Earth’s axis shifted by 80 cm: scientists explain the reasons
27 November 2024 04:01
Over the past 17 years, humans have used more than 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, resulting in a shift in the Earth’s axis. This is reported by Express, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
A recent study has shown that the Earth’s axis has shifted by 31.5 inches (about 80 cm), and scientists believe that human activity is the main reason for this.
Climate change researchers discovered this disturbing detail by pointing to human extraction of groundwater as a significant factor that can both change the rotation of our planet and contribute to sea level rise.
The key period for the analysis was the years from 1993 to 2010. During this time, about 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped out of the ground, causing the Earth’s rotation axis to shift at a rate of about 4.36 cm per year. This has also caused sea levels to rise by an average of 6 mm (0.24 inches).
“The shift in the Earth’s pole of rotation was much larger than previously thought. Our findings suggest that among climate-related factors, groundwater redistribution has the greatest impact on this process,” said lead author Ki-Won Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University.
The way the Earth tilts depends on how its mass is distributed around the world, with prominent factors including the melting of ice from glaciers and the polar regions of Greenland and Antarctica.
As this ice turns to water and moves toward the equator, it redistributes weight across the planet, causing the axis to shift. An analysis of data over a 17-year period showed that the pumping of approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater resulted in a change in the Earth’s tilt of about 31.5 inches.
Scientists emphasize that localized exploitation of natural resources can have global consequences. In their opinion, observing changes in the Earth’s axis helps to better understand the dynamics of water reserves on the continents and better prepare for future climate challenges.
