Human activities have altered Earth’s rotation in ways that would have seemed impossible just decades ago. Recent research published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that excessive groundwater pumping has caused our planet to tilt by 31.5 inches between 1993 and 2010. The Hard Numbers Behind Earth’s Shift The scale of human interference with Earth’s natural water systems is staggering. We have extracted approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, primarily for irrigation and human consumption. This massive redistribution of water has triggered a measurable shift in Earth’s rotational pole and contributed to 0.24 inches of sea-level rise. “Earth’s rotational pole actually changes … Continue reading Earth Tilts 31.5 Inches Since 1993 as Groundwater Pumping Shifts 2,150 Gigatons of Water