ISSN:
1573-0956
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract In this paper, we review the current state of knowledge about the acceleration of the Earth's spin, and about the closely related acceleration of the Moon. It is now established at a high confidence level that the acceleration of the Moon, when taken respect to Universal time, has changed by a large amount, and that it has even changed sign, within historic times. This almost certainly means that the acceleration of the Earth's spin has also changed by a large amount. At present we do not have enough information to say whether the changes have been in the contributions from tidal friction, in the contributions that do not arise from tidal friction, or both. Further, we do not know yet whether or not the variations in the Earth's rotation can account for the observed fluctuations in the longitudes of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01449760
