate change is altering the Earth to its literal core, new research suggests.
As polar and glacial ice melts because of global warming, water that was once concentrated at the top and the bottom of the globe is getting redistributed toward the equator.
The alteration to Earth’s spin is significant enough that it could one day rival the influence of tidal forces caused by the moon, if carbon emissions continue at extreme levels.
Climate change appears to be affecting Earth’s core, as a result of melting ice and shifts in the planet’s rotational axis.
Accuracy
Melting ice from Greenland and polar regions is causing sea levels to rise and shifting mass around the planet, slowing its spin.
Melting ice has slowed the planet's rotation by 1.33 milliseconds per century since 2000.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article does not contain any explicit logical fallacies. The author is reporting on scientific research and its findings. However, the author does make an appeal to authority by stating that 'the studies suggest' certain things about the Earth's rotation and core being affected by melting ice.
The studies suggest that humans have tinkered with foundational elements of the planet's physical properties
The alteration to Earth’s spin is significant enough that it could one day rival the influence of tidal forces caused by the moon, if carbon emissions continue at extreme levels
Human-driven warming is accelerating the melting of Earth’s ice sheets
The melting of polar ice causes Earth to rotate slower as the water moves from the poles towards the equator
Earth’s axis of rotation is shifting due to mass loss from the poles caused by climate change and surface processes like ice melting and global changes in water storage
Accuracy
Days on Earth are growing slightly longer
Melting ice from Greenland and polar regions is causing sea levels to rise and shifting mass around the planet, slowing its rotation
Climate change is altering the Earth to its literal core, new research suggests
