Life Darn it, we just lost 1.26 microseconds - Page 3

T-post Tom · 03-02-2010, 04:47 AM

There just isn't enough microseconds in the day...

Chile quake might have shortened days on Earth

(CNN) -- The massive earthquake that struck Chile last week might have shifted the Earth's axis and created shorter days, scientists at NASA say.

The change is negligible, but permanent: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

A large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet.

When that distribution changes, it changes the rate at which the planet rotates. And the rotation rate determines the length of a day.

"Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth's rotation," Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said while explaining the phenomenon in 2005.

That's because pulling in his arms changes the distribution of the skater's mass and therefore the speed of his rotation.

Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, used a computer model to determine how the 8.8-magnitude quake that struck Chile on February 27 might have affected the Earth.

He determined that the quake should have moved the Earth's figure axis about 3 inches (8 centimeters). The figure axis is one around which the Earth's mass is balanced. That shift in axis is what might have shortened days.

Such changes aren't unheard of.

The 9.1-magnitude earthquake in 2004 that generated a killer tsunami in the Indian Ocean shortened the length of days by 6.8 microseconds.

On the other hand, the length of a day also can increase. For example, if the Three Gorges reservoir in China were filled, it would hold 10 trillion gallons (40 cubic kilometers) of water. The shift of mass would lengthen days by 0.06 microseconds, scientists said.

Goldmember · 03-02-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

That's weird. Every two years? This news about shorter days has got to be a bummer for you.

They were happening every year in Nov, Dec, Jan but now they seem to happen every two years in May, June, July. Doctors are not sure what causes cluster headaches, but they think it has to do with the hypothalamus, which contains the internal biological clock of the brain. That would seem to make sense considering they happen like clockwork. I've had to go to the emergency room before...that's how bad it gets and you will anything not to have one

patteeu · 03-02-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldmember

They were happening every year in Nov, Dec, Jan but now they seem to happen every two years in May, June, July. Doctors are not sure what causes cluster headaches, but they think it has to do with the hypothalamus, which contains the internal biological clock of the brain. That would seem to make sense considering they happen like clockwork. I've had to go to the emergency room before...that's how bad it gets and you will anything not to have one

That really sucks and I don't mean to make light of your pain, but isn't that the same part of the brain that makes you gay? I'm seeing your username in an entirely different light based on this information and just what is it that's going on in your avatar. NTTAWWT

KCrockaholic · 03-02-2010, 02:26 PM

Did you just feel that Microsecond?

Over-Head · 03-02-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

Did you just feel that Microsecond?

almost

Goldmember · 03-02-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

That really sucks and I don't mean to make light of your pain, but isn't that the same part of the brain that makes you gay? I'm seeing your username in an entirely different light based on this information and just what is it that's going on in your avatar. NTTAWWT

nah dude, that's the homothamalus...my user name comes from a nickname my friends gave me based on my last name

whoman69 · 03-02-2010, 03:44 PM

Darn it now I don't have time to...

RaiderH8r · 03-02-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowener

Damn. That is a shit load (official term) of energy. It moved the Earth, 6 sextillion 600 quintillion tons, 3 inches. ****ing impressive.

I had a bowel movement back in '97 that had a similar effect. Freaking EPIC.

38yrsfan · 03-02-2010, 04:05 PM

I prefer to look at it as gaining 1.26 micrpseconds of night. The glass is half dark.

niblet · 03-02-2010, 05:06 PM

I did a little dimensional analysis and it'll take just over 2,174 years for one second to be lost, which means in about 188 million years we will have lost a whole day.

03-02-2010, 04:47 AM
T-post Tom Busy in a Kohl's restroom Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $1747293	Darn it, we just lost 1.26 microseconds There just isn't enough microseconds in the day... Chile quake might have shortened days on Earth (CNN) -- The massive earthquake that struck Chile last week might have shifted the Earth's axis and created shorter days, scientists at NASA say. The change is negligible, but permanent: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second. A large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet. When that distribution changes, it changes the rate at which the planet rotates. And the rotation rate determines the length of a day. "Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth's rotation," Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said while explaining the phenomenon in 2005. That's because pulling in his arms changes the distribution of the skater's mass and therefore the speed of his rotation. Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, used a computer model to determine how the 8.8-magnitude quake that struck Chile on February 27 might have affected the Earth. He determined that the quake should have moved the Earth's figure axis about 3 inches (8 centimeters). The figure axis is one around which the Earth's mass is balanced. That shift in axis is what might have shortened days. Such changes aren't unheard of. The 9.1-magnitude earthquake in 2004 that generated a killer tsunami in the Indian Ocean shortened the length of days by 6.8 microseconds. On the other hand, the length of a day also can increase. For example, if the Three Gorges reservoir in China were filled, it would hold 10 trillion gallons (40 cubic kilometers) of water. The shift of mass would lengthen days by 0.06 microseconds, scientists said.
Posts: 22,376

03-02-2010, 02:26 PM	#33
KCrockaholic Sarcasm Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $3242900	Did you just feel that Microsecond?
Posts: 21,182

03-02-2010, 04:05 PM	#38
38yrsfan Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: In many minds, rent free. Casino cash: $9935667	I prefer to look at it as gaining 1.26 micrpseconds of night. The glass is half dark. __________________ During the 75 season the Chiefs mascot Warpaint would circle the field after a touchdown. This prompted a great quote from long ago Raiders coach John Madden after the 42-10 loss at Arrowhead. "We couldn't beat the Chiefs, but we damn near killed their horse."
Posts: 1,351

03-02-2010, 05:06 PM	#39
niblet Starter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: On your internet Casino cash: $10004910	I did a little dimensional analysis and it'll take just over 2,174 years for one second to be lost, which means in about 188 million years we will have lost a whole day.
Posts: 376