Latest news with #dams
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
Earth's Poles Are Drifting Because of Massive Dam Construction Projects That Are Altering the Planet's Balance and Gravity
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 The construction of over 6,862 dams since the 19th century has significantly shifted Earth's polar alignment . since the 19th century has significantly shifted Earth's . 📊 These structures have caused the poles to move approximately 44.5 inches, impacting global sea levels by reducing them by 0.83 inches. by reducing them by 0.83 inches. 🔄 The shift in dam construction from North America and Europe to East Africa and Asia has led to further polar drift . . 🌊 As human activities reshape Earth's structure, the need for a sustainable balance between development and environmental impact is more crucial than ever. The rapid expansion of dam construction has reshaped our planet in unforeseen ways. Since the early 19th century, the proliferation of dams has altered the distribution of Earth's water masses, leading to a measurable shift in the planet's poles. This transformation, driven by humanity's ever-growing demand for resources, has sparked both intrigue and concern among scientists and environmentalists alike. As we delve into the details, it becomes evident that the effects of these structures are far-reaching, influencing not only our environment but also the very axis upon which our world spins. The Surge of Dam Construction: 6,862 Built Between 1835 and 2011 Earth, an imperfect sphere, experiences shifts in its rotational axis due to the uneven distribution of its mass. This phenomenon, known as polar drift, has been significantly influenced by the construction of artificial reservoirs, groundwater extraction, glacier melting, and the resulting sea level rise. Recent studies by researchers at Harvard University have highlighted the impact of this extensive dam-building activity over the past two centuries. From 1835 to 2011, a staggering 6,862 dams were constructed, each contributing to the alteration of Earth's mass distribution. By analyzing the volume of water retained by these structures, researchers determined their influence on polar drift. Astonishingly, dams alone have shifted the poles by approximately 44.5 inches, while simultaneously causing a 0.83-inch decrease in global sea levels during the studied period. These findings underscore the profound impact of human engineering on our planet's natural systems. 'They Call This Eco-Conscious?': Mark Zuckerberg's $300 Million Superyacht Sparks Outrage as Climate Hypocrisy Reaches Absurd New High Tracking the Polar Drift: A Global Perspective The early phase of massive dam construction, spanning from 1835 to 1954, saw a concentration of efforts in North America and Europe. This led to a shift of the poles toward the equator, with the North Pole drifting approximately 7.9 inches towards the 103rd meridian east, a line that traverses Russia, Mongolia, China, and the Indochinese Peninsula. As dam construction efforts shifted to East Africa and Asia in the latter half of the 20th century, the poles continued to drift. Notably, the construction of the colossal Three Gorges Dam in China exemplifies this shift. Consequently, the poles drifted about 22.4 inches toward the 117th meridian west, crossing western North America and the South Pacific. Natasha Valencic, the lead author of a new study, emphasizes that while a polar shift of approximately 39.4 inches won't usher in a new ice age, it has significant implications for sea levels. Ovik Mkrtchyan on Integrating Green Thinking into Emerging Economies Implications of Human Activity on Earth's Structure Beyond the immediate impact on polar drift, the extensive construction of dams and other human activities have reshaped Earth's deeper structure. Earlier this year, a study revealed that the desiccation of the Aral Sea, driven by human actions, altered the planet's substructure. These changes highlight the intricate connections between human endeavors and Earth's geophysical characteristics. As we continue to harness natural resources to meet the demands of a growing population, it becomes imperative to consider the broader implications of these actions. The interplay between engineered structures and Earth's natural systems is complex, and understanding these dynamics is crucial for sustainable development. 'These Trees Turn CO2 Into Stone': Amazed Scientists Hail Kenya's One-of-a-Kind Forest as the Ultimate Breakthrough Against Climate Change Balancing Human Progress and Environmental Impact The construction of dams has undoubtedly played a crucial role in human progress, providing water for agriculture, generating hydroelectric power, and regulating river systems. However, the unintended consequences of these structures are becoming increasingly apparent. As scientists delve deeper into the effects of polar drift and other geophysical changes, the need for a balanced approach to development becomes clear. In light of these findings, the challenge lies in advancing human progress while minimizing environmental impact. By adopting sustainable practices and investing in alternative energy sources, we can strive to mitigate the effects of our past actions on Earth's delicate balance. The question remains: how can we continue to innovate and grow while safeguarding the planet for future generations? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (25)
