North Pole's Accelerated Shift Linked to Greenland and Antarctic Ice Melt: Study Reveals Impact on Earth's Rotation

A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals the North Pole is shifting at an accelerated rate due to massive ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica. Conducted by scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), the study indicates that melting glaciers are redistributing the planet's mass, altering its rotational balance. This shift affects the Earth's moment of inertia, causing the geographic pole to change position gradually. Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, a researcher at the University of Vienna, emphasized that human impact on the Earth's axis now exceeds the residual effects of ancient glaciations, positioning human activity as a primary geophysical agent. The study suggests incorporating this variable into orbital calculations for future space missions and advanced navigation technology development. Researchers also propose further investigation using paleoclimatic data to better understand polar responses to previous global warming periods, aiding in more accurately measuring anthropogenic influence on current planetary dynamics.