“Global Warming Could Lead to a Negative Leap Second in Global Timekeeping by 2028: Here’s Why”

A recent study published in the Nature Journal titled “A global timekeeping problem postponed by global warming” has shed light on a concerning issue that could impact global timekeeping in the near future. The study, conducted by Duncan Carr Agnew, a geophysicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, suggests that if the Earth continues to heat up due to global warming, a negative leap second might need to be added to the time settings around 2028.

Global timekeeping is crucial for the accurate functioning of computer networks worldwide. One key aspect of this timekeeping is the inclusion of an extra second, known as a “leap second,” every few years. According to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command in the U.S., leap seconds can be either positive or negative, and so far, all leap seconds have been positive since they were first introduced in 1972.

The study highlights that the Earth’s rotation has been affected by global warming, leading to a slower rotation of the planet since 1990. This is primarily due to the melting of polar ice caps, causing a shift in mass from the poles to the equator region. Additionally, changes in the motion of the Earth’s core have also contributed to the slowing down of the planet’s rotation.

As a result of these factors, the Earth’s rotation has become slower, leading to the need for a negative leap second to be added to global timekeeping settings. The study predicts that by 2028, this negative leap second might be necessary to account for the changes in the Earth’s rotation. Despite the potential impacts of global warming, delaying this global timekeeping crisis is seen as a small but significant advantage in the face of the larger threats posed by climate change.