Abstract
THE recent discovery of periodical variations of terrestrial latitudes demands a revision of the actual theory of the rotation of our planet. This theory, based upon the hypothesis of the absolute rigidity of the earth, admits of variations of this kind, but very different in their laws from those of the observations. The period of revolution of the terrestrial poles given by the theory is one of about ten months. That which the observations give us lasts nearly fourteen months. Still further, the attentive analysis of the observations of the latitudes, executed of late by Mr. Chandler, shows us that the movement of the terrestrial poles is compounded of two others, of which the periods are, the one of 430 days, and the other of twelve months.
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On the Rotation of the Earth1. Nature 54, 161 (1896). https://doi.org/10.1038/054161a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/054161a0