The Earth's rotational
speed is actually in constant fluctuation. Earthquakes, melting ice,
tsunamis, and large air masses are all influencing the Earth's spin,
though only by milliseconds. Imagine an earthquake collapsing a
portion of ground—this produces a change in the Earth's
circumference, reducing it slightly and essentially speeding up the
planet's rotation. A large air mass, however, can have an opposite
effect, slowing rotation just like you'd slow yourself down in a
spinning chair by extending your arms and legs. Are there any events
we should be concerned about that might cause a more noticeable
change in the Earth's rotational speed? There has already been such
an event in the Earth's history...
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