In an article in the Schweizer Revue (www.revue.ch), the changing national energy policies are being discussed. Government proposes to exit the atomic energy world. The timing is clearly to be seen as a reaction to the disaster in Fukushima, of which we have read so much. It also reflects the wishes of the Green Party and a large percentage of the population. A referendum to this effect was submitted in 2012. We will see this in the polls in the not so distant future, I expect. What was new to me was the following statement:
Aufgrund der Erschütterungen verschob sich Japans Hauptinsel um über zwei Meter nach Osten. Die Massenverteilung der Erde veränderte sich so stark, dass sich seither die Erde etwas schneller dreht.
Translated: As result of the earthquake the main island of Japan moved east by two meters (about six feet). This changed the mass distribution of the globe to the extent that it is now rotating a little faster.
Contemplate this, if you will. The earth rotates faster; eventually, but not immediately, the mass of air surrounding it will pick up the same speed due to its friction with the earth. In my school decades ago, the statement was made that if the rotation of the earth were to be stopped, the mass of air would still continue as before and massive storms would result that would wipe out all matter standing in their way - including buildings, people . . .
Conversely, if the globe rotation speeds up, uncommon air movement in the opposite direction will necessarily result. What effect does this small (?) change have on the weather, on the climate?
Also new to me was one other item: Switzerland operates the oldest nuclear reactor in the world. That means that all reactors built between Rowe in the US and this Swiss reactor are either de-commissioned or destroyed.
Aufgrund der Erschütterungen verschob sich Japans Hauptinsel um über zwei Meter nach Osten. Die Massenverteilung der Erde veränderte sich so stark, dass sich seither die Erde etwas schneller dreht.
Translated: As result of the earthquake the main island of Japan moved east by two meters (about six feet). This changed the mass distribution of the globe to the extent that it is now rotating a little faster.
Contemplate this, if you will. The earth rotates faster; eventually, but not immediately, the mass of air surrounding it will pick up the same speed due to its friction with the earth. In my school decades ago, the statement was made that if the rotation of the earth were to be stopped, the mass of air would still continue as before and massive storms would result that would wipe out all matter standing in their way - including buildings, people . . .
Conversely, if the globe rotation speeds up, uncommon air movement in the opposite direction will necessarily result. What effect does this small (?) change have on the weather, on the climate?
Also new to me was one other item: Switzerland operates the oldest nuclear reactor in the world. That means that all reactors built between Rowe in the US and this Swiss reactor are either de-commissioned or destroyed.
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