We explain what the Earth’s axis is, where it is located, and what Earth’s movements it is related to. We also explain what phenomena affect it.
What is the Earth’s axis?
The Earth’s axis, or polar axis, is an imaginary line 12,713 kilometers long that joins the planet’s two geographic poles (the North Pole and the South Pole), traversing it more or less perpendicular to the equator and tilted at 23° with respect to the plane of the ecliptic, that is, with respect to the apparent path traced in the sky by the sun as it rises and sets.
This imaginary line allows us to understand the different movements our planet undergoes, beyond its 365-day rotation around the Sun. In fact, the Earth’s axis represents the center of our planet’s rotation (24 hours) and also the axis on which it tilts, giving rise to the phenomenon of the seasons, since the Earth’s axis is not completely perpendicular, like that of Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury. Must Read About Spring Once.
On the other hand, the Earth’s axis is not entirely stable either. It changes orientation cyclically, over fairly long periods, giving rise to movements known as precession (every 25,767 years) and nutation (every 18.6 years), that is, the tilt and pitch movements our planet undergoes. Furthermore, the Earth’s axis also allows us to define the so-called celestial poles, which are the two imaginary points where the Earth’s axis coincides with the celestial sphere, that is, the imaginary sphere that contains the visible universe. Must Read About Lunar Eclipse Once.
Phenomena Affecting the Earth’s Axis
It is known that large earthquakes, stellar impacts, and other cataclysmic or large-scale events can influence the behavior of our planet to a greater or lesser extent, pushing the planetary axis from its 23° inclination relative to the ecliptic to approximately 27°.
There are also scientific studies that suggest a correlation between global warming and the shifting of the planet’s geographic poles (the so-called polar drift). As the world’s temperature rises, its large masses of ice melt and the distribution of weight changes, which could impact the way the Earth’s axis behaves. Must Read About Color Once.
References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- “Earth’s axis” on Wikipedia.
- “The tilt of the Earth’s axis and the phenomenon of seasons” on Astronomía.net.
- “Translation and the Earth’s axis” on the National Administration of Public Education (Uruguay).
- “How climate change is modifying the Earth’s axis” on BBC News Mundo.
- “Axis” on National Geographic.
