Posted on 11/15/2025 1:18:32 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Water has power. So much power, in fact, that pumping Earth’s groundwater can change the planet’s tilt and rotation. It can also impact sea-level rise and other consequences of climate change.
Pumping groundwater appears to have a greater consequence than ever previously thought. But now—thanks to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters—we can see that, in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater. This equates to .24 inches of sea level rise.
“Earth’s rotational pole actually changes a lot,” Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and study lead, says in a statement. “Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.”
With the Earth moving on a rotational pole, the distribution of water on the planet impacts distribution of mass. “Like adding a tiny bit of weight to a spinning top,” authors say, “the Earth spins a little differently as water is moved around.”
NASA research published in 2016 alerted us to the fact that the distribution of water can change the Earth’s rotation. This study in Geophysical Research Letters attempts to add some hard figures to that realization. “I’m very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift,” Seo says. “On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, I’m concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise.”
The study included data from 1993 through 2010, and showed that the pumping of as much as 2,150 gigatons of groundwater has caused a change in the Earth’s tilt of roughly 31.5 inches. The pumping is largely for irrigation and human use, with the groundwater eventually relocating to the oceans.
In the study, researchers modeled observed changes in the drift of Earth’s rotational pole and the movement of water. Across varying scenarios, the only model that matched the drift was one that included 2,150 gigatons of groundwater distribution.
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I noticed that nowhere did they quantify what the 31.5 inches means. IF that 31.5 inch change is accurate, then how much tilt until there is a consequence? Will it take 10,000,000 years until there’s a consequence?
Instead it was generalized fear-mongering about sea change and climate change.
In other news, the sky has falled 31.5 inches due to heavy rain clouds.
“Chandler Wobble”. I looked it up. Makes sense. I learn something new everyday on FR! Thanks! Problem is if Americans don’t even remember 911, know nothing of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or any history other than from Obama on, how can we expect them to know anything about the Chandler wobble?
Has Algore concurred?
“Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater.” Well, thank Goodness it hasn’t tilted 32 inches or we really could be in trouble.
Wait, wait.
True, true, and unrelated?
Thinking is hard.
Already known as Earth’s orbital precession.
Natural.
Normal.
These people are dumb as sh*t.
The oceans were once so low that Asia was connect to Alaska and the Native Americans walked here!
The climate has been everywhere!
They’ve got it all figured out. As in, we’re all dead unless we pay them.
Can someone show me the datum from which these measurements are derived?
Chandler Wobble probably is the most likely answer.
or you are wearing earth shoes
Earth just said FAFO
If I were on Guam, I would really be nervous.
It's a self-contained MIRACLE, this planet of ours. Why, it's almost as if it were Divinely Designed for us or something! *SMIRK*
Must be all those illegal aliens that came into America tipping the planet. 🤪
Ugh so Popular Mechanics has been hijacked too. Nothing is safe.
But then, I grew up in the 70's and all of us Terrariums 'cuz we were THAT cool. ;)
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