A recent study by the Technical University of Munich, published in Nature Geoscience, confirmed that the rotation of the Earth is gradually decreasing, and that in approximately 200 million years, days could extend to reach 25 hours in duration.
This process will not have immediate effects, but it will modify planetary cycles, especially those of warming and cooling linked to the day-night rhythm, which could completely reshape the climate and ecological models of the planet.
A slower spin, measured in milliseconds
Experts used a high-precision ring laser at the Wettzell Geodetic Observatory, a tool capable of measuring minimal variations in Earth’s rotation. They detected a deceleration of:
- 6 milliseconds every two weeks
- Caused by phenomena such as ocean tides, mass displacements, and gravitational interactions with the Sun and the Moon
“Oceanic friction and lunar attraction act as subtle but constant brakes,” explain the study’s authors.
Imperceptible changes, but with evolutionary impact
The process is so slow that it will not be noticeable to current humanity. However, as noted by Konstantin Batygin, professor of planetary science at Caltech:
“The alterations are so gradual that evolutionary processes can adapt. They will not affect daily life, but could modify the climate on a geological scale.”
The day length, although seemingly stable, is continuously changing, determined by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, water displacements, and climate variations.
One more hour on Earth: climate change or new balance?
In the future, this additional hour of light or darkness could:
- Alter the planet’s thermal balance
- Reshape atmospheric circulation patterns
- Demand reformulating climate prediction models
Although it may seem like science fiction, the results raise fascinating questions about the role of time in planetary evolution.
Geological time: a science that looks beyond
The research is part of a field of study that combines:
- High-precision geodesy
- Planetary dynamics
- Long-term evolution
“What today seems eternal, like the day length, is actually in constant change. Measuring, understanding, and projecting it is part of a new scientific view of the planet,” conclude the researchers.
