Chile Earthquake May Have Shortened Earth’s Day
The Chile earthquake of February 27, 2010 ranks as seven of the most significant earthquakes recorded in history. According to a NASA scientist, the huge 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile may have altered the entire Earth’s rotation and reduced the length of days on our planet. "Perhaps more impressive is how much the quake shifted Earth’s axis," said Monday. Chile earthquake effect must have shortened the length of an Earth day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the earth’s axis of rotation by 3 inches or 2.7 milliarcseconds.
Richard Gross, research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said that the change should be permanent and that there is a chance the Earth’s rotation could loosen up over time, but he added it’s still early to tell.
In the past, many strong earthquakes have changed Earth’s days and its axis. The 9.1 magnitude Sumatran earthquake in 2004, which was triggered by a deadly tsunami, should have shortened Earth’s days by 6.8 microseconds and shifted its axis by about 2.76 inches
The Chile earthquake was much smaller than the Sumatran, but its effects on the Earth still have force because of its location. Its epicenter was located in the Earth’s mid-latitudes rather than near the equator like the Sumatran event.
NASA scientists said, the fault responsible for the 2010 Chile quake also cut through Earth at a steeper angle than the Sumatran quake’s fault. The casualties of Chile earthquake reached more than 700 people and caused extensive destruction in the South American country.
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