Does this year seem to be dragging?

There’s a good reason for that.

2015 will be longer than most years. One second longer, in fact.

Earth’s rotation on its axis is gradually slowing, due to tidal drag*. A day is the time it takes the Earth to rotate once on its axis. As the Earth’s rotation slows, the length of each day becomes very slightly longer. Around two thousandths of a second longer each day.

Scientists at the International Earth Rotation Service in France have responsibility for monitoring the Earth’s rotation, & occasionally add a leap second to bring clocks back into synchronization with the Earth’s rotation.

On 30 June, an extra second will be added at 23:59:60.

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/extra-second-to-be-added-to-2015-as-tech-companies-brace-for-problems-20150108-12k0yk.html.html?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=outbrainamplify
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* Why the Earth’s rotation is slowing
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