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Earth's Center of Mass Shifts Seasonally, NASA Study Shows
Confirmed
In Short: NASA's Space Geodesy Project has revealed that Earth's center of mass moves significantly each year due to seasonal changes, water redistribution, and snow accumulation.
NASA’s Space Geodesy Project is tracking Earth’s center of mass, which moves up to 3 millimeters toward the North Pole due to snow accumulation in March. Water redistribution and seasonal changes also cause shifts, with the center of mass moving by fractions of an inch. This movement is crucial for satellite navigation and elevation measurements.
According to Argus from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 'We’re now estimating the size of the movement of Earth’s mass center back and forth each year to be about half of what we believed it to be eight years ago.' The study uses ultraprecise satellite tracking to estimate these displacements, which are caused by the redistribution of water and snow.
Snow accumulation in North America and Eurasia reaches a maximum in March, shifting Earth’s center of mass about 3 millimeters toward the North Pole. Cold, dense winter air also tips the scales over Arabia, Asia, and northern Africa around December 21, and over South America and South Africa around June 21. Water sloshing between the land and oceans further contributes to these shifts.
Water redistribution and seasonal changes are key factors in Earth’s center of mass movement. NASA scientists are tracking these oscillations to improve satellite navigation and elevation measurements. The study highlights the dynamic nature of Earth’s mass distribution, which changes with the seasons.
What's confirmed
- In fact, dense metal satellites, launched in 1976 and 1992, are dedicated exclusively to this purpose.
- “We’re now estimating the size of the movement of Earth’s mass center back and forth each year to be about half of what we believed it to be eight years ago,” said Argus.
- They found that snow accumulation in North America and Eurasia reaches a maximum in March and shifts Earth’s center of mass about 3 millimeters toward the North Pole.
- Seasonal changes redistribute enough water around Earth to shift the planet’s center of mass back and forth by fractions of an inch relative to its geometric center.
- NASA scientists are on the case, tracking the oscillations because Earth’s center of mass is a crucial reference point for satellite navigation and elevation measurements.
- The authors paint a vivid picture of springtime thaws, churning oceans, and dense winter air shifting massive surface loads from season to season.
- The study isn’t the first attempt to pin down Earth’s center of mass.
- If Earth were a hard blue marble, its center of mass would simply overlap its geometric center.
What's still developing
- As the seasons change, Earth transfers mass from some locations to pack on the gigatons in others.
- Launched in 2018, the mission is made up of twin satellites that map monthly fluctuations in Earth’s gravitational pull due primarily to the mass movement of water above and below ground.
- Because of this, Earth’s center of mass continually swivels around its geometric center by as much as several millimeters.
- German startup Isar Aerospace on Sunday said it would rapidly expand satellite deployments after the first orbital launch of its Spectrum rocket from Arctic Norway, a milestone for Europe’s efforts to secure independent access to space.