Guide Note

The Chandler Wobble is a small anomaly in the Earth's axis of rotation. If the wobble was drawn it would create a spiral pattern. The Chandler Wobble has intrigued scientists for years because it refuses to fade away. This indicates that some force is acting on the Earth to continue the wobbling pattern. Scientists now believe the wobble can be attributed to "fluctuating pressure on the bottom of the ocean."¹

Fast Facts

1. Discovered by Seth Carlo Chandler in 1891
2. Cycles through a complete spiral in 14 months²
3. Caused by "fluctuating pressure on the bottom of the ocean"¹
4. Believed to be a major cause of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, El Nino and Global Warming³