Earth’s center is moving, and NASA just measured it
NASA scientists have developed a precise method to measure the seasonal shifting of Earth's center of mass caused by the movement of water, ice, and air. This data is critical for improving the accuracy of satellite navigation and global elevation measurements.
Why it matters
Precise tracking of Earth's mass distribution is essential for maintaining the accuracy of GPS and other global positioning technologies.
Earth's center of mass does not stay perfectly still. As water, ice, and air move around the planet with the seasons, they redistribute enough weight to push the center of mass back and forth by fractions of an inch relative to Earth's geometric center.
NASA scientists carefully track this subtle motion because Earth's center of mass serves as an essential reference point for satellite navigation and measurements of surface elevation.
Researchers led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have now developed a method designed to measure these seasonal shifts with exceptional precision. Their technique and results are described in a new study published in Geophysical Journal International .
The research shows how major seasonal changes, including melting snow, moving ocean water, and dense winter air, redistribute enormous amounts of mass across Earth's surface.
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