NASA scientists have reported that due to the construction of the massive “Three Gorges” hydroelectric dam in China, Earth’s day has become longer by 0.06 microseconds, and the planet’s axis has shifted by 2 cm.
This is because the enormous volume of water accumulated in the dam’s reservoirs altered Earth’s mass distribution, increasing its moment of inertia. This phenomenon is similar to the slowing of a figure skater’s spin when they extend their arms.
The “Three Gorges” hydroelectric station is the largest engineering structure in the world by installed capacity and mass, capable of generating up to 22.5 GW of electricity — equivalent to the power of 15 nuclear reactors.
