Kamal Ghorui
It is well known that China loves building ambitious infrastructure projects, and its hydroelectric power stations are no exception. The Three Gorges Dam, which already boasts the title of the world’s largest hydroelectric station, attracts the interest of the international community not only due to its size but also because of its unforeseen effect on the planet. Some scientists claim that such a gigantic body of water influences the Earth’s axis. However, China has even more ambitious plans regarding hydroelectric power, a project worth $165 billion. What are the implications of this decision? Let’s find out.
The three Gorges Dam and Earth’s rotation impact
The Three Gorges Dam represents an amazing example of human genius, providing the energy of 22,500 megawatts per year, enough for thousands of families. This colossal structure with such a huge storage of water caused some astonishing scientific discoveries. The dam is said to slow the rotation of our planet, according to the NASA researchers, because of water redistribution.As a research paper, ‘Examining the Influence of Large-Scale Hydroelectric Projects on Earth’s Rotation, Polarity Shifts, andMagnetic Reversals‘ claims that large amounts of water mean alteration of the Earth’s moment of inertia, causing its slowing. This means a 0.06-microsecond extension of a day because, as stated by one explanation, “redistribution of mass… affects the rotational dynamics of the earth.”It should be noted that despite this discovery, scientists admit that there is no noticeable influence on weather conditions or anything else.
China’s new $165 billion hydropower project
Drawing on its history, China has been working on yet another huge hydropower plant project, which has been associated with the Brahmaputra river basin region in China. The hydropower plant, when constructed, is going to produce more than the Three Gorges Dam and thus would be known as the largest renewable energy source worldwide.The reason for undertaking this project is obvious. It is aimed at cutting dependence on fossil fuels and promoting energy security and the country’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and development. Hydropower stands out among other renewable energy sources in terms of consistency in electricity production.However, huge hydropower plants have their own drawbacks. These may involve environmental issues such as the destruction of ecosystems, the displacement of people living in those areas, as well as geopolitical problems, especially among downstream countries.
Environmental and scientific implications of mega dams
Apart from being useful in energy generation, mega dams have also been used to show the extent to which humans have become capable of manipulating some of the physical characteristics of planet Earth. Recent studies have shown that the global storage of water in huge reservoirs has also caused some changes in the position of Earth’s poles, an effect termed as ‘True Polar Wander.’However, it is important to note that the effects brought about by human-made structures, such as dams, only act as supplements to natural phenomena like the gravitational force exerted by the moon on the Earth. In other words, these infrastructures symbolise development and accountability for humanity.The construction of the next big hydropower project in China is not only significant because of its size but also because it demonstrates that the future is going to be a time when human ingenuity meets planetary physics.
