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POST-PRESS: Japan Quake Shortens the Day

The 8.9-magnitude quake, the world's fifth strongest, that hit Japan on 11 March 2011 shortens the day by 1.6 microseconds, said the United States Geology Survey.

When the Pacific tectonic plate slipped under the North American plate, the earth's mass shifted towards the center compressing it, and shifted its axis 6.5 inches. This movement spurred the planet to spin a little faster, and moved Eastern Japan about 13 feet closer to North America. At the same time, it sank Japan about two feet, giving way for the tsunami waves to come rolling in.

2010 Chile Quake
The quart, which registered 8.8-magnitude in Chile last year also shortened the day a fraction of a second.

2004 Sumatra Quake
The stronger earthquate that rocked Sumatra in 2004 shortened the day by 6.8 microseconds.

Source
Liz Goodwin: "Japan's earthquake shifted balance of the planet," The Boston Herald 14 March 2011.
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