India's Groundwater Extraction Is Shifting The Earth's Axis, Warn Scientists
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India's excessive groundwater extraction, 25% of the world's total, is reportedly shifting the Earth's axis, potentially disrupting day-night cycles, weather patterns, and causing water shortages
NASA research shows that between 1993 and 2010, massive groundwater extraction, about 54 trillion liters in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China, shifted Earth’s axis 78 cm eastward. (AI Generated)
Excessive groundwater extraction in India, over 25% of the world’s total, has thrown the planet off balance, literally shifting it from its axis, says a new study. If it goes unchecked, it could disrupt the cycle of day and night and may lead to multiple crises, like severe food and water shortages worldwide, the report adds.
Understanding Groundwater Exploitation
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Scientists have highlighted that excessive groundwater extraction is altering the Earth’s axis, as revealed in numerous scientific studies. When water is extracted from the ground, it disturbs the land’s mass balance. The Earth attempts to redistribute this mass to maintain balance, causing shifts.
India leads the world in groundwater extraction, followed by China, the United States, and other countries.
The Phenomenon Of Polar Motion
The Earth can be compared to a spinning ball. If its mass distribution changes, its axis of rotation shifts, a phenomenon known as ‘polar motion’. Research by NASA and other institutions indicates that between 1993 and 2010, the extraction of groundwater changed the Earth’s North Pole direction. Approximately 54 trillion litres of water were extracted from groundwater in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China, shifting the Earth’s axis by about 78 cm towards the east.
India’s Groundwater Usage
India extracts the most groundwater globally, accounting for 25% of the world’s total groundwater extraction. Each year, India uses 250-260 cubic kilometres of groundwater, surpassing the combined usage of the US and China. This extensive extraction is primarily for agricultural irrigation, with crops like paddy, sugarcane, and wheat requiring significant water. Insufficient canal infrastructure, along with free or cheap electricity for farmers, exacerbates this issue.
Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are the states with the highest groundwater extraction. Cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are also witnessing rapid declines in groundwater levels.
Groundwater levels in Punjab and Haryana are falling by 0.5–1 metre annually. By 2025, 21 Indian cities, including Bengaluru and Chennai, may face severe water shortages.
The primary reason for water shortages is inadequate water management. Measures to collect and properly utilise rainwater are lacking. Land subsidence is a significant concern, with cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai experiencing sinking due to groundwater depletion. Excessive groundwater extraction is also reducing river flows, such as the Yamuna and Godavari.
Global Comparison
No other country extracts more groundwater than India. While China and the US are significant users, their extraction rates are lower relative to their populations and agricultural areas. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran are also rapidly extracting groundwater, but not to the extent of India.
Potential Consequences Of Continued Groundwater Extraction
- Climate and Weather Changes: The Earth’s axial tilt, currently around 23.5°, controls the seasons. A shift in this tilt could alter weather patterns, leading to rapid changes in summer and winter periods. Increased sunlight at the poles could accelerate ice melt, disturbing monsoon patterns and potentially causing droughts or excessive rainfall.
- Impact on Sea Levels and Coastal Areas: A shifting axis could raise polar temperatures, leading to faster melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica. This could submerge coastal cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and areas of Bangladesh, and impact ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, potentially causing a sudden drop in Europe’s temperature.
- Altered Day and Night Duration: Axis shifts may affect the Earth’s rotation, slightly altering the length of day and night. Significant tilts could result in prolonged periods of darkness or daylight at the poles, impacting crop cycles and reducing yields of key crops like wheat and rice.
- Increased Geophysical Activity: Changes in the Earth’s axis could alter internal pressures, activating tectonic plates and increasing the likelihood of earthquakes, especially in the Pacific’s Ring of Fire. Changes in ocean temperatures could also lead to more powerful storms.
At present, the axis shift is slow, at about 10 cm per year, and significant effects may take hundreds of years to manifest. However, groundwater exploitation, global warming, and ice melting are accelerating these changes.
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