A study published in the journal Geiophysical Research Letters revealed that humans pumped so much groundwater from Earth that we changed its pole of circulation.
Researchers found that our planet's orbit orbited by 31 inches (78.74 centimeters) between 1993 and 2010 due to groundwater depletion and the resulting rise in sea level.
The position of the Earth's rotation pole relative to its crust could be affected by the way the mass of water is distributed on the planet.
Scientists discovered the ability of water to change the Earth's rotation in 2016. But so far the specific contribution of groundwater has not been clear in these changes.
Kei Won-seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University who led the study, said: "The pole of rotation of the Earth changes a lot. "Our study shows that among climate-related causes, groundwater redistribution actually has the greatest impact on circulation pole deflection."
The journal pointed out that the researchers in this study prepared a model of changes observed in the deflection of the rotation pole and water movements. Initially, the models took into account only sheets and glaciers. As the research intensified, the researchers took into account the redistribution of 2150,<> gigatonnes of groundwater.
The modelling in the latest study, taking into account the redistribution of water from underground sources to the oceans, provided independent confirmation of this estimate.
Groundwater depletion involves pumping water from sources such as aquifers faster than can be replenished. This groundwater is used for agricultural purposes and is also provided to urban areas.
Once extracted, this groundwater can find its way into the ocean through runoff or through evaporation and rainfall.