Scientists have revealed that the Earth's center of mass is constantly moving with the changing seasons, as a result of changes in the distribution of water, ice, and air around the planet, in a movement that could affect the accuracy of navigation systems.
A team of scientists at NASA explained that large quantities of water, ice, and air move between different regions of the Earth throughout the year, driven by phenomena such as snowmelt, rainfall, and changes in ocean and atmospheric pressure. These changes cause the Earth's center of mass to shift around its geometric center by a few millimeters.
Felix Landerer, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and one of the study's participants, said: "Although these movements may seem small, our modern world relies on extremely precise measurements to determine positions."
Satellites and positioning systems rely on precise measurements of the Earth's position and movement, so even small changes in the distribution of its mass can affect the accuracy of these measurements.
In a study published in the journal Geophysical International, lead researcher Donald Argus and his team developed a new technique for tracking the movement of the Earth's center of mass, relying on satellite and GPS data, along with data from satellites orbiting in low Earth orbits.
The results showed that the movement of the Earth's center of mass changes throughout the year depending on the distribution of water and ice. In March, the accumulation of snow in North America and Eurasia causes the center of mass to move towards the North Pole by about three millimeters.
In April, rainfall in the Amazon basin peaks at approximately 2,400 gigatons, shifting the center of gravity by 2.2 millimeters toward South America. In November, the monsoon rains of Southeast Asia, amounting to about 600 gigatons, add a small amount to the annual variability.
Scientists also found that the Earth's center of mass moves less than previously thought. Argus said the new estimates suggest the annual back-and-forth movement is about half the size estimated eight years ago.
These changes are not limited to the Earth's center of mass, as the geographic North Pole is also moving as a result of mass redistribution, especially with the melting of ice sheets and glaciers.
According to the study, high levels of ice melt could cause the poles to move up to 27 meters by 2100, while the movement could be as low as 12 meters if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
These results highlight how sensitive the Earth is to ongoing changes in the distribution of water, ice, and air, and the importance of taking these movements into account when making the ultra-precise measurements used in navigation, mapping, and positioning.
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