Jakarta –
A study shows that climate change is affecting time measurements on Earth. This is related to the slower rotation of the Earth due to the melting of the polar ice caps.
Research published in Nature says that when the polar ice caps melt, the Earth’s rotation speed slows down and makes the days a little longer than usual.
This slowdown occurs for only a fraction of a second and may not affect us in our daily lives. However, their buildup can cause problems with navigation and communications technology where timing is everything.
The author of the study from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Professor Duncan Agnew, gave an example to illustrate this event with a skater spinning on ice.
“If they spread their arms out, the rotation will be slower, but if they bring it closer to the body, the rotation will speed up. This shows the conservation of angular momentum, a principle that applies to all rotating objects including the Earth,” he said, as quoted from National History Museum.
Therefore, when the polar ice melts, the water will spread throughout the ocean and cause the same effect as a skater stretching out his arms. As a result, the Earth slows down.
“Faster ice melting will slow the Earth more rapidly, in contrast to the acceleration seen in recent years,” added Agnew.
Rising Temperatures due to Climate Change Affect Many Things on Earth
According to researchers, increasing temperatures can affect many aspects of planet Earth through changes in weather patterns, animal migration and plant flowering.
The various layers of the earth, from its core to the atmosphere, all have their own properties that influence how the earth rotates. As a result, it may take more or less than 24 hours to complete one round.
More significant impacts are caused by the Sun and Moon because their gravity bends the shape of the Earth. The pull of water on the oceans also has an impact, causing a process known as tidal friction that slows the planet’s speed.
Over millions of years, this generally causes the Earth’s rotation to slow down. However, in recent decades, planet Earth has been in a state of flux. The shortest day in history occurred on June 29, 2022, when 1.59 milliseconds were lost in 24 hours.
“This is just one of a number of short days that have occurred in recent decades. This is caused by the rotation of the Earth’s core slowing compared to the surface, meaning the rocky parts of the planet have to spin faster to conserve momentum,” the researchers wrote in the study.
Agnew emphasized that in the long term, tidal friction and melting ice will continue to slow the Earth.
Based on past data, the Earth’s core is unlikely to continue accelerating at a rate large enough to overcome this, so negative leap seconds will be rare.
“While this is not the most damaging aspect of climate change, its impact on the spin of our planet shows how far-reaching our impact is on Earth,” he said.
Impact of Climate Change on the Poles
Quoted from the UC SanDiego website, the poles are home to sea ice which plays an important role in the ecosystem on Earth.
Sea ice is an important habitat for a variety of animals, including polar bears, seals and penguins. In addition to impacting wildlife, reduced sea ice also accelerates the rate of ocean warming.
During this time, sea ice reflects sunlight, then provides a buffer against the effects of warmer temperatures.
As sea ice disappears and darker sea surfaces are exposed, more heat is absorbed by the ocean, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is known as the ice albedo feedback.
Climate change at the poles also causes sea levels to rise and drastic changes in global weather patterns. Melting ice will produce water that is cooler and fresher than the surrounding ocean.
A study conducted by Scripps UC SanDiego scientists found that the loss of sea ice at the poles would cause one-fifth of the warming expected in the tropics. Researchers found that melt water can influence wind patterns, which are responsible for moving cold deep ocean water to the surface.
With reduced cold water circulation, surface temperatures will continue to warm, creating more rainfall and potentially strengthening the El Niño climate pattern that often causes heavy rains in North and South America and drought in Australia and other western Pacific countries.
Watch the video “Climate Activists Demonstrate at British Broadcasting Office, Protest Climate Denial”
(faz/nwk)
2024-04-07 10:00:00
#true #climate #change #slow #time #Earth #study
