Headline: Polar Ice Melt Shifts Earth's Axis: What to Expect by 2100

Short Headline: Ice Melt Shifts Axis

Melting ice in Antarctica and Greenland is causing a shift in Earth's rotation axis due to changes in mass distribution. According to NASA, Antarctica is losing ice at an average rate of about 136 billion tons per year, while Greenland is losing about 267 billion tons per year. This redistribution of water affects the planet's balance and, consequently, the rotational pole.

Satellite data analysis suggests that under a pessimistic climate scenario, the rotational pole could be displaced by 27 meters by 2100, relative to its position in 1900. Even with reduced emissions in a more optimistic scenario, a displacement of approximately 12 meters is still likely. It's important to note that this shift refers to the rotational pole and differs from the geographic and magnetic poles.

This phenomenon occurs because when ice sheets melt, the water flows towards the equator, causing the Earth to become thicker around its waistline. This change in mass distribution affects the planet's rotation. The melting of ice sheets and glaciers contributes to changes in polar motion, influencing the Earth's wobble and axis location.

The melting of ice in Greenland is the largest contributor to this motion, with Antarctic melt also playing a significant role, especially under high emission scenarios. These shifts have implications for satellite navigation, deep space missions, and Earth observation tools, all of which rely on precise coordinate systems.