Q. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.
Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.
Statement III: As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct: Scientific studies confirm that the Earth’s rotation and axis are experiencing shifts, primarily influenced by climate change and human activities. These changes include a wobble in the axis of rotation and a slowing of the Earth’s spin.
Statement II is correct: Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are powerful bursts of energy and matter released from the sun. They can bombard Earth’s atmosphere with energy and most of this energy is reflected back into space by the Earth’s magnetic field. However, these energy bursts do not contribute to shifts in Earth’s rotation or axis.
Statement III is correct: When polar ice caps and glaciers melt, the resulting water redistributes across the planet, primarily moving towards the equator due to gravitational equilibrium and centrifugal forces from Earth’s rotation. This redistribution of mass has a measurable effect on the inertia and balance of the planet, which can lead to a shift in the rotation axis. This is much like how a spinning top shifts direction if its internal weight is redistributed.
Statement III is correct and the main explanation for why the Earth’s axis is shifting — due to mass redistribution from melting ice moving toward the equator. Therefore, the correct answer is b
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/do-solar-storms-cause-heat-waves-earth
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