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NASA Watches Earth’s Weight, Finds Center of Mass
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed a new technique to precisely track the seasonal movement of Earth's center of mass caused by shifting water, ice, and air.
Why it matters
Accurate measurements of Earth's center of mass improve global mapping and navigation systems used in shipping logistics and precision agriculture.
The details
March snow accumulation shifts the center of mass 3 millimeters toward the North Pole, while April rainfall in the Amazon moves it 2.2 millimeters toward South America. Previous international estimates from 2017 and 2023 differed by 0.27 inches. The study's results are consistent with data from the GRACE-FO mission.
What's next
The next-generation GRACE-Continuity (GRACE-C) mission is targeting a launch in late 2028.
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Key connections
Donald Argus works at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JPL geoscientist Donald Argus
Felix Landerer works at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Felix Landerer, one of the study’s coauthors at JPL
NASA is a partner of German Research Centre for Geosciences
The GRACE-FO mission is a joint partnership between NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is located in Germany
Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany
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