Extraction of Gigatons of Groundwater , May Be Responsible For Polar Shift.<br />Extraction of Gigatons of Groundwater , May Be Responsible For Polar Shift.<br />According to a new study, humans extracted so <br />much groundwater between 1993 and 2010 that it <br />has contributed to the migration of Earth's poles.<br />ScienceAlert reports that the new analysis <br />was led by geophysicist Ki-Weon Seo <br />of Seoul National University.<br />The findings confirm previous estimates that <br />groundwater depletion caused by human activity <br />resulted in a polar shift of 80 centimeters toward the east.<br />The analysis was performed to reach a better <br />understanding of the polar motion phenomenon and <br />how changes in Earth's water distribution could impact it.<br />Earth's rotational pole <br />actually changes a lot. , Ki-Weon Seo, Geophysicist at Seoul <br />National University, via ScienceAlert.<br />Our study shows that among climate-related <br />causes, the redistribution of groundwater <br />actually has the largest impact on <br />the drift of the rotational pole, Ki-Weon Seo, Geophysicist at Seoul <br />National University, via ScienceAlert.<br />Humans pumped approximately 2,150 gigatons <br />of groundwater between 1993 and 2010, according <br />to 2010 estimates based on climate models.<br />Polar motion data are available <br />from as early as the late 19th century. , Ki-Weon Seo, Geophysicist at Seoul <br />National University, via ScienceAlert.<br />So, we can potentially use those <br />data to understand continental <br />water storage variations <br />during the last 100 years, Ki-Weon Seo, Geophysicist at Seoul <br />National University, via ScienceAlert.<br />Were there any hydrological <br />regime changes resulting <br />from the warming climate? <br />Polar motion could hold the answer, Ki-Weon Seo, Geophysicist at Seoul <br />National University, via ScienceAlert
