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Consider the following statements with reference to leap second:
1. It is used as a measure to combat the long-term slowdown in the Earth’s rotation.
2. The World Meteorological Organization makes decisions on whether to add or subtract a leap second from universal time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 only
  • b)
    2 only
  • c)
    Both 1 and 2
  • d)
    Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following statements with reference to leap second:1. It ...
A recent study highlighted that due to factors like climate change and geological shifts, Earth's changing rotation may prompt clocks to skip a second, potentially necessitating a "negative leap second" around 2029.
  • It is used as a measure to combat the long-term slowdown in the Earth’s rotation which is caused by the constant melting and refreezing of ice caps.
  • It is added every now and then to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to synchronize a clock worldwide with the Earth’s ever slowing rotation.
  • The system of leap seconds was introduced in the early 1970s. So far, there have been 27 positive leap seconds have been added.
  • UTC consists of a time scale that combines the output of more than 300 highly precise Atomic clocks worldwide. Atomic clocks are very accurate and are stable within 1 second over a period of millions of years.
  • On the other hand, the Astronomical Time known as Universal Time (UT1) refers to the Earth's rotation around its own axis and determines the length of a day.
  • Reason for addition: The Earth's rotation around its own axis is not regular, as sometimes it speeds up and sometimes it slows down, due to various factors including the moon’s gravitational Earth-braking forces that often results in ocean tides.
  • As a result, Astronomical Time (UT1) gradually falls out of synch with Atomic time (UTC), and as and when the difference between UTC and UT1 approaches 0.9 seconds, a “Leap Second” is added to UTC through Atomic clocks worldwide.
  • A leap second is normally inserted either on June 30 or December 31.
What is Negative Leap second?
  • It is a second that is subtracted from our clocks to keep them in sync with the Earth's rotation.
  • Till date, no negative leap second has been introduced because, in the last few decades the Earth's rotation has generally been a bit slow.
  • The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) monitors the Earth's rotation and takes decisions on when to add or subtract a leap second.
  • Since Earth is spinning faster than usual recently so timekeepers had thought of using negative leap seconds for the first time.
  • In other words, they thought of subtracting leap seconds from our clocks to synchronise them with Earth's rotation.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
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Community Answer
Consider the following statements with reference to leap second:1. It ...
Explanation:

1. Measures to combat Earth's rotation slowdown:
- The statement is correct. Leap seconds are added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to account for the gradual slowing of the Earth's rotation.
- Due to various factors such as tidal forces, the Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down over time. To ensure that the atomic clocks used for precise timekeeping remain in sync with the Earth's rotation, leap seconds are added periodically.

2. Authority for deciding on leap seconds:
- The statement is incorrect. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), not the World Meteorological Organization, is responsible for deciding whether to add or subtract a leap second from UTC.
- The IERS monitors the Earth's rotation and determines when a leap second is necessary to keep UTC in line with the Earth's rotation.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
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Consider the following statements with reference to leap second:1. It is used as a measure to combat the long-termslowdown in the Earth’s rotation.2. The World Meteorological Organization makes decisions on whether to add or subtract a leap second from universal time.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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