[meteorite-list] Earth time dilation: minimal latitude-dependence

[Matson, Rob D.]

Hi All,

> I'm now working through the math to figure out the latitude on earth where you
> age the slowest.

Turns out the combination of 1/r GR effect from mass, a latitude-dependent quadrupole
component, and the centripetal term (special relativity) due to the earth's rotation nearly
compensate for one another in such a way that there is very little change in clock speeds
at the earth's surface as a strict function of latitude. Clocks run slowest at the equator,
marginally faster at midlatitudes, and then slower again at the poles (but not quite as
slow as at the equator). Local changes in gravitational field strength probably dominate
over changes with latitude. And altitude plays a much stronger roll at any latitude.

--Rob