New Study Reveals Patterns in Earth’s Rotational Deceleration Over Millions of Years

BEIJING — An international team of researchers has unveiled patterns of deceleration in Earth’s rotation, linking these changes to significant geological and biological events, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

According to Philippines News Agency, scientists from China, France, Germany, and Ireland collaborated to analyze Earth’s rotational patterns from 650 million to 280 million years ago. Through the examination of eight geological datasets, they discovered that the Earth-Moon distance increased by about 20,000 km, extending the length of a day by approximately 2.2 hours. This study marks a significant advancement in understanding Earth’s historical climate and environmental changes, and their impact on biological evolution.

The researchers identified a “staircase” pattern in Earth’s rotational deceleration, noting two periods of rapid slowing, from 650 to 500 million years ago and from 350 to 280 million years ago, punctuated by a stalled period between 500 million and 350 million years ago. These phases correlate with the Cambrian explosion and the largest mass extinction event in Earth’s history, potentially influencing the development of early marine ecosystems.

The study emphasizes the role of tidal dissipation as the primary force behind these changes, except in very recent geological history. Ma Chao, a professor at Chengdu University of Technology and part of the research team, highlighted the theoretical importance of these findings for further understanding the interconnections between Earth’s rotational dynamics and various natural phenomena, including magnetic fields, tides, and climate changes.

The researchers plan to continue their work by studying the internal links between Earth’s rotational changes and other natural phenomena to develop a more comprehensive and accurate model of Earth system evolution.