Key Takeaways:
- Earth’s rotation speed has been gradually increasing over the past decades.
- This change in rotation speed could necessitate the removal of a second from atomic clocks to align with Earth’s new pace.
- The atomic clock, which measures time with extreme precision, has been periodically adjusted with “leap seconds” since 1972.
- The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service monitors Earth’s rotation and coordinates adjustments with atomic clocks.
- The potential need for a negative leap second, removing a second from the atomic timescale, presents unique challenges and uncertainties.
Earth’s cosmic ballet has entered a dynamic phase, with the planet’s rotation steadily accelerating compared to half a century ago. The historical dance of Earth’s rotation around its axis has seen extremes, from a staggering 420 rotations annually eons ago to the now familiar 365. Yet, it’s worth noting that the pace of rotation can exhibit subtle fluctuations due to various planetary factors, which, in turn, affect the bedrock of global timekeeping – the atomic clock. Peter Whibberley, a scientist at the UK National Physical Laboratory, cautions that if this acceleration continues, a remarkable event might occur: the subtraction of a second from the atomic clock.
A standard day on Earth consists of 86,400 seconds, but due to non-uniform rotation, each day deviates by a fraction of a second over the course of a year. This irregularity is attributed to a complex interplay of factors, including movements in Earth’s core, oceans, atmosphere, and the gravitational pull of the Moon. The atomic clock, a marvel of precision, operates by tracking the movements of electrons in atoms chilled to absolute zero. Since 1972, leap seconds have been periodically introduced, ensuring the clock aligns with Earth’s rotation.
Interestingly, there has never been a precedent for a negative leap second – the removal of a second from the atomic clock. The concept surfaced when Earth’s rotation began accelerating, a trend that subsequently decelerated, culminating in an average day in 2021 being 0.39 milliseconds shorter than in 2020. Judah Levine, from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, elucidated, “As time progresses, a gradual disparity emerges between atomic clocks and astronomical measurements.” To bridge this divide, the decision was made in 1972 to insert leap seconds.
Monitoring Earth’s rotation rate falls under the purview of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, which deploys laser beams to satellites, gauging their movements for calibration. When discrepancies arise vis-à-vis atomic clocks, scientists pause the latter for a second, restoring synchronicity. Levine adds that Earth’s rotation dynamics are intricate, influenced by the exchange of angular momentum, atmospheric effects, oceanic influences, and the gravitational impact of the Moon. Foretelling these shifts in the distant future is a formidable challenge.
Since 2016, no leap second has been appended to atomic clocks, and while Earth’s rotation is regaining pace, this trend has moderated in 2021. Levine finds this lack of necessity for leap seconds unexpected, given the prior assumption of Earth’s continuous slowing. The question now lingers: How long will this ebb and flow persist, and what actions might scientists take? Whibberley muses on the potential need for a negative leap second, a concept yet untested and with uncertain consequences.
In the digital realm, the internet relies on a steady flow of time, calibrated by atomic clocks. Various web platforms adopt distinct strategies for accommodating leap seconds. For instance, Google disperses the additional time across the year, interspersed between seconds. Levine emphasizes the internet’s foundational reliance on continuous time. Any disruption in this flow could lead to an information cascade. He concludes that, regardless of the decision to add or remove leap seconds, the cumulative impact over a century would be minuscule, amounting to roughly a minute.
