The Anthropocene is the era in which human activity has shaped the planet on an unprecedented scale and the Earth’s axis of rotation is not safe from our actions. The massive extraction of groundwater has been able to intilt the axis of our planet almost 80 centimeters to the east between 1993 and 2010. This phenomenon is an example of the impact of human activity on the geophysics of the Earth.
What is the Earth’s axis of rotation?
The Earth’s axis of rotation is the imaginary line that crosses the planet from the North Pole to the South Pole, around which the Earth makes its daily rotation. Although this inclination varies naturally due to factors such as ocean tides and the movement of air massesthe recent discovery that human actions can also modify it adds a new dimension to our understanding of the global impact of our activities. The inclination of this axis has direct effects on the climate and the seasons. Changes in inclination could modify, in the long term, global climate patterns, affecting ecosystems and human communities.
Groundwater extraction is the invisible trigger
Between 1993 and 2010, humans extracted approximately 2150 gigatonnes of groundwater, According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. This massive volume of water It was pumped mainly for human consumption, agriculture and various industries. However, what seemed like a daily and necessary activity has far-reaching consequences.
The redistribution of this water, once extracted from the subsoil, causes it to end up in the sea, raising the ocean level by more than 6 millimeters during that period. This mass displacement not only affects the geography of the oceans, but, as if it were a top, alters the rotation of the Earth. The study revealed that this redistribution is one of the main causes of the shift in the Earth’s axis of rotation.
How does the mass of water influence the axis of rotation?
Although water only represents 0.05% of the Earth’s mass, its distribution has a significant impact on global balance. When large amounts of water are moved from the subsoil to the ocean, the land mass is redistributed, altering the balance of the planet and, therefore, its axis of rotation. According to Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and leader of the studythe redistribution of groundwater is one of the most influential climatic factors in the drift of the Earth’s axis.
Although previous studies indicated that the melting of glaciers, another phenomenon driven by climate change, was mainly responsible for the tilt of the axis, this new discovery sheds light on the importance of managing groundwater resources. The interaction between water pumping and changes in land mass has been shown to have a more direct and significant impact than melting glacial ice.
Where have you felt the most?
The study also highlights that the regions where the most water has been extracted are key to understanding the magnitude of the phenomenon. He western North America and northwestern India These are areas that have experienced increased groundwater extraction, contributing greatly to the movement of land mass towards the oceans. This phenomenon has not only affected the axis of rotation, but has also raised concerns regarding the sustainability of water resources in these regions.
What are the long-term consequences?
While scientists say this shift in the axis of rotation does not pose an immediate risk to the climate or seasons as we know them, the long-term impact should not be underestimated. According to Surendra Adhikari, another scientist involved in the study, The displacement of 80 centimeters could have perceptible effects on the geological time scale, meaning the effects may manifest in the future, influencing the global climate in ways we do not yet fully understand.
What is clear is that this colossal feat of engineering, although unintentional, has the potential to alter the geophysics of the planet to an unprecedented level. This finding underscores the urgent need to rethink how we manage natural resources and consider the large-scale consequences of what appear to be everyday actions.
The alteration of the Earth’s axis of rotation due to groundwater extraction is a clear warning about the extent of human impact on the planet. Although we may not see immediate effects in our daily lives, This shift is a reminder that our actions have much deeper and larger-scale consequences than we imagine. As we move into the Anthropocene, we must become aware of the fragility of our planet’s balance and act accordingly.
