Study Finds Earth's Geographic Poles Shifted Four Times in 320 Million Years

A study released on October 1 in Science reveals four significant instances of true polar wander occurring over the last 320 million years. Mathew Domeier, the lead researcher from the University of Oslo, noted that current satellite observations indicate this phenomenon persists today, moving approximately ten centimeters each year due to the melting of ice caps. The research team examined ancient sea-level fluctuations and pinpointed four critical intervals: Oligocene to Miocene (20-30 million years ago), mid-Cretaceous (90-100 million years ago), Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (140-150 million years ago), and Early Jurassic (190-200 million years ago). These results challenge the perception of true polar wander as insignificant, highlighting its potential impact on sea-level changes and global dynamics. Future research will aim to understand the causes and scope of these events.