The earth’s rotation currently slows at a rate of 1.4 milliseconds/century, so this quake and the Sumatra quake have erased a couple of years’ worth of frictional slowing.
So let me know when we need to add a February 30th.
Fascinating!
I’m sure it hasn’t been a linear slow-down, but if it had been been then the Earth’s day would have been nearly 20 minutes shorter 4.5 billion years ago.
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a grease pencil and cut it off with an ax.
Then declare the result to be “settled science.”
Haven’t we heard this “logic” before?
“the length of a day is now a little shorter”
Look for further unexpected layoffs.