Scientists Say Global Warming Slows Earth's Spin

Duluth News Tribune ^ | 13 Feb 02 | Seth Borenstein

[johniegrad]

WASHINGTON -- Feeling like the day is dragging? Blame global warming.

Increased man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a global warming gas, is slowing the Earth's rotation, according to a new study by Belgian scientists published Tuesday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

It's not much of a slowdown -- about 1.7 microsecond or 1.7 millionth of one second a year, according to co-author Michel Crucifix, a climate researcher at Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

The slowdown occurs because extra carbon dioxide expands the mass of the Earth's atmosphere from the Earth's surface. The change slows the Earth's rotation for the same reason that the spins of ice skaters slow when they extend their arms.

Crucifix's findings were based on runs of 14 different computer models.

Even without global warming, Earth has been slowing, mostly because the gravitational pull of the moon has been acting as a brake. Keepers of the master clock at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington generally add a leap second to official time every 12 to 18 months to compensate, said observatory spokesman Geoff Chester.

The effects of lunar braking plus global warming add up to this: A day in 2002 is about .002 seconds longer than it was in 1900, Chester said.

Not that you'd notice.

If you're banking on getting an extra minute of sleep, it'll be an extra 3 million years before you see that,'' Chester said.

[johniegrad]

Maybe if we discharge enough greenhouse gases, the earth will slow to the point where we will all live longer lives. But if that takes too long, I'd be satisfied knowing that I could at least keep it up for a few more minutes.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I suppose the study had an error rate of plus or minus 5 percent, eh ?

[TADSLOS]

It's not much of a slowdown -- about 1.7 microsecond or 1.7 millionth of one second a year</>

It'll never counter balance the liberal spin that creates this garbage at that rate.

[Number_Cruncher]

But all the windmills will slow the wind down, causing the solid Earth to speed up to conserve angular momentum. They forgot that.

[steveo]

Everybody get out and push.

[2banana]

The earth may spin faster on its axis due to deforestation. Just as a figure skater's rate of spin increases when the arms are brought in close to the body, the cutting of tall trees may cause our planet to spin dangerously fast.

[Khepera]

Actually we could compensate for this by having people driving east all put on their brakes at the same time.

[erikm88]

I guess we as a human race ought to stop breathing in order for the earth to spin faster eh?

[techcor]

Warm the earth, I want to get off.

[cid89]

They lost me we add a second every 18 months but it takes 3 million years to gain a minute. Doesn't compute. I know they are talking about just due to global warming but it shows that they didn't really think about the numbers.

[dalereed]

The earth has been slowing down since it's beginning, it's called gravitational pull, at least that what was taught before they invented environmental whackos.

[The Westerner]

I think you made a mistake, kid. This should've been posted under humor.

[patriot_wes]

Spock.....as soon as it comes to a stop, kick these suckers off!

[skateman]

I knew I have been feeling lighter!

[Uncle George]

And just think, if it slows too much we will all have to wear anchors to keep us on the ground huh?

[Doomonyou]

The earth may spin faster on its axis due to deforestation. Just as a figure skater's rate of spin increases when the arms are brought in close to the body, the cutting of tall trees may cause our planet to spin dangerously fast.

Well according to these bozo's the earth is still slowing down, We better start cutting down more trees!

[counterrevolutionary]

Perhaps the UN should contract James Carville and Paul Begala to increase the amount of spin.

[ao98]

Even without global warming, Earth has been slowing, mostly because the gravitational pull of the moon has been acting as a brake. Keepers of the master clock at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington generally add a leap second to official time every 12 to 18 months to compensate, said observatory spokesman Geoff Chester.

This is a lie. The leap second is not added because the earth is slowing. It is added because the year is not excactly 365-1/4 days long. The leap second is to compensate.

[ValerieUSA]

Don't forget the hamsters running in their wheels.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Man...this article is so funny, in and of itself, I can't think of anything to add.

[Utopia]

This winter in the mid-east its extremely mild -- "GLOBAL WARMING" they scream
"Ok, I say: What was last year, which was 3 times colder on average than in previous years?"
"GLOBAL WARMING" they still scream.

So, if its the wamest winter on record - its global warming - if its the coldest winter on record its still global warming. Neat science.

[Moonman62]

Feeling like the day is dragging? Blame global warming.

The increase in carbon dioxide has never been shown to cause global warming, yet the press equates the two.

[Benjamin Dover]

Dang, I KNEW it was taking too long til quiting time at work!

"Let's run this experiment 14 diferent ways. Oh! There it is! Proof! Global warming is causing the Earth to slow down by 1 trillionth of a second per year. We're all doomed"

At this rate, Christmas will never get here! Somebody get me Mcgyver on the phone.

