Planet Earth is our home. It is the only planet that provides the environment and resources necessary for life to thrive. It offers a unique combination of elements, including oxygen, water, and a suitable climate, that supports diverse ecosystems and all forms of life. The Earth’s rotation, the spinning of our planet around its axis, is responsible for the cycle of day and night. The Earth rotates from west to east, completing one full rotation every 24 hours, which gives us a 24-hour day. But what if we tell you an enormous construction is slowing down Earth? Here’s what NASA has to say…
Once again, China has made headlines. But this time, the attention is on its Three Gorges Dam, which has reportedly had an impact on the Earth’s rotation. The question arises: is Xi Jinping planning to destroy the world? Well, read the detailed story here.
Recent research by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has uncovered an intriguing link between human engineering and planetary dynamics. According to the media reports, China’s Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in the world, has been found to slightly reduce Earth’s rotation by 0.06 microseconds per day. This phenomenon is caused by the dam’s enormous reservoir, which redistributes the Earth’s mass and subtly alters its moment of inertia. This discovery underscores the profound and often unforeseen effects of large-scale human activities on natural systems.
The Three Gorges Dam’s reservoir, which holds a staggering 40 billion cubic meters of water, leads to a substantial redistribution of mass on Earth. As the water accumulates, it shifts the distribution of weight across the planet’s surface, resulting in changes to its rotational dynamics.
“Redistribution of mass within the Earth’s system produces an effect on Earth’s rotation. While the delay of 0.06 microseconds per day may seem negligible, it is a measurable consequence of this redistribution,” Benjamin Fong Chao, a NASA scientist, was quoted as saying by the Economics Times. The effect is based on the principle that moving mass closer to the poles accelerates Earth’s rotation, whereas shifting it toward the equator causes a slowdown.
The Three Gorges Dam is a remarkable feat of human engineering, rising 185 meters above the Yangtze River and stretching over 2 kilometers. It produces an impressive 22,500 megawatts of electricity, exceeding the energy production of many countries.
In 2020, the dam set a record by generating 112 terawatt-hours of electricity, cementing its role as a major source of renewable energy. However, its influence reaches beyond energy production, impacting Earth’s physical characteristics, including its rotation.
Earth’s moment of inertia refers to how easily it can spin, based on how its mass is distributed around its axis. If mass moves towards the equator, the planet slows down, and if it moves towards the poles, the planet speeds up.
