Over the years, the human race has extracted a significant amount of water from Earth, leading to a surprising consequence: the shifting of the poles. According to a study led by geophysicist Ki-Weon Seo of Seoul National University, the excessive pumping of groundwater between 1993 and 2010 resulted in the migration of the poles by 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) toward the east.
Furthermore, this redistribution of Earth’s water, specifically groundwater, has also confirmed previous estimates indicating that the depletion of this resource has contributed to a 6-millimeter rise in sea levels. While it is known that Earth’s rotational poles naturally undergo changes, this study focuses on examining the impact of human activities on pole movements, highlighting groundwater extraction as the primary contributor among ground-related causes.
To comprehend how climate changes and water redistribution affect Earth’s axis, it is important to consider the alterations in the distribution of mass around the axis. Although the effects were particularly noticeable in the 1990s due to melting glaciers and ice sheets, the specific influence of groundwater extraction had not been studied until now.
In 2019, scientists initially estimated that approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped between 1993 and 2010, but it was challenging to verify this figure until recently. Seo and his team embarked on an analysis to investigate the correlation between human-driven water redistribution and pole movements. They achieved this by examining climate models and utilizing observational data on pole shifts.
Initially, they modeled the expected pole movements solely based on melting from glaciers and ice sheets. Subsequently, they introduced groundwater extraction into the equation. The model’s accuracy aligned perfectly with the data when they adjusted the groundwater estimates to 2,150 gigatons, confirming the earlier observations regarding the impact of groundwater.
Therefore, it is now confirmed that redistributing Earth’s water contributes to sea level rise and pole movements. The study indicates that the poles were shifting at an approximate rate of 4.36 centimeters per year. Although the data only covers up to 2010, the study suggests that this motion may still be ongoing. With this in mind, what solutions can be proposed to minimize further pole movements and sea level rise?
Fortunately, the study also identifies the regions where the extraction of Earth’s water has the most significant impact. Groundwater depletion in the mid-latitudes of North America and northern India has been found to cause the most substantial rise and motion. Since the primary use of pumped water is for agriculture, with 70% of groundwater being utilized for this purpose, implementing technologies to reduce water waste becomes crucial in mitigating the effects of groundwater extraction on pole movements. Although any efforts in this direction would be beneficial, it is important to take immediate action to limit the rates of groundwater extraction as much as possible.
