Global warming is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise due to melting polar ice.
The addition of a negative leap second may be necessary in just a few years due to this phenomenon.
Global warming is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise due to melting polar ice. This trend of accelerating melting at the poles has been driven primarily by human-caused climate change, which means that there is more mass around the equator and affects how fast Earth rotates. The addition of a negative leap second may be necessary in just a few years due to this phenomenon, but it's important to note that timekeeping is an exact science in our highly technological society. This article will explore the impact of global warming on Earth's rotation and its potential consequences for timekeeping.
Melting of polar ice due to global warming affects Earth's rotation and could impact precision timekeeping
Human-caused climate change is driving this trend of accelerating melting at the poles
Adding and subtracting leap seconds can disrupt computer networks, satellite, financial, and energy transmission systems that rely on extremely precise timing
Accuracy
Global warming has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation
The melting of polar ice is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise
Human influence has monkeyed with a force that scholars, stargazers and scientists have puzzled over for millennia
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the Earth's rotation has slowed due to melting polar ice but fails to mention that this slowdown was predicted and accounted for by scientists long before climate change became a thing. Secondly, the author claims that human influence has monkeyed with something scholars have puzzled over for millennia when in fact, it is not new knowledge at all. Thirdly, the article implies that melting polar ice will cause time to slow down and disrupt computer networks but fails to mention that this effect would be negligible compared to other factors affecting Earth's rotation.
The article states that human influence has monkeyed with something scholars have puzzled over for millennia but fails to mention that this slowdown was predicted and accounted for by scientists long before climate change became a thing. This statement is deceptive because it implies that the discovery of melting polar ice's effect on Earth's rotation is new knowledge when in fact, it has been known about for centuries.
The author claims that human influence has monkeyed with something scholars have puzzled over for millennia when in fact, it is not new knowledge at all. This statement is deceptive because the article implies that this discovery was unprecedented and groundbreaking when in reality, scientists have known about Earth's rotation slowing due to various factors for centuries.
The author claims that melting polar ice will cause time to slow down and disrupt computer networks but fails to mention that this effect would be negligible compared to other factors affecting Earth's rotation. This statement is deceptive because it implies a significant impact on the planet when in fact, the effect of melting polar ice on Earth's rotation is minimal.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the impact of melting polar ice on Earth's rotation and how it could affect timekeeping. The author uses scientific language to explain the process in detail, but there are some examples of bias that can be found.
> Less solid ice at the poles means more mass around the equator <br> > Human influence has monkeyed with a force that scholars, stargazers and scientists have puzzled over for millennia <br> > The melting of polar ice has counteracted that trend and forestalled any decision point about a negative leap second.
Global warming has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation
Melting polar ice is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise
Human-caused climate change is driving this trend of accelerating melting at the poles
Less solid ice at the poles means more mass around the equator, which affects how fast Earth rotates
Accuracy
Climate change is altering Earth's rotation
Melting of polar ice due to global warming affects Earth's rotation and could impact precision timekeeping
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies that climate change is causing Earth's rotation to slow down. However, the article states that Earth has been speeding up a bit and there hasn't been a leap second added since the end of 2016. The author also mentions that scientists have discerned changes in Earth's rotation that appear to match 70-year oscillations in the rotation of the core, but they have to factor in a lot of slop and wobble when describing what Earth is doing at any given moment.
The article implies that climate change is causing Earth's rotation to slow down. However, it states that Earth has been speeding up a bit and there hasn't been a leap second added since the end of 2016.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the existence of a leap second and its necessity in maintaining precise timekeeping. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing how climate change is affecting Earth's rotation, stating that it is 'messing with time itself'. Additionally, there are examples of dichotomous depictions throughout the article such as the contrast between a planet spinning too fast and slow enough to mess with our clocks. The author also uses an appeal to authority by citing experts in their field.
The planet is not about to jerk to a halt, nor speed up so rapidly that everyone gets flung into space.
Bias
(85%)
Joel Achenbach is reporting on a study that shows climate change is affecting Earth's rotation. The article mentions the concept of leap seconds and how they are used to adjust for changes in Earth's rotation caused by global warming. However, it also notes that these calculations have become more complicated due to recent changes in Earth's rotation rate.
