China’s Three Gorges Dam Is So Big It Changes Earth’s Spin

The article discusses how the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam in China, has a measurable effect on Earth’s rotation. Although the change is minuscule, it is significant for a human-made structure. The dam, by holding an immense volume of water, alters the Earth’s mass distribution, leading to a slight increase in the length of a day and a shift in Earth’s pole position. This phenomenon is similar to the impact of earthquakes on Earth’s rotation and the effects of climate change on melting ice caps. While the effect is negligible in our daily lives, it may have implications for highly precise timekeeping devices.

https://www.iflscience.com/its-true-chinas-three-gorges-dam-is-so-big-it-changes-earths-spin-75997

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