Since its formation, the planet Earth rotates on its own axis every 24 hours, completing one revolution. While this hasn’t changed, scientists have noticed a difference in their rotation: between 1993 and 2010, the axis of rotation tilted 80 centimeters to the east.

Compared to the size of the planet, a displacement of 80 centimeters may seem small, but it is important information for scientists about events taking place on Earth. As a result of the research, new studies have been carried out that show this the change in rotation is due to climate change and the extraction of underground water.

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The conclusion that the extraction of water from the subsurface influences the rotation came from one of the effects of climate changewhich one is the melting of ice and glaciers. This causes a shift in the distribution of water on the planet, causing it to tilt in the other direction.

Similarly, the massive withdrawal of underground water and the weight distributed by the planet is the second most important factor of the rotational axis change. This was confirmed by a study published in Geophysical Survey Letters.

According to Ki-Weon Seo, Professor of Earth Sciences at Seoul National University and lead author of the study, the pumped groundwater evaporates into the atmosphere or flows into rivers and ends up in the oceans through precipitation or discharge.

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And as the population grows and the agricultural sector grows, the extraction of water from the subsoil will continue to increase. It is already estimated that some 284 billion liters of water are extracted every year.

Climate change will also affect the continuation of water extraction as drought will increase the need for this vital fluid.