Jeddah: The Jeddah Astronomy Society has stated the Earth will experience some of its shortest days ever in July and August 2025 due to a slight acceleration in its rotation speed. While this change is not noticeable in daily life, it is significant for systems like satellite navigation (GPS), communications, and astronomical research.
According to Saudi Press Agency, President of the society Eng. Majed Abu Zahra emphasized that the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) predicts three of the shortest days in modern history: July 9, 2025 (1.30 milliseconds shorter), July 22, 2025 (1.38 milliseconds shorter), and August 5, 2025 (1.51 milliseconds shorter). Earth completes a full rotation every 24 hours (86,400 seconds). Since 2020, ultra-precise atomic clocks have detected slight decreases in day length, with the shortest recorded day being June 29, 2022, which was 1.59 milliseconds shorter than the standard.
Abu Zahra explained that these estimates are based on precise measurements taken from atomic clocks and comparisons between different time standards, allowing scientists to track changes in Earth's rotation speed. He mentioned that the causes of this acceleration might include changes in Earth's liquid core, mass redistribution from polar ice melt, rising sea levels, and major earthquakes, as well as lunar tidal effects.