According to the journal Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), scientists estimate that approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were extracted between 1993 and 2010, much of which ended up in the oceans. This contributed to a rise in sea level of about six millimeters, equivalent to a shift in the Earth's axis of rotation of approximately 86.5 centimeters.
This effect is explained by the principle of conservation of angular momentum, as the redistribution of mass on Earth can alter its rotation pattern. While the axis shift was previously attributed primarily to the melting of permafrost, scientists are now also highlighting the role of groundwater movement in this phenomenon.
However, some Russian experts question these findings, explaining that the Earth's enormous size—with a radius of approximately 6,400 kilometers and a crust thickness of about 40 kilometers—limits the impact of water extraction, especially since it only occurs from the upper layers (around 300 meters). Furthermore, the extracted water returns to its natural cycle through surface runoff, evaporation, and seepage into the soil. These experts maintain that internal processes within the core and mantle remain the primary factors influencing the Earth's axis.
