"Climate Change: Melting Polar Ice Slows Earth's Rotation, Impacting Timekeeping"

Melting polar ice caused by human-caused climate change has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation, affecting timekeeping and potentially delaying the need for a "negative leap second" adjustment. The study suggests that as ice at the poles melts, it changes the Earth's mass distribution, impacting the planet's angular velocity. This adds to the various factors influencing Earth's rotation, including ocean tides, crustal uplift, and fluid movement within the Earth's core. The impact of ice melt on the planet's spin is expected to intensify as climate change progresses, with potential consequences for timekeeping and sea level rise.