... Earth stopped spinning?

When we live our everyday lives, we are mostly not aware of how fast we are actually moving. But because of Earth’s rotation all of us move pretty fast relative to Earth’s core. This causes a speed at the equator of approximately 1,670 km/h. Athens for example is moving at a speed of about 1,315 km/h. But what would happen if the spinning of the Earth that we experience everyday stopped?

There are two ways Earth could stop spinning. On the one hand Earth could stop spinning all of a sudden, which would cause a really huge catastrophe. But on the other hand Earth’s spinning could slow down gradually. It would still be a disaster but there might be a chance of survival for some people and animals.

But let’s first take a look at what would happen if Earth suddenly stopped spinning. The main issue is the following: If only Earth itself stopped spinning, the atmosphere would still keep its inertia. So while the ground stands still the air around us moves at 1,315 km/h relative to the ground in Athens. Everything that is not firmly attached to the bedrock will be swept off the ground: people, cars, buildings, trees and even the upper part of the soil. Basically everyone would die.

A gradually slowing down Earth is a bit less dramatic (but only a bit!). Our sense of days, seasons and years would change immensely. As the rotating Earth is the reason for our days to last for 24 hours, a single day would last for a year on a non-rotating Earth. There would be sun for 6 months and no sun for another 6 months. This is how life is at the North and South poles today. The daytimes (lasting for 6 months!) would be really hot. The people living around the equator had to deal with 57°C on average. Likewise the nighttimes (lasting for 6 months as well) would be really, really cold with -55°C.

On top of that, the geography of Earth would change completely. The centripetal force due to Earth’s rotation (the same force that applies to you when you drive a curve or sit in a carousel) usually makes the water go to the equator. Therefore, the oceans are deeper at the equator and Earth bulges at the equator. But if Earth stopped spinning, the water would return to the poles, leaving a giant continent around the middle of Earth and two seas, one to the North and one to the South.

The atmosphere will follow the flow of the oceans towards the poles. Air would therefore become thicker at the poles and thinner at the equator. This will eventually lead to only four spots around the mid-latitudes where humans can survive.

Without the rotation Earth’s magnetic field might collapse as well, leaving us unprotected against the Sun’s harmful radiation.

All in all, a non-rotating Earth is nothing to look forward to. But although many people would die some would still survive. The good news is: it is not going to happen for millions or even billions of years. So, enjoy our healthful rotation around Earth’s center!