The 2010 Chile earthquake might have lasted for 3 minutes, but the magnitude of 8.8 on 27 February 2010 at 03.34 local time was recorded as the seventh strongest in magnitude.
NASA scientists also calculated that the strength may have changed the entire Earth's rotation and the days shortened as the result. According to research scientist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif, the Earth day is shortened by 1.26 microseconds. It was said that the change should be permanent. It was also found out that the Earth's figure axis moved by about 3 inches (8 cm or 27 milliarcseconds) due to the impact.
Six years ealier in 2004, the 9.1 Sumatran earthquake set off a deadly tsunami. The Earth's days were shortened by 6.8 microseconds and the axis shifted by about 2.76 inches (7 cm, or 2.32 milliarcseconds). In the past strong earthquakes have altered Earth's days and its axis.
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