Zawya
17-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Water Reservoirs in Central Region in Good Condition
Eng. Abraham Daniel, head of Agricultural Infrastructure in the Central Region, reported that the dams and micro-dams in the region are in good condition. Indicating that there are 87 dams and 45 micro-dams in the region, Eng. Abraham said that they have collected a total of over 70 million cubic meters of water. He further noted that 12 of the dams, with a combined capacity of over 50 million cubic meters, are supplying potable water to urban and rural residents, while the remaining ones are serving agricultural development and household needs. Eng. Abraham also said that the construction of the dams in Arberobu'e and Dirfo have been finalized this year, while construction of the dam in Adi-Hawush is ongoing. He noted that the dams constructed in collaboration with the public and members of the Defense Forces have brought satisfaction to residents and are contributing to the enrichment of underground water in the areas. He also called on the public to conduct regular follow-ups to ensure the sustainability of the dams and micro-dams. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How Humanity's Use Of Water Is Nudging Earth's Tilt
A spinning globe model visualizing how Earth's geographic poles coincide with an imaginary axis ... More around which the planet rotates. In the last 200 years humanity has constructed over 6,800 dams for agricultural use, as drink-water storage and to generate hydroelectric power. Together, they hold so much water that Earth's tilt is changing. Earth's geographic poles, which are the points around which the planet rotates, move with respect to the surface during a process called polar motion in response to the distribution of Earth's mass. The same physical principle can be seen on a much smaller scale during a hammer throw competition, as the swirling mass of the "hammer" — a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip — forces the athlete to wobble around the center of rotation. Over geological time, the gravitational pull of Sun and Moon, growing or shrinking ice sheets and the slow drift of the continents will move mass around and cause Earth's poles to shift, but human activity can cause significant changes on a much smaller timescale. 'As we trap water behind dams, not only does it remove water from the oceans, thus leading to a global sea level fall, it also distributes mass in a different way around the world,' says Natasha Valencic, a graduate student in Earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University and lead author of a new study. Valencic and her colleagues used a global database of dams to map the locations of each dam and the amount of water each impounds, comparing their construction history with recorded shifts of Earth's poles. From 1835 to 1954, many dams were built in North America and Europe, shifting these areas toward the equator. The North Pole moved 20.5 centimeters (8 inches) toward the 103rd meridian east, which passes through Russia, Mongolia, China, and the Indochina Peninsula. Then, from 1954 to 2011, dams were built in East Africa and Asia, and the pole shifted 57 centimeters (22 inches) toward the 117th meridian west, which passes through western North America and the South Pacific. Over the entire period from 1835 to 2011, the poles moved about 113 centimeters (3.7 feet), with about 104 centimeters (3.4 feet) of movement happening in the 20th century. Already in 2023, Seo et al. published a similar study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters focusing on groundwater use. By pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere, humans have shifted such a large mass of water that the Earth tilted nearly 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) east between 1993 and 2010 alone. The melting of glaciers and ice caps due to climate change, resulting in a mass shift from the poles to the equator, is expected to amplify this effect further, as a study published in the journal Science Advances suggested as early as 2016. Observed polar motion (red arrow labelled 'OBS') due to water/groundwater mass redistribution Earth's poles normally change by several meters within a year due to the planet's natural wobbling, so the observed changes don't run the risk of catastrophic consequences. However, such studies highlight how profoundly human activity can influence the entire planet. The study,"True Polar Wander Driven by Artificial Water Impoundment: 1835–2011," was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Additional material provided by Samson Reiny for the American Geophysical Union.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Iraq plans to build 10 dams to harvest desert rains, as drought displaces 10,000 families in Dhi Qar
