On Mar 23, 5:36=A0pm, "Judson McClendon" <ju...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Actually, the fact that they're adding *any* leap seconds shows the year
> is longer. ;-)
Longer than in 1820 (on which approximate year the definition of the
second is based), yes, but not necessarily still changing in length.
The long-term trend is expected to be a slowing down, as you said, but
in the short term that has not been happening. In fact we came fairly
close to needing a *negative* leap second, which would have caused
great concern because (having never happened before) so many systems
might have malfunctioned.
> All this is due to gravitational interaction between the Earth and other
> bodies. Even we humans give the earth a wee ****ge now and again. :-)
Isn't the effective increase in the earth's radius, as sea-level rises
(due to climate change), also likely to be a factor?
Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.
|