[monocle]

If, a big "if", global warming is real, might not the slowing spin be the cause and not the effect?

[johniegrad]

Crucifix's findings were based on runs of 14 different computer models

I think this statement means that they ran the data 14 different ways until they got results they could try to publish. Kind of like throwing 100 independent variables into a computer and running analyses of variation on them until you arrive at a statistically significant result so you have something to write about. Only problem is that if you run enough data, you will eventually obtain "statistically significant" results by chance alone.

[tsomer]

No no no. Here's what we do:

Kofi Anan tells everyone to walk outside, and stand looking east. Then we take two steps forward, first step being very soft and short. On the second step we leap and land on both feet. If everyone acts together, we can save the earth.

By the way, are they sure the decrease in speed isn't causing the global warming? Could they have it backwards?

[grimalkin]

I can't believe they publish this stuff. It's such a load of tripe! "Belgian scientists"? lol

[Salman]

I''m not an authority, but I recall learning in college that the earth is slowing due to lunar tidal forces.

[isthisnickcool]

Oh, this is just like the roller skating rink. After some time the guy on the PA yells that you have reverse and skate the other direction.

[mgc1122]

ROTFLMAO ... more junk science in need of funding. Sounds like the "scientist" needs a new Volvo - nothing more.

[abner]

Somebody get me Mcgyver on the phone.

Yea! Maybe he can attach some duct tape between the moon and the earth and fix everything.

[LibWhacker]

OMG, WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

[johniegrad]

Sounds like the "scientist" needs a new Volvo

I'm not sure Michel is male. Maybe it's a new Vulva she needs.

[SMASH IMPERIALIST LIBERALISM!!]

Scientists Say Global Warming Slows Earth's Spin

Might Also Cause Sky to Fall, They Warn

[sheik yerbouty]

Not to worry! Nuclear winter will offset global warming!

[sheik yerbouty]

Not to worry! Nuclear winter will offset global warming!

[Khepera]

Dang... so your saying that my idea to slam on the breaks won't work? When are they going to start teaching truth in the socialist schools... Wait.... is that another oxymoron or is it just a regular moron.

[spqrzilla9]

Crucifix's findings were based on runs of 14 different computer models.

In other words, on a fantasy devoid of any observational data. You don't find any supporting evidence in NASA's satellite records of global atmosphere temps.

[Zathras]

Duluth, MN. The center of technlogical thought ;-).
I guess the unemployment checks must have expired again.

[eno_]

My computer model says that if we lower these scientists down a really deep hole, we can neutralize the effect.

[r9etb]

This is a lie. The leap second is not added because the earth is slowing. It is added because the year is not excactly 365-1/4 days long. The leap second is to compensate.

Well, yes and no. Click here for a description of leap seconds.

The last leap second, BTW, was added in January, 1999 -- three years ago. By historical standards that's pretty long.

[KC_for_Freedom]

You don't find any supporting evidence in NASA's satellite records of global atmosphere temps.

No, but you do see that the "global warming" is laying down increasingly thicker ice and snow in the Antarctic. Satellite measurements are showing the build up, (which should not be happening in a warming climate anyway), but the extra mass is probably the real cause of the earth slowing down. (Note, that last comment was sarcasm, I think everything the Global Warming crowd comes up with is junk science and I refer them to "The Skeptical Enviornmentalist".

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Actually we could compensate for this by having people driving east all put on their brakes at the same time.

HAHA........very good.

How about Congress facing west during one session....same effect.

[johniegrad]

You're highly confused. The research came out of Belgium.

[cinFLA]

But if that takes too long, I'd be satisfied knowing that I could at least keep it up for a few more minutes.

Let's keep it clean? :)

[johniegrad]

Let's keep it clean? :)

I try to.

[MassLengthTime]

This is a lie. The leap second is not added because the earth is slowing. It is added because the year is not excactly 365-1/4 days long. The leap second is to compensate.

No, leap seconds are indeed added to civil clocks to account for the lengthening of the mean solar day caused by deceleration of the Earth's rotation due to tidal braking.

The last leap second adjustment was made on Jan 1 1999.

See USNO Leap Seconds for the excruciating details.

FWIW, there is currently a proposal to forego leap second corrections altogether, and let civil clocks drift with respect to the mean solar day.

[hgro]

More tripe from those European loonies who still are looking for a way to be relevent.

[Reeses]

Also, more rainwater is retained at higher elevations from man-made dams and lakes. This also would slow the earth, and possibly make it wobble because dams are not distributed evenly. As the earth slows we all weigh more because of less centrifugal force. Of course when all the icebergs melt from global warming the world will spin faster and we'll all float away.

[Khepera]

That would only work if they suddenly and in mass broke wind. Right now the hot gasses have been misdirected.