Science

Basically, it turns out that groundwater pumping significantly affects Earth's tilt and rotation. The redistribution of water alters the planet's mass distribution, causing a measurable shift in its rotational axis. According to the study, the effect is larger than previously thought. The location of water removal also matters. Pumping groundwater from midlatitudes, like western North America and northwestern India, has the biggest impact on Earth's tilt. While this does contribute to sea level rise in the long run, there's nothing to be immediately worried about.