NASA Claims: China Could Slow Earth’s Rotation With a Single Action – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

The Three Gorges Dam in China is a symbol of human ingenuity, providing unmatched hydroelectric power and flood control. Yet, behind its towering structure lies a startling possibility—it might be nudging Earth’s rotation ever so slightly. This phenomenon, rooted in the science of mass and inertia, illustrates the profound impact our engineering achievements can have on planetary systems. Could this be a wake-up call about the ripple effects of reshaping Earth’s landscapes?The Three Gorges Dam in China is a jaw-dropping feat of modern engineering, famous for its hydroelectric power. But there’s a lesser-known twist: it might be subtly tweaking Earth’s rotation. According to NASA, the sheer amount of water held by this massive dam could slightly throw off our planet’s rotational balance. While this change is tiny, it serves as a powerful reminder of just how much we can impact natural systems.Sitting on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China, the Three Gorges Dam claims the title of the largest hydroelectric power station on the planet. It took almost 18 years to build and was finished up in 2012. This gigantic structure stretches 2,335 meters long and stands 185 meters high, holding up to a whopping 40 cubic kilometers of water—that’s about 40 trillion liters!The main goals here are generating electricity and controlling floods, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. As water piles up behind this massive dam, it shifts a huge mass that might even tweak Earth’s spin by changing how mass is spread out.This whole idea comes from physics principles about mass distribution and something called moment of inertia. It got attention after NASA published a study in 2005 about the effects of the big earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean back in 2004. That event shifted Earth’s mass and tweaked its moment of inertia, making days shorter by about 2.68 microseconds.Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center says that similar stuff happens when humans do big things like filling up giant dams. Moving so much water can theoretically nudge Earth’s pole by around 2 centimeters and stretch out a day by roughly 0.06 microseconds.Building big dams isn’t the only way we’re messing with Earth’s spin—climate change plays a part too (think polar ice melting). Natural forces like the Moon’s pull have been slowing down our planet’s spin over thousands of years.But throwing huge structures like the Three Gorges Dam into the mix adds another layer to these influences. It’s a stark reminder that what we do can amplify natural processes that keep our world ticking.To deal with these small changes in Earth’s spinning speed, some experts suggest using something called a “negative leap second.” This would mean occasionally dropping a second from atomic clocks to keep them lined up with Earth’s slightly altered pace.Sure, this sounds minor, but it points out how important it is to keep an eye on things and adapt as our actions continue reshaping global systems.China isn’t flying solo when it comes to tapping into hydroelectric power through big dams—countries like the United States, Brazil, and India are also building massive projects that similarly shift Earth’s mass around.Looking at all these projects together worldwide could mean their overall effect is bigger than we thought. This brings up serious questions about sustainable development and what they really mean for our planet long-term.NASA’s insights into the Three Gorges Dam reveal a complex web linking human actions with nature. Even tiny changes remind us of our duty to care for our environment. As we keep constructing monumental feats or tackling climate challenges head-on, focusing on sustainability becomes vital—not just for saving ecosystems but also for keeping essential planetary functions intact for life on Earth.Got a reaction? Share your thoughts in the commentsEnjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.Yes, of course. Let’s also conveniently forget about the hundreds of other artificial lakes that are just as large, let alone the…oh, what’s the word…OCEANS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE…“Something called mass and inertia”? Good Lord, I’m sorry, but I can’t get any further into this article than that. It sounds like a college sophomore is writing a paper about an article they read, but didn’t really understand. Hey kid, you didn’t understand it because you’re not studying or researching properly. Not to mention the information is horse doo doo.And not one mention of the actual effect that daily tides have the rotation of Earth.What about when lake ayre fills🤣🤣🤣🤣it literally turns the whole middle of Aus into a lake🤣 it has 10x the waterComment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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