For years, human innovation has shaped the planet in profound ways.
From skyscrapers piercing the clouds to vast man-made reservoirs, our engineering feats are awe-inspiring.
Yet, some projects have effects that ripple far beyond their original purpose. One such project is China's Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, writes Ziare.
While it generates immense amounts of electricity, scientists, including those at NASA, are concerned about its unexpected impact on the planet itself.
The Three Gorges Dam is located on the Yangtze River, west of Wuhan, and was completed in 2012.
It stretches over 2 kilometers and sits 185 meters above sea level. With a capacity to generate 22,500 megawatts of electricity, the dam powers millions of homes and industries.
It also prevents flooding in low-lying areas, which has been a recurring problem in the region.
However, the scale of the project has come at significant costs. Over 1.5 million people were displaced as entire towns and cities were submerged to create the dam's massive reservoir.
NASA’s concerns go beyond the social and environmental issues tied to the dam. According to the agency, the water stored in the dam has redistributed Earth's mass enough to slow its rotation.
The reservoir can hold 40 cubic kilometers of water, equivalent to 10 trillion gallons. This shift in mass changes Earth's moment of inertia, which governs how the planet spins.
When mass moves closer to the equator, rotation slows. In this case, the dam has lengthened Earth's day by 0.06 microseconds.
Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao, a NASA geophysicist, compared this to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which shortened the day by 2.68 microseconds.
While the impact of the dam is much smaller, it demonstrates how human activities can alter planetary dynamics.
The environmental effects of the dam are also concerning. Increased seismic activity, landslides, and waterborne diseases are some of the challenges posed by the dam.
Critics argue that its benefits do not outweigh the risks.
The Three Gorges Dam is a testament to humanity’s ability to reshape the Earth.
However, it serves as a reminder that such projects can have far-reaching and unforeseen consequences.
