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Earth's Center of Mass Drifts Less Than Previously Thought
Confirmed
In Short: NASA scientists have refined their understanding of Earth's center of mass, revealing that it shifts less than previously thought.
According to a recent study, Earth's center of mass moves by less than a millimeter due to seasonal changes and water redistribution.
To measure Earth's center of mass accurately, scientists must look to space, where satellites orbit the exact center of Earth's mass.
Any small shift in this center of mass affects the orbital trajectories of satellites.
The study, which uses twin satellites launched in 2018, maps monthly fluctuations in Earth's gravitational pull primarily due to water movement.
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's Argus mission, which tracks these oscillations, has found that 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.
The team also observed longer-term shifts in the center of mass due to geological effects such as volcanic activity and earthquakes.
Knowing Earth's center of mass down to the order of millimeters reveals some interesting facts about our planet.
Earth’s center of mass continually swivels around its geometric center by as much as several millimeters.
This study isn’t the first attempt to pin down Earth’s center of mass, but it significantly reduces the uncertainty.
The result reduces our uncertainty to less than a millimeter, according to NASA scientist Argus.
This information is crucial for satellite navigation and elevation measurements.
What this adds
This new finding reduces the uncertainty about Earth's center of mass to less than a millimeter, a significant improvement over previous estimates.
The study highlights the importance of precise measurements for satellite navigation and elevation measurements.
The research also underscores the impact of seasonal changes and geological activity on Earth's center of mass.
Background
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.
What's confirmed
- According to a recent study, Earth's center of mass moves by less than a millimeter due to seasonal changes and water redistribution.
- To measure Earth's center of mass accurately, scientists must look to space, where satellites orbit the exact center of Earth's mass.
- Any small shift in this center of mass affects the orbital trajectories of satellites.
- The study, which uses twin satellites launched in 2018, maps monthly fluctuations in Earth's gravitational pull primarily due to water movement.
- 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's Argus mission, which tracks these oscillations, has found that 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.
- The team also observed longer-term shifts in the center of mass due to geological effects such as volcanic activity and earthquakes.
- Knowing Earth's center of mass down to the order of millimeters reveals some interesting facts about our planet.
- Earth’s center of mass continually swivels around its geometric center by as much as several millimeters.
- This study isn’t the first attempt to pin down Earth’s center of mass, but it significantly reduces the uncertainty.
- The result reduces our uncertainty to less than a millimeter, according to NASA scientist Argus.
- This information is crucial for satellite navigation and elevation measurements.
What's still developing
- These allowed us to determine the center of mass to within a centimeter or so.
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- (CREDIT: Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0) Getting into space still requires throwing away an extraordinary amount of mass.
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