The Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric dam, located in Hubei province, China, harnesses water flow from the Qutangxia, Wuxia, and Xilingxia gorges to generate electricity. According to NASA, the massive structure, capable of holding 40 cubic kilometers of water, affects Earth's rotation, increasing the length of a day by 0.06 microseconds and shifting the pole position by about 2 centimeters.
This phenomenon highlights how human-made structures can influence the planet's moment of inertia, similar to the effects observed after major earthquakes. Scientists have noted that this shift, while small, is significant for a man-made structure.
Additionally, climate change and the redistribution of Earth's mass due to melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels are also impacting the planet's rotation, leading to longer days.
#HydroelectricPower #EarthScience
#NASA #ClimateImpact
#RenewableEnergy #EarthRotation #Hydropower #ScienceNews
