The Shift of the Earth and the Shortening of Days

Description of relations between Axial tilt (o...
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Daylight Saving Time is a time of loss for some. Those who complain they ‘lose’ an hour in March should beware. We may have lost yet another 1.26 microseconds for good, too.

The massive earthquake in Japan was so fierce that it literally shifted the earth’s axis. As any lay physicist (or is is geologist?) knows, our days are measured by the earth’s rotation.

According to the Italian Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, the 9.0 earthquake moved the Earth by ten centimeters. It is the largest shift reported in over fifty years. Last year, after the Chilean earthquake (8.8) we lost 1.26 microseconds. So the question during the lengthening of days for the Northern Hemisphere is, are our days really getting shorter?

If yes, how will you spend what time you have left?

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2 Comments

  1. Tracey Smith

    April 1, 2011 at 10:11 am

    A short, sweet, timely piece mate…nudging us closer to the slow goal…I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve taken an extract (with a click to read the rest of the artice) and popped it on InterNational Downshifting Week’s site…xxx

    Thought provoking…

    Love and respect always,
    TS xx

    1. powerofslow

      powerofslow

      April 1, 2011 at 10:20 am

      Wonderful, Tracey! Thank you for your kindness. Happy Weekend to you, Mate! 🙂

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