The planet is not about to jerk to a halt, nor speed up so rapidly that everyone gets flung into space.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Joel Achenbach has a conflict of interest on the topic of climate change and its effects on Earth's rotation. He mentions that melting poles are causing sea levels to rise which is affecting GPS satellites and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This could potentially cause problems with timekeeping.
Global warming has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation
The melting of polar ice is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise
Human-caused climate change is driving this trend of accelerating melting at the poles
Less solid ice at the poles means more mass around the equator, which affects how fast Earth rotates
Accuracy
Earth's rotation is slowing down
The rate of slowing has varied over time
Tides are the main cause of Earth's rotation slowdown
Astronomical time falls behind atomic time by 2.5 milliseconds every day, resulting in a leap second being added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) approximately once every few years
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the Earth's rotation is slowing down but fails to mention that this has been happening for thousands of years and varies from time to time. This creates a false sense of urgency as if something catastrophic will happen because of it.
The article claims that the Earth's rotation is slowing down, which is not entirely accurate.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the potential need for a negative leap second in world clocks due to Earth's changing spin. The author uses language that implies this is an unprecedented situation and something notable. However, it is important to note that this change would only be a matter of seconds and not lead to any catastrophe or major disruption.
It's yet another indication that we're in a very unusual time.
Global warming has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation
Melting polar ice is causing the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise
Human-caused climate change is driving this trend of accelerating melting at the poles
Less solid ice at the poles means more mass around the equator, which affects how fast Earth rotates
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the impact of global warming on Earth's rotation. The author cites a study that found melting polar ice has caused the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise. This is an example of a causal fallacy as the cause (melting polar ice) and effect (slower rotation) are not clearly stated in relation to each other.
The author cites a study that found melting polar ice has caused the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the impact of melting polar ice on Earth's rotation and timekeeping. The author uses scientific language to explain how human-caused climate change has accelerated this trend, which is unprecedented in history. The article also mentions that if polar ice had not melted, clocks worldwide might have required the subtraction of a single second as soon as 2026 to keep universal time in sync with Earth's rotation. This suggests that human influence has monkeyed with something long considered a constant and out of humanity's control. The article also mentions that adding or subtracting leap seconds is not without its own challenges, such as disrupting computer networks.
Adding or subtracting leap seconds is not without its own challenges, such as disrupting computer networks.
Human influence has monkeyed with something long considered a constant and out of humanity's control.
The study found that the melting of polar ice — an accelerating trend driven primarily by human-caused climate change — has caused the Earth to spin less quickly than it would otherwise.
Climate change caused by the release of greenhouse gases via the burning of fossil fuels is causing ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica
This ice melting is impacting Earth's angular velocity, causing a more rapid decrease in its rotational period
The addition of a negative leap second has never been tested before and could cause problems for activities like network computing and financial markets
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the opinions of experts in their field without providing any evidence or reasoning for those opinions. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the potential consequences of a negative leap second being added to UTC.
]Global warming is already affecting global timekeeping,[
The addition of a negative leap second has never been tested before.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the potential impact of climate change on Earth's day length. The author cites research suggesting that ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica could be affecting Earth's angular velocity, which is causing a lengthening of the day. However, this effect is so small it is imperceptible to humans but not to computers that rely on precise timekeeping.
The article discusses the potential impact of climate change on Earth's day length
The author cites research suggesting that ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica could be affecting Earth's angular velocity
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses Duncan Agnew and Patrizia Tavella who are both affiliated with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which is a government agency that studies space and Earth science. Additionally, Jerry Mitrovica is also mentioned as an expert in seismology at Columbia University, another academic institution.
Duncan Agnew of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) discusses the impact of climate change on polar ice melting and its potential effects on Earth's day length.
Jerry Mitrovica, an expert in seismology at Columbia University discusses the correlation between climate change and polar ice melting.
Patrizia Tavella, a researcher at JPL, explains how timekeeping is affected by changes in Earth's rotation caused by melting ice caps.
