The Earth has tilted by 80 centimeters: something unusual is happening to our planet.

A new study has revealed that over the past 20 years, the extraction of groundwater, which serves as a source of drinking water, has caused the Earth's rotation pole to shift eastward by nearly 80 cm, as reported by IFLScience.

The rotation pole of the Earth is not a fixed point. It moves in a process known as polar motion, where the position of the planet's rotation pole changes relative to its crust.

Scientists suggest imagining a spinning top that will rotate differently if its weight is redistributed. In the case of Earth, this weight distribution of water alters the way the planet itself rotates.

"The Earth's rotation pole is undergoing significant changes. Our research indicates that among the reasons for such changes are climate change and the redistribution of groundwater," says geophysicist Ki-Won So from Seoul National University.

Groundwater is hidden beneath the surface and accumulates as a result of rainfall and other forms of precipitation. This water seeps through the ground and collects in natural aquifers, which are essentially underground reservoirs. This type of water is a crucial component of the water cycle, as it can provide people with water during dry periods.

Approximately 50% of the global population relies on groundwater for drinking, and one-third for irrigation. In the past, access to this type of water was achieved through digging wells, boreholes, and so on, but in the 20th century, groundwater began to be exploited on a much larger scale.

Between 1993 and 2010 alone, 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were extracted.

In 2016, scientists first proposed that the redistribution of water could alter the rotation of the entire planet. However, there was limited evidence to support this theory at that time.

Now, the research by Ki-Won So and his colleagues has confirmed these concerns. The team modeled changes in the drift of the Earth's rotation pole and the movement of water on the planet.

Several scenarios were created during the study, but only one matched the observed drift of 4.3 cm per year. This scenario involved the extraction of 2,150 gigatons of groundwater.

As a reminder, scientists believe that Earth is a large spaceship whose "carrying capacity" is already at its limit. Researchers compared the planet to the ISS, which represents a closed-loop system.