What Drives Earth's Wobble?

Researchers have analyzed over 120 years of data to understand how climate-related changes, such as melting ice, dwindling groundwater, and rising sea levels, are causing the Earth's axis to shift. This phenomenon, known as polar motion, results from mass redistribution on the planet's surface, which has caused the axis to meander by about 30 feet (10 meters) in the past 120 years.

Why Are Days Getting Longer?

Days on Earth are gradually lengthening, and this change is accelerating. Recent studies have found that since 2000, the days have been getting longer by approximately 1.33 milliseconds per century, primarily due to the accelerated melting of glaciers and ice sheets caused by human-induced climate change. This shift in mass causes Earth's rotation to slow.

How Does Melting Ice Affect Earth's Spin?

The redistribution of mass due to melting ice sheets and groundwater depletion significantly impacts Earth's rotation. As ice and groundwater shift towards the equator, the planet's spin axis moves, resulting in polar motion. This mass shift also causes the lengthening of days, a trend that has been recorded since 1900.

What Role Do Human Activities Play?

Human activities, such as greenhouse gas emissions, are accelerating the melting of polar ice and contributing to groundwater depletion. These activities have been linked to the increasing rate of polar motion and the lengthening of days, highlighting the profound impact humans have on the Earth's rotation.

Can We Slow Down the Changes?

If emissions are significantly reduced, the rate of day lengthening could decelerate by 2100. However, if current emission trends continue, the lengthening of days could increase, potentially overtaking the effect of the Moon's gravitational pull on tides. This underscores the importance of addressing climate change to mitigate its impact on our planet.

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