[LEAPSECS] Far past and far future

[Tony Finch]

Rob Seaman <seaman at noao.edu> wrote:

>

> We had a spirited discussion here sometime in the last few years making

> the point that leap seconds (or equivalent adjustments) are not tightly

> coupled to tidal deceleration, rather the more stochastic (probably not

> the right word) shorter term geophysical variations that are

> flamboyantly pictured on Steve's page above create a requirement for

> timekeeping corrections all on their own.  And without a Moon to temper

> the Earth's motions, the EOP values might be much more variable.  So we

> might stop blaming the Moon for this timekeeping issue - it is intrinsic

> to life on Mother Earth.


Would the earth be slowing down so fast without the moon? There's some
tidal coupling in the earth-sun system but isn't it much smaller?

Tony.
-- 
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