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?
Show answer
Answer: B. Statement I is correct: studies (e.g. Nature Geoscience 2024, PNAS 2024) show Earth's spin axis is drifting and its rotation is slowing slightly. Statement III is correct and explains it: melting polar ice sends water towards the equator, shifting mass, which slows rotation (longer days) and moves the axis. Statement II is correct as a fact (solar flares and CMEs, as in the May 2024 storms, hit the upper atmosphere with huge energy) but this does not shift Earth's axis. So both are correct but only III explains I.
Watch for: Statement II is a true and dramatic space-weather fact but has no link to Earth's rotation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong: solar flares do not change Earth's rotation or axis, so Statement II does not explain Statement I.
- C. Wrong: both Statement II and Statement III are correct.
- D. Wrong: both Statement II and Statement III are correct.
Source to check: ETH Zurich-led studies in PNAS (July 2024) on day length and Nature Geoscience (July 2024) on polar motion; NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center on the May 2024 geomagnetic storm
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.