LONDON: Iraq has announced plans to build 10 dams to harvest water in desert areas, as part of an urgent strategy to boost water security amid dwindling supplies. The effects of climate change and the construction of dams in neighboring countries, including Turkiye, have significantly affected water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which are vital lifelines for Iraqis. The Iraqi minister of water resources, Awn Dhiab Abdullah, said on Monday that the dams would store floodwater and rainwater in the desert to build up strategic reserves, especially in provinces lacking in surface-water resources. 'The shortage the country is experiencing is the most dangerous in its history, forcing 12 provinces to rely exclusively on groundwater to cover their various needs,' he said. Dhi Qar, which is in southern Iraq, has experienced one of its worst summers on record, with severe water shortages and drought forcing nearly 10,000 families in rural areas to abandon their homes and migrate to urban areas. Abdullah said that more than half of Iraq's desert region relies on groundwater supplies. He emphasized the importance of water-harvesting projects and the need to reduce dependence on traditional sources.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Whoopsie, Humans Built So Many Dams That We Shifted the North Pole by 3 Feet
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Humanity's impact on the planet is so immense that our engineered megastructures have altered the very rotation of the planet. A new study from Harvard University analyzes how dam building—primarily the two stages that spanned from 1835 to 2011—has caused the Earth's poles to move roughly three feet. In addition to changing the Earth's rotation, dams have caused a global decrease in water levels. Dams have long been one of humanity's greatest tools for controlling the world's water. The very first dams, constructed in ancient Mesopotamia, were used for many of the same purposes as they are today: water irrigation and flood control (though, a few centuries later, we now also use them to generate hydropower). But as the era of big dams truly got underway in the 19th and 20th centuries, we've also begun to learn about the unintended consequences of these dams. They drastically disturb natural ecosystems, negatively impact water quality, and exacerbate soil erosion—oh, and they've also altered the location of the Earth's poles. In a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a team of scientists at Harvard University details their discovery that the rampant construction of dams from 1835 to 2011 has locked up so much water that the Earth's poles have moved slightly from their axial rotation. Because Earth's outermost layer rests upon another layer of liquid rock, a redistribution of mass on the surface—whether accomplished by glaciers during an ice age or by locking up water behind dams—it can influence the orientation of the Earth's poles. The authors describe the phenomenon like slapping a lump of clay on a basketball and spinning it. In an effort to maintain momentum, the ball adorned with clay will shift slightly toward the equator, which eventually impacts the poles in a process known as 'true polar wander.' Thankfully, Earth is not destined to end up like the planet Uranus, forever spinning on its side. Two centuries of frantic dam-building (about 7,000 of them in total) has only nudged the poles about three feet and caused a 0.83-inch drop in global sea levels. 'As we trap water behind dams, not only does it remove water from the oceans, thus leading to a global sea level fall, it also distributes mass in a different way around the world,' Harvard University graduate student Natasha Valencic, the lead author of the study, said in a press statement. 'We're not going to drop into a new ice age, because the pole moved by about a meter [or about three feet] in total, but it does have implications for sea level.' Interestingly, the movement of the poles also matches the history of industrialization. Between 1835 and 1954, a majority of dams were constructed in North America and Europe, moving the North Pole 8 inches to the 103rd meridian east. Once East Africa and Asia began constructing dams in the latter half of the 20th century, the poles moved once again—this time 22 inches toward the 117th meridian west, according to the authors. The most eye-popping example of dams' astronomical impact can be seen by analyzing the effects of China's Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world. In 2005, NASA scientist Benjamin Fong Chao showed that when full, this mega-dam alone slowed the rotation of the Earth by 0.06 microseconds, or 60 billionths of a second. Dams aren't the only anthropomorphic force at work impacting the orientation of the Earth's poles, however. A 2023 study analyzed the impact of pumping groundwater from reservoirs, and estimated that between 1993 and 2010, net water loss amounted to roughly 2 trillion tons and caused a 4.36 centimeter shift every year. Humanity continues to impact our planet in a myriad of complex ways. Hopefully, the more we learn about these impacts, the more we can mitigate any negative impacts they may bring along with them. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
