Quake Shortens Days

[Joseph Tracy]

I too thought this an intriguing p-list story. Does anyone else think  
the opening sentence a bit confusing or imprecise for something from  
NASA?

" The massive 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile may have changed the  
entire Earth's rotation and shortened the length of days on our  
planet, a NASA scientist said Monday."

What I am thinking about is the phrase "changed the Earth's  
rotation".   Shouldn't that be 'speeded the Earth's rotation' , or "  
increased the rate of the earth's rotation.   I mean aren't they  
saying a bit more of the total  planetary mass is closer to the axis  
of spin and like an ice dancer who draws in her arms the world is  
spinning faster? Or am I missing something?

3 inches of axial shift in one day does seem, well, like serious work.

On Mar 2, 2010, at 11:16 AM, Henry M wrote:

> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35662192/ns/technology_and_science-space/
>
> AsB4,
>
> Henry Mu
> http://astore.amazon.com/tdcoccamsaxe-20