--- title: "Earth's Shape Changing at Unprecedented Rate Due to Climate Change" url: https://newscentral.site/earth-s-shape-changing-at-unprecedented-rate-due-to-climate-change/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Science" published: 2026-10-22T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-22T14:29:33.763Z id: 8fa09e7f-a86b-410c-ad4a-450bf3c9840c source: "Live Science https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change-is-literally-altering-the-shape-of-our-planet" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/earth-s-shape-changing-at-unprecedented-rate-due-to-climate-change/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Earth's Shape Changing at Unprecedented Rate Due to Climate Change A new study has found that human-induced climate change is causing the Earth's shape to become progressively rounder due to melting of polar ice caps. Climate change is causing Earth's shape to shift at an unprecedented rate, a new study has revealed. The research indicates that our planet is becoming progressively rounder due to human-induced climate change. The findings suggest that the melting of polar ice caps is driving this transformation, resulting in changes to the Earth's gravitational field and, consequently, its shape. This phenomenon is not limited to the polar regions alone but is having a global impact on the planet's solid mass. Scientists believe that tracking the Earth's shape can provide valuable insights into the effects of climate change. The study employed direct measurements from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to monitor the changes in the planet's shape over time. This system provides precise data, but its limitations must be considered when interpreting the results. For instance, there is a scarcity of GNSS stations near the North and South poles due to the difficulty of deploying them in these remote areas. The new study builds on existing knowledge that Earth is not a perfect sphere but rather an oblate spheroid, meaning it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges in the middle. However, the research shows that this shape is changing at an accelerated rate due to human activities. The Earth's shape is changing due to climate change, and researchers have found a way to measure these changes more accurately. A new method developed by Christoforos Kotsakis, a professor of geodesy at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, has been used to analyze GNSS data from 2011 to 2015. This analysis revealed that the Earth's poles are rising and its equatorial bulge is shrinking at an annual rate of about 0.04 inch (1 millimeter) per year. The changes observed in the planet's shape are relatively small, considering the Earth's diameter at the equator is approximately 7,926 miles (12,756 kilometers). However, these changes are significant compared to previous observations from 1997-2000, when the Earth was becoming about 0.02 inch (0.5 mm) rounder per year. The shift in the planet's shape is primarily driven by polar ice melt, which reduces pressure on the Earth's crust and allows it to rise slowly. This process is similar to how a piece of bread dough springs back after being pressed with a finger, Kotsakis noted. Meanwhile, increased mass at the equator puts additional pressure on the crust there, causing its bulge to decrease. The researchers found that when considering both the solid Earth and the ocean together, the planet is becoming flatter by about 0.03 inches (0.8 mm) per year. This is because the ocean is expanding at the equator as water shifts away from the poles, placing additional weight on the crust there. However, this 'water weight' effect is currently overwhelming the rounding that's happening in the rock below, causing the planet to become flatter rather than rounder. The effects of climate change are not limited to rising sea levels or extreme weather events. Research has also shown that these shifts are causing the Earth's rotation to slow down. This is a significant consequence of climate change, as it can have far-reaching impacts on global timekeeping and navigation systems. To track the changing shape of the planet, scientists use measurements of its gravity field. The mass of different regions affects the gravitational pull in those areas, resulting in variations in the gravity field. However, these gravity field measurements don't perfectly match up with changes detected by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The discrepancy between GNSS data and gravity field measurements indicates that the planet's shape and gravity field are not in perfect sync. This suggests that other factors beyond just climate change may be influencing the Earth's shape. Despite this discrepancy, researchers can still use both methods to track the major effects of climate change on the planet's shape. The melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as changes in ocean currents, are among the most significant impacts of climate change that scientists are monitoring. These combined measurements provide a more comprehensive understanding of how climate change is altering the Earth's shape, including its gravity field and rotation rate. By continuing to monitor these changes, scientists can better understand the long-term consequences of climate change on our planet. As the Earth's climate continues to change, scientists have observed a noticeable shift in the planet's shape. This phenomenon is not just limited to rising sea levels and melting glaciers; it also involves the actual reshaping of landmasses. The process is driven by the redistribution of weight caused by melting ice sheets, which alters the Earth's gravitational field and leads to changes in the planet's rotation. The effects are being felt globally, with some areas experiencing a slight increase in height while others sink due to the loss of ice mass. This ongoing transformation has significant implications for our understanding of climate change and its long-term consequences for the planet. --- Source: [Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change-is-literally-altering-the-shape-of-our-planet) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/earth-s-shape-changing-at-unprecedented-rate-due-to-climate-change/