Humans Have Tilted the Earth 31.5 Inches Since 1993, Study Finds (2023)
13 days ago
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- Groundwater extraction for irrigation and drinking shifted Earth's rotational pole by 31.5 inches (80 cm) between 1993 and 2010.
- The redistribution of 2,150 gigatons of water from land to ocean raised global sea levels by 0.24 inches (6 mm).
- Groundwater redistribution now has the largest climate-related impact on polar drift, surpassing other factors.
- Moving mass on a spinning body alters its rotation, similar to adding weight to a spinning top.
- NASA's 2016 research first linked water storage changes to Earth's rotation, but this study provides concrete data.
- Simulations confirmed that only models including the 2,150-gigaton groundwater transfer matched real-world polar drift observations.
- Water redistribution from mid-latitudes, like western North America and northwestern India, has the strongest effect on the spin axis.
- Scientists plan to analyze historical Earth orientation records to study past groundwater depletion.
- Monitoring polar drift helps understand continent-scale water storage changes and informs conservation policies.