A dam on the Yangtze River is the only human creation that has a demonstrable effect on the Earth’s rotation. Its construction began exactly 30 years ago.
China’s Three Gorges Dam was completed in 2012.
The Chinese Three Gorges Dam (Three Gorges Dam) on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province is the largest hydropower plant in the world with a total installed capacity of 22,500 MW. It produces approximately 100 TWh of energy annually. It is so huge that it even affects the rotation of our planet.
Just for your interest, some information about this dam. The dam wall is made of concrete and steel, is 2,335 meters long and at its highest point is 185 meters above sea level. 27.2 million cubic meters of concrete and over 460,000 tons of steel were used to build the dam. During its construction, more than 100 million cubic meters of earth were removed from the area and 1.2 million people had to leave their homes. Its catchment area is approximately one million square kilometers.
When the water level is at its maximum, the dam reservoir is approximately 660 kilometers long and 1.12 kilometers wide, and its total area exceeds 700 square kilometers.
The construction of the dam began in December 1994, in 2003 the first turbines began to produce electricity, in 2006 the complete infrastructure was completed, in 2008 all planned generators were put into operation, in 2012 another underground power plant was built there, and in 2015 equalization tanks with boat lift.
The dam has the capacity to hold 39.3 billion cubic meters of water. This massive volume causes a change in the distribution of matter on Earth, leading to small but measurable effects on the planet’s rotation. According to NASA, the Earth’s rotation slows down by 0.06 microseconds because of this dam. This phenomenon causes each day to be longer by this tiny amount of time.
The explanation of this phenomenon lies in the basic principles of physics. As the mass moves closer to the equator (which happens when the dam fills), the Earth’s mass is redistributed. This effect is similar to when a figure skater slows his rotation by extending his arms. A change in the moment of inertia leads to a slowing down of the rotation.
The Three Gorges Dam plays a key role in China’s energy policy. With the aforementioned capacity of 22,500 megawatts, it provides electricity to millions of households and contributes significantly to reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. The dam also helps control floods that have plagued the region for centuries.
Despite its benefits, the dam also has its controversies. Critics point to conflicting environmental impacts, displacement of more than a million people, and potential risks associated with tectonic activity in the area. Precisely in connection with the possibility of earthquakes in the area, some critics say that the dam is literally a “time bomb” in the region that is ticking and can explode at any time with unforeseeable consequences.
Scientists from NASA, who confirmed the effect of the dam on the Earth’s rotation, claim that it sometimes fluctuates due to events such as natural disasters and the influence of the Moon. Therefore, the change caused by the dam is relatively insignificant in terms of affecting our planet. However, the fact that the Three Gorges Dam is the only man-made object with the ability to uniquely influence the Earth’s rotation cannot be overlooked.
Source: vat.pravda.sk
