There are certain things in life that we have no control over, like the speed of the Earth’s rotation. Well, that’s the case for most of us, anyway. China’s Three Gorges Dam is a rare exception. With a length of 2,335 meters and a height of 185 meters, it’s known as the largest dam in the entire world. And now this very dam is confirmed to be slowing down the Earth.
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Hard to imagine, right? Well, it turns out that containing 10 trillion gallons of water at 175 meters above sea level can add significant weight and energy. In turn, the Earth’s rotation has been impacted — but only by a small amount: 0.06 microseconds. While this length of time is short, the fact that it’s even possible is incredible.
@dailymail NASA has confirmed that China’s Three Gorges Dam has slowed Earth’s rotation, increasing the length of a day by 0.06 microseconds. Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center says the shift is due to the enormous volume of water—about 10 trillion gallons—stored in the dam’s reservoir, located 175 meters above sea level. By redistributing this mass, the dam has subtly altered Earth’s moment of inertia, similar to how a spinning figure skater slows down when extending their arms. While the effect is incredibly small—adding just over three extra days across the age of the universe—it’s a striking example of how human engineering can influence the planet’s rotation. #news #china #nasa #space ♬ Lets Go Gaming – sofians
“For reference, this amounts to a bit more than 3 days over the entire age of the universe,” Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao, a geophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, says.
NASA Confirms Three Gorges Dam is Slowing Earth’s Rotation
NASA explains that the volume of this water has shifted our planet’s mass. In other words, there’s been a shift in inertia. Something similar happens when a figure skater stretches out their arms in order to slow down their spin. Needless to say, folks online have a lot to say about this surprising change to the Earth.
“I’ll use the extra seconds to sleep more. Thanks China,” one person jokes, another adding, “Finally these weekends will start feeling like a weekend instead of a 30-minute lunch break.”
Obviously, this change in the Earth’s rotation won’t have a direct impact on our everyday lives. That said, it’s still an awesome discovery. It goes to show what human engineering is capable of doing!
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