Earth’s Axis Drift Fueled by 31.5 Inches of Tilt from Massive Groundwater Extraction
Karmactive Team
Human groundwater extraction of 2,150 gigatons caused Earth to tilt 31.5 inches between 1993-2010, altering our planet's rotation.
How did excessive water pumping from western North America and northwestern India create an imbalance similar to adding weight to a spinning top?
The massive water redistribution contributed 0.24 inches to global sea-level rise while shifting Earth's rotational pole.
Lead researcher Ki-Weon Seo discovered groundwater redistribution impacts Earth's rotation more than other climate-related causes.
What role did the melting of Greenland's ice sheets play alongside two other crucial processes affecting Earth's spin axis?
The 2,150 gigatons of redistributed water, mainly from midlatitudes, matched scientific models explaining Earth's rotational drift.
NASA's 2016 research first linked water distribution to Earth's rotation, with 2024 studies revealing polar ice melt effects.
Melting polar ice could delay the addition of a "leap second" to Coordinated Universal Time from 2026 to 2029.
Scientists analyze these rotational changes to understand continent-scale water storage variations and address climate issues.
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