Earth's Rotation Slows, Days Lengthen

Human-driven climate change is dramatically slowing Earth's rotation by melting glaciers and ice sheets, a redistribution of mass that is lengthening days by an unprecedented 1.33 milliseconds per century—a rate not seen in millions of years. This subtle yet significant shift could soon impact critical technologies like GPS and global timekeeping, with projections indicating further acceleration if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked.

Earth's rotation has slowed in recent decades, primarily due to human-driven climate change melting glaciers and ice sheets, which redistributes the planet's mass.
This slowdown is lengthening days by 1.33 milliseconds per century, a rate described by Science Alert as "largely unparalleled in millions of years".
Live Science reports that this rate of slowing has not been seen in 3.6 million years, highlighting the unprecedented nature of modern climate change's impact.
As explained by CBS News, the melting ice causes water to move closer to the equator, "fattening the planet and slowing its rotation," similar to an ice skater extending their arms.
The subtle change, though imperceptible to humans, could impact precise timekeeping, spaceflight navigation, and technologies like GPS and financial transactions.
If greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current pace, the day could lengthen by approximately 2.62 milliseconds per century by 2100, potentially surpassing the Moon's influence on day length, according to WION.