Earth has tilted by 31.5 inches in 17 years, and the cause will leave you stunned

In the past 17 years, the Earth has shifted 31.5 inches to the east, and this change isn’t the result of asteroids, solar flares, or any other space-related events. The reason behind this shift? It’s the result of human activities, specifically the extraction and redistribution of vast amounts of groundwater around the world.

Research conducted by Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University, has shown that the significant movement of water has influenced the Earth's rotational pole more than any other climate-related element. Seo stated in a press release, "The shifting of groundwater has the greatest effect on the movement of the rotational pole."

From 1993 to 2010, researchers estimate that around 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were extracted and moved around the world, which could elevate sea levels by about 0.24 inches. To put this into perspective, one gigaton weighs as much as three times the total weight of all the people on the planet combined.

Why is Earth's Tilt Important? Earth's tilt, responsible for our seasons, is a result of a massive collision with a Mars-sized body known as Theia, as explained by NASA. This astronomical event caused Earth to remain at an angle on its axis, leading to the seasonal changes we experience: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Although the recent shift won't change the seasons, it may affect climate patterns around the world. Surendra Adhikari, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, cautioned that these changes could lead to unexpected consequences for the Earth's fragile balance.

The Effects of Humans on a Global Scale Groundwater is not merely vanishing; it's shifting locations. This significant movement has altered the way the Earth rotates, highlighting the substantial impact that human activity has on the planet's systems.

This discovery, first reported in Geophysical Research Letters in June 2023, is still generating discussion more than a year later, showcasing how human activities can have far-reaching effects in the universe.