(11.07.2013)

Unlike the ten year trend (believed to be caused by changes in the Earth‘s core) and the episodic jerks (scientists have detected 10 such events since 1969) the 5.9 year cycle was unexpected. Every 5.9 years, they claim, the planet undergoes a period of several months where the length of each day is longer or shorter than „normal.“ The researchers don‘t know what causes the cycle but suspect it has something to do with the core-mantle boundary.

Scientists are also interested in learning more about the episodic jerks that alter day-length for several months at a time—this new research has revealed that during each event, the Earth‘s geomagnetic field undergoes a similar effect. Scientists don‘t know why either occurs, but suspect they are connected.