Groundwater Depletion Alters Earth's Axis, Study Reveals
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News
A new study has found that excessive pumping of groundwater by humans is not only causing sea levels to rise but also shifting the Earth's axis. Groundwater depletion, which accounts for almost all freshwater on the planet, is being extracted faster than it can naturally recharge, leading to a transfer of water mass from continents to oceans. This has caused the Earth's rotational pole to drift by 64.16 degrees east at about 4.36 centimeters per year from 1993 to 2010. While the impact on the planet's axis is negligible, the rise in sea levels and negative effects on ecosystems are concerning. Without better water management, a significant number of watersheds may struggle to maintain healthy ecosystems by 2050.