i can make her go either way... which way is she supposed to be spinning???
Posted on 02/23/2013 1:31:31 PM PST by SunkenCiv
New analysis shows that the Chandler Wobble in Earth’s axis changed phase by 180 degrees in 2005. The question is why.
If you travel to the Arctic and attempt to find the axis of Earth’s rotation, you’ll notice something odd. The position of this axis on Earth’s surface moves with a period of about seven years. This is the combined result of two effects. The one we’re interested today is called the Chandler Wobble, which has a period of 433 days and was discovered by American astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler in 1891.
The Chandler Wobble is reasonably well understood. Any spinning sphere that it is not entirely spherical should wobble in this way. However, on Earth, the wobble varies in amplitude from decade to decade, a motion that is thought to be the result of the changes in pressure at the bottom of the oceans caused by fluctuations in salinity, temperature, and ocean circulation.
But there is also something mysterious about the Chandler Wobble. In 1920, it underwent a sudden phase change of 180 degrees. Nobody knows why.
Now a new analysis of data on Earth’s rotation going back 160 years indicates that this event was not unique. Zinovy Malkin and Natalia Miller at the Russian Academy of Sciences Central Astronomical Observatory in Pulkovo say the phase has changed by small amounts on many occasions during this time. But the big news is that the wobble underwent 180-degree changes in phase on two other occasions: once in 1850 and the other in 2005.
So why should the Chandler Wobble undergo these changes in phase? An interesting puzzle for anybody with a few brain cycles to spare.
(Excerpt) Read more at technologyreview.com ...
Does this mean my Celestron needs to be re-programmed?
2005 is clearly Bush’s fault. 1920 is presumably his grandfather’s fault. 1850 is probably the fault of his great-great-great-grandfather James Smith Bush.
Speaking of poles, without one to grasp onto, it’s no wonder she’s wobbling back & forth…
:’) Probably updates via the www?
Oh, it’s been done. :’) Check out the links.
This will have terrible implications for women and minorities.
I left a long time ago.
Maybe Nancy Leider is right about the polar shift? ;)
Nah. Those apartment buildings are where they've always been...you, on the other hand...(teehee)
i can make her go either way... which way is she supposed to be spinning???
I wanted to post a picture of Chandler Bing! LOL. :)
It is a left brain, right brain exercise. To see her spinning both ways means you are switching between your right brain and left brain.
“Caused by (global warming climate change) rising expectations... “
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The changes to the Chandler (Bing) wobble were completely unexpected by scientists! LOL!
So the Congressman who claimed the island of Guam was becoming top heavy and might tip over was on to something.
i see her initially as turning to the right/clockwise, so am i right brain dominant???
No, but your Interocitor may be a little de-tuned for a bit
That could easily account for the creation of the pressure on the ocean bottom that drives the wobble.
With only a couple of major data points we don't know if this is related to anything in particular ~ I do believe this measurement is near the limits of quantum noise.
You are left-handed?
That was back when I had more hair.
Wonder if the 2004 Christmas 9.2 quake along with the Easter 2005 8.x quake had something to do with this? I know the former speeded up the Earth’s rotation by a few microseconds.
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