Shocking truth about super dams like the Three Gorges Dam

Khánh Minh |

New research shows the unpredictable impact of thousands of giant super dams in the world, typically the Three Gorges Dam in China.

A newly published scientific study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters has revealed a shocking truth: Thousands of giant dams built by humans over the past nearly 200 years are shifting the Earth's poles.

The study said that the huge amount of water accumulated behind dams has caused the Earth to "float to the poles" - a scientific phenomenon called true polar wander. The north pole of the Earth has shifted a total of 1.1m from 1835 to 2011 due to the influence of hydroelectric works and man-made reservoirs.

The mechanism is simple but unbelievable: When water is retained in huge reservoirs, this volume creates redistribution of matter on the planet's surface. The Earth's crust, which is located on a flexible coating below, will move slightly from the rotation axis. And over time, this phenomenon changes the relative position of the poles.

The team analyzed 6,862 dams globally, from the 19th century to the present, with enough water storage to fill the Grand Canyon canyons twice. This water level also caused global sea levels to drop by 2.3cm - an impact that is less mentioned when discussing climate change.

Of which, the Three Gorges Dam in China is one of the most influential projects. Considered the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, the Three Gorges Dam is over 2,300m long, 181m high, and the reservoir has a capacity of 39.3 billion m3 of water, equivalent to more than 15 million Olympic swimming lakes.

Dap thuy dien Bach Hac Than o tay nam Trung Quoc, cong trinh lon thu hai sau dap Tam Hiep voi cong suat lap dat 16 trieu kW. Anh: Xinhua
Bach Hac Than Hydropower Dam in southwestern China, the second largest project after the Three Gorges Dam with an installed capacity of 16 million kW. Photo: Xinhua

The extreme flow process is divided into two distinct stages: In 1835-54, the northernmost point moved 20cm east, due to the dam being concentrated in Europe and North America.

In the period of 1954-2011, the cucum continued to deviate by 57cm to the west, due to a series of large dams springing up in Asia and Africa.

Although the shift to the poles does not cause immediate danger, according to the research team, the impact on sea levels is worrying. In the 20th century, sea levels increased by 12-17cm, but about 25% of the water that should have flowed into the ocean is now retained behind dams. This could distort climate change forecast models if not taken into account.

We are not in the ice age just because of a 1m radius shift, but it is clear that this is a major impact that humans have on the planet, said Natasha Valencic, lead author of the study.

From water retention to the rotation of the earth's axis, super dams such as the Three Gorges Dam are proving one thing: human works are not only changing the landscape, but are also re-writing the geographical map of the Earth itself.

Khánh Minh
TIN LIÊN QUAN

After storm No. 2, low pressure lines up to threaten the Philippines

|

Just a few days after Typhoon No. 2 (Typhoon Today/Bising) left the East Sea, two new low pressure systems appeared in a row in the Philippines.

Storm No. 2 has just left the East Sea, and a low pressure has reappeared near the Philippines

|

Just 2 days after Typhoon No. 2 left the East Sea, a new low pressure area appeared near the Philippines on the morning of July 8.

After the Three Gorges Dam, China has a power generation machine from 12,670 billion liters of water

|

Not the Three Gorges Dam, the Khe Lac Do hydropower plant is the place where China realizes its dream of turning 12,670 billion liters of water into clean electricity.

Close-up of an abandoned dormitory about to be converted into public housing in Ninh Binh

|

Ninh Binh - After the merger, to avoid waste, the concentrated student dormitory in Ninh Binh was converted into a public housing area to serve cadres, civil servants...

Football prediction PSG vs Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final

|

In Sports Perspective No. 223, commentator Quang Tung commented on the FIFA Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea.

Shocking statement about Germany's ability to make nuclear weapons

|

Germany has enough capacity and materials to develop nuclear weapons in just a few months if it wants to.

A plane carrying 300 people urgently landed on a strange island, stranded in the middle of the ocean

|

The US plane carrying nearly 300 people made an emergency landing in the middle of the ocean, stranded for more than 31 hours on a strange island.

After storm No. 2, low pressure lines up to threaten the Philippines

Ngọc Vân |

Just a few days after Typhoon No. 2 (Typhoon Today/Bising) left the East Sea, two new low pressure systems appeared in a row in the Philippines.

Storm No. 2 has just left the East Sea, and a low pressure has reappeared near the Philippines

Song Minh |

Just 2 days after Typhoon No. 2 left the East Sea, a new low pressure area appeared near the Philippines on the morning of July 8.

After the Three Gorges Dam, China has a power generation machine from 12,670 billion liters of water

Song Minh |

Not the Three Gorges Dam, the Khe Lac Do hydropower plant is the place where China realizes its dream of turning 12,670 billion liters of water into clean electricity.