Groundwater pumping has shifted Earth’s axis by 31.5 inches in just two decades, study finds | – Times of India

Excessive groundwater pumping over the past two decades has tilted the Earth’s axis by an alarming 31.5 inches, with this water redistribution contributing approximately 0.24 inches to global sea-level rise. A groundbreaking study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that groundwater extraction plays a significant role in shifting the Earth’s rotational pole, surpassing other climate-related factors.
Groundwater, a crucial yet hidden resource, supports agriculture, drinking water, and industries.However, its depletion carries far-reaching consequences, impacting ecosystems, sea levels, and planetary stability. These findings emphasise the urgent need for sustainable water management to address this growing challenge and mitigate climate change effects.

Groundwater pumping and Earth’s axis shift: The alarming 31.5-inch tilt in two decades

Over the past two decades, our relentless pumping of groundwater has tilted the Earth by an astonishing 31.5 inches. To put this in perspective, this water redistribution has contributed about 0.24 inches to global sea-level rise. The study, led by geophysicist Ki-Weon Seomat Seoul National University, highlights that among climate-related factors, groundwater redistribution has the most significant impact on the drift of the Earth’s rotational pole.
From 1993 to 2010, an estimated 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were extracted, significantly altering the planet’s tilt. Most of this water eventually flowed into the oceans, exacerbating sea-level rise. Seo notes that studying the changes in the Earth’s rotational pole provides insights into large-scale water storage variations.
Beyond altering the Earth’s tilt, groundwater pumping highlights the broader consequences of climate change. The shift in the Earth’s rotational pole underscores the far-reaching consequences of groundwater depletion and climate change. Seo expressed concern about groundwater pumping as another contributor to sea-level rise, calling these findings both enlightening and alarming.

What is groundwater?

Groundwater refers to water stored beneath the Earth’s surface, filling spaces within soil, sand, and rock. It originates from rain and other precipitation, gradually seeping into underground reservoirs known as aquifers.
Unlike rivers and lakes, groundwater is hidden from view, functioning as nature’s invisible water reserve. This resource plays a vital role in the water cycle, ensuring a steady water supply even during droughts when surface water is scarce.
Humans rely heavily on groundwater for essential needs:

The study has opened new avenues for understanding the interconnectedness of groundwater pumping, climate change, and polar motion. “They’ve quantified groundwater pumping’s impact on polar motion, and it’s significant,” says Surendra Adhikari, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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