In the last 25 years, Earth’s north and south poles have drifted about 13 feet. These poles are located on the planet’s axis of rotation, an invisible line running through the center of the Earth’s mass. But these points aren’t fixed, they move with the Earth’s axis.
As per a new study, our planet’s axis started shifting drastically in 1995, speeding up the polar drift considerably. The main reason behind the shift is found to be melting glaciers.
Melting glaciers are a major concern
Similar to a spinning top, Earth’s weight is evenly distributed allowing it to spin perfectly. However, if some of its weight shifts on one side, it would change the center of mass and axis of rotation, eventually leaning towards the heavier side.
Changes in the distribution of molten rocks in Earth’s outer core can change the center of mass. The distribution of water on Earth’s surface is another major aspect. It means if the glaciers melt and join the ocean, the weight of the melted water spreads across a different area.
This redistribution has been the major cause for the polar shift in the last few decades. It started around 1995 since the satellite data shows the poles were slowly moving south. But later they started shifting to the east at an accelerated rate, moving by about one-tenth of an inch per year.
Melting has increased drastically
The speed of the drift between 1995 and 2020 was 17 times higher when compared to the duration between 1982 and 1995, as per the research. The shift also aligns with accelerated melting in the north and south poles, which has led to Earth’s rising surface and ocean temperatures.
Since 1992, Greenland has seen more than 4.2 trillion tons of ice melt, raising the global sea level by 0.4 inches. Antarctica has also seen increased melting of its glaciers, losing an average of 252 billion tons of ice annually.
While the shift in Earth’s rotation might not affect our daily lives, it might very slightly increase the length of our days. Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation; however, the movement of its axis can add milliseconds to the spin time.
