Was One of the Quickest Years For Earth

Because of the constant changes in the conditions that aid in determining the speed that the planet spins, scientists have enough reasons to believe that every day is taking less than it is supposed to be.

The Earth's rotation around its axis in 2020 was faster than usual because it broke the previous record for the shortest astronomical day occurring 28 times in 2005, and on July 5, the shortest day of the year, the Earth's rotation was 1.0516 milliseconds 86,400 seconds, the shortest day in 2020.

The speed of Earth's spin fluctuates constantly due to a range of factors, including the motion of the planet's core and oceans, according to the British newspaper.

To fix that inconsistency, scientists then created UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) to help bridge the gap between Earth time and the atomic clock. For the first time, we have a negative leap second, meaning we have to subtract one.

Until now, these adjustments involve the addition of a "leap second" to the year in either June or December, to bring astronomical time and atomic time back in line.

But seeing these new developments of Earth completing its rotation quicker, scientists are wondering if a "negative leap second" should be added or not.

"Once the difference between astronomical time and UTC becomes very large, a leap second is added", says Dereks, who then programs such a second into atomic clocks with his colleagues. Currently, the IERS Geological Operation Center says it does not plan to add new leap seconds to the IERS.

The Earth must have been over 2020 because the planet spun faster past year than it has in decades, according to scientists, as USA Today reports. An average astronomical day in 2021 is touted to be 0.05 milliseconds shorter.

This will equate to a 19 millisecond lag in atomic time over the aggregate of the year.

"It is certainly correct that the Earth is spinning faster now than at any time in the last 50 years", Peter Whibberley, senior research scientist with National Physical Laboratory's time and frequency group, told The Telegraph. There, he closely monitors data from the IERS, looking for when UTC begins to deviate too far from astronomical time.

Does half a second of time actually matter though? The science enthusiasts would be excited to know that this means a day on the planet Earth is now shorter than 24 hours. The shortest day before July 19 of a year ago happened in 2005.

In 2020, the Earth has rotated so rapidly on its axis that the days are noticeably shorter.

Over the course of time, the Earth's rotation has varied slightly.

Global debates are also taking place about the future of the Second Jump leaks, and it is also possible that the need for a Second Jump reversal could lead to a decision to end the Second Jump forever.

There are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute.

Satellites and communications equipment rely on the true time aligning with solar time, which is determined by the positions of the stars, moon and the sun.

But, with this now information surfacing, scientists are contemplating adding a so-called "negative leap second".