In a revelation that has startled the global scientific community, researchers have found that Earth’s rotational axis has shifted by approximately 80 cm (31.5 inches) since 1993. The surprising cause? Excessive groundwater extraction by human beings.This discovery isn’t just about geology—it’s a powerful reminder of how deeply human activity can affect our planet’s physical structure.
What Does It Mean to Shift Earth’s Axis?
Earth spins around an imaginary line called its rotational axis, which passes through the North and South Poles. This axis isn’t fixed—it “wobbles” naturally due to factors like glacial melting, mantle convection, and tectonic activity.
But now, scientists have found that human-induced changes, particularly the removal of groundwater, are adding to this wobble. Think of it like spinning a top—if you redistribute mass on the surface of the spinning top, its balance shifts. That’s exactly what’s happening to Earth.
Groundwater: The Hidden Culprit
According to a 2023 study by researchers at Korea University and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, humans pumped about 2,150 gigatons of groundwater between 1993 and 2010. This water didn’t just disappear—it ended up in the oceans, subtly changing Earth’s mass distribution.
Key Findings:
Groundwater Pumping = Mass Redistribution
Most Impactful Regions:
India
Western USA
North China Plain
The shift in water contributed to an eastward drift in Earth’s rotational pole.
When groundwater is pumped out of deep aquifers and used for irrigation, drinking, or industrial use, it eventually makes its way to the oceans via rivers or evaporation-precipitation cycles. Once in the ocean, it redistributes mass away from the continents.
This movement affects the Earth’s moment of inertia (its resistance to rotational changes), leading to polar motion—a change in the orientation of Earth’s axis in space.
Is This Dangerous?
For now, this axis shift does not pose a threat to daily life. It won’t flip the poles or trigger catastrophes. But it does complicate climate modeling, satellite navigation, and GPS tracking, all of which rely on a stable understanding of Earth’s motion.
A Call for Groundwater Management
Groundwater is a critical freshwater resource, especially in agriculture-dependent countries. But this study is a stark reminder that unsustainable use doesn’t just affect water availability—it can reshape Earth itself.
NASA satellites like GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) can measure groundwater loss from space by detecting tiny changes in Earth’s gravitational field.
