Measuring Earth's Rotation: Precision and Accuracy with Gyroscopes
Scientists have developed a new method to measure variations in the Earth's rotation using a gyroscope. The gyroscope, named "G," is a 16-meter-long laser cavity that creates an interference pattern based on the interaction of dual laser beams traveling in opposite directions. Fluctuations in the interference pattern reflect fluctuations in the Earth's rate of rotation, allowing researchers to calculate the distance traveled by a given point on Earth over time. This method provides precise measurements of day-length variations and could be used to build better geophysical models for global transport.