When they tuck their arms close to their body, their speed increases because their body mass is closer to their center of gravity, McCarthy said.As Earth becomes rounder, its mass becomes closer to its center, which increases its rotational speed, he said.Some have suggested a correlation with the Chandler wobble, McCarthy said.
However, McCarthy said the Chandler wobble likely does not affect the rotational speed of Earth because the wobble is due to the planet's shape.
Removing a leap secondSince researchers began measuring the Earth's rotational speed using atomic clocks, Earth had been slowing down its rotational speed, McCarthy said.
Because Earth is now rotating faster, a leap second would need to be taken away to catch our timekeeping up with Earth's increasing rotational speed, McCarthy said.If the planet continues this rotational trend, the removal of a leap second likely wouldn't need to happen for another three to four years, he said.