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The position of Earth’s axis has dramatically shifted, likely because of melting ice sheets (fueled by climate change) and natural changes in water storage on land, according to a new study in the journal Science Advances.
Erik Ivins, senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-author of the study published on Friday, told The Huffington Post that the movement of water on Earth’s surface affects the planet’s distribution of mass — and its axis — much like adding weight to a spinning top.
Scientists have long known that Earth tends to wobble as it spins, causing its poles to drift slightly. However, a dramatic shift occurred around the year 2000, when the North Pole turned east. In an attempt to understand why, Ivins and his colleague Surendra Adhikari analyzed space geodetic and satellite gravimetric data from 2003 to 2015. This data allowed the researchers to unambiguously identify the causal mechanism for the Earth’s drifting poles after 2003.
Jonathan Overpeck, professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona, who was not involved with the study, told The Guardian that “this highlights how real and profoundly large an impact humans are having on the planet.”
The position of Earth’s axis has dramatically shifted, likely because of melting ice sheets (fueled by climate change) and natural changes in water storage on land, according to a new study in the journal Science Advances.
originally posted by: BelowLowAnnouncement
a reply to: mobiusmale
I thought the earth's core decided where the poles were. I must be far, far behind on my education lol.
The science shows that magnetic pole reversal is – in terms of geologic time scales – a common occurrence that happens gradually over millennia. While the conditions that cause polarity reversals are not entirely predictable – the north pole's movement could subtly change direction, for instance – there is nothing in the millions of years of geologic record to suggest that any of the 2012 doomsday scenarios connected to a pole reversal should be taken seriously. A reversal might, however, be good business for magnetic compass manufacturers.
originally posted by: bandersnatch
The polar ice pack is larger than it was in 1979 right now.....
Is it possible that a resurgence in the pack is throwing a bigger monkey wrench into our earths motions....
I kind of doubt it....
Makes perfect sense, and the changes in the location/distribution of water and ice masses over the Earth's history may help to explain some of the more curious findings of tropical plant/animal remnants being discovered in more frigid (currently) regions of the planet.
originally posted by: Martin75
a reply to: mobiusmale
Makes perfect sense, and the changes in the location/distribution of water and ice masses over the Earth's history may help to explain some of the more curious findings of tropical plant/animal remnants being discovered in more frigid (currently) regions of the planet.
So let me understand this. Even though science shows it has already happened before, THIS TIME we are the cause?
Yeah I buy that.....Oh that's what we have to believe in order to pay the carbon taxes. Gotcha