space.com
Oct 13, 2026
Earth’s poles shifted surprisingly fast during the age of dinosaurs, ancient sea levels reveal
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
New research from the University of Oslo shows that Earth’s geographic poles moved rapidly during the age of dinosaurs, overturning previous assumptions that true polar wander was slow. By analyzing sea‑level changes recorded in ancient sediments, scientists identified four distinct episodes of pole shift between 200 million and 20 million years ago. During these bursts, the planet’s surface shifted up to 0.6° per million years, a rate far faster than the current 10 cm per year. The findings reveal that mass redistribution from plate tectonics can trigger swift, large‑scale reorientation of the crust relative to the spin axis, reshaping global climate patterns.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The study demonstrates that Earth’s poles can reposition quickly, altering climate and ecosystems on a geological timescale.
- · This insight refines models of past climate change and informs predictions of how future tectonic activity may influence Earth’s climate system.
