Large hydro dams have shifted the earth's poles

[Trav]

I learned in elementary school how the Three Gorges Dam slowed the rotation of the Earth. It would make sense that the redistribution of mass would change the angular momentum of the Earth, much like a load of laundry in the washing machine.



Apparently everyone here is a water resources engineer and an expert in hydrology....although not surprising with how many think some dude flies around the sky and makes things out of thin air.

A lot of things redistribute mass on the planet, an iceberg the size of Rhode Island this year or the B15 iceberg from the Ross ice shelf in 2000 breaking off, I can see that would have some effect. Just the thought that man can change the ways of nature or alter the planet in any meaningful way sends me running for the tin foil hat.
I look at the source, if it is from a university or special interest group anything published as far as earth sciences goes is automatically suspect as there is just too much agenda driven tripe and deliberate academic fraud. JMHO

 

[OVERKILL]

Amazing because I just read an article saying that the Earth's rotation was speeding up.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/07/22/july-22-shortest-day-earth/85311440007/

Unfortunately that article doesn't mention that we've been adding "leap seconds" to years over the years because the earth has slowed. That's covered in this article:
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...stralias-experts-give-us-their-second-opinion

So while we may have the odd short day, in general, the trend has been a slowing down.

 

[Pew]

In 1998 Dr. Andrew Wakefield and other colleagues presented a paper that suggested that the MMR vaccine causes autism in children. Unless you have been living under a rock for the last three decades, you have surely heard about this. Again pier studies did not support the conclusions. Ten of the twelve co-authors of the paper retracted their claims. After careful scrutiny from the medical research field, Dr. Wakefield later confessed to totally fabricating critical items of the study, which made the rest of the study unsupported. Wakefield was found guilty of deliberate fraud. I lost track, but I believe criminal charges were brought against him in England.

So yea, I never blindly accept any scientific study. Show me the methods. Show me the confidence interval. I may not understand everything, but I can at least come to believe whether they did their due diligence.

I remember that study. It made a resurgence mid-last decade and again when cv19 started and all the anti-vaxxers and YouTube experts pointed to it or half-sewn articles about it. Unfortunately I know someone who squarely blames their kid's autism because of the mmr vaccine but that parent isn't too bright herself.

I agree with you on doing your due diligence and continuing your own research for similar topics. Researching the unknown is always fun; not understanding something doesn't mean it should be kept in the dark. My dad always said if you don't understand something then go read a book (aka go learn about it.)

But regarding this specific article, the Three Gorges Dam did slow down the rotation by a insignificant but measurable amount. It would not surprise me if a combination of other large dams did the same.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Unfortunately that article doesn't mention that we've been adding "leap seconds" to years over the years because the earth has slowed. That's covered in this article:
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...stralias-experts-give-us-their-second-opinion

So while we may have the odd short day, in general, the trend has been a slowing down.

I don't think it matters as the leap second just changes the reference.

 

[OVERKILL]

I don't think it matters as the leap second just changes the reference.

A leap second is a one-second adjustment that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), to accommodate the difference between precise time (International Atomic Time (TAI), as measured by atomic clocks) and imprecise observed solar time (UT1), which varies due to irregularities and long-term slowdown in the Earth's rotation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_second

 

[Cujet]

Massive amounts of water was trapped in glaciers around the poles during the ice age.

Until modern technology and Google Earth existed, it seems we did not study the orientation of ancient structures. We traditionally align our structures N-S and E-W, including stone walls. The mass of melting ice did change Earth's North pole. It also may hint at why Greenland is covered in ice and other similar latitudes are not.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Amazing, if true.

But, I thought sea levels were rising and we were all in big trouble?

They are rising and some are in big trouble. Dams can only hold a fixed about of water. The oceans have no such limitation.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Amazing, if true.

But, I thought sea levels were rising and we were all in big trouble?

Back during the ice age so much ice was frozen at the polls that the oceans were 400 feet lower and we had like 100 milles of land around most coasts.

So 0.83 inches sounds like not much.

Maybe the axis is still adjusting back to what it was supposed to be - before the ice age screwed it up.

I wonder what grease they use on the poll axis bearings? I would use some red sticky stuff.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Amazing, if true.

But, I thought sea levels were rising and we were all in big trouble?

Yes, sea levels are rising at 3.3mm per year. You better break out the swimmies soon, we'll all be changing the oil filters in our boat houses!

 

[OVERKILL]

Until modern technology and Google Earth existed, it seems we did not study the orientation of ancient structures. We traditionally align our structures N-S and E-W, including stone walls. The mass of melting ice did change Earth's North pole. It also may hint at why Greenland is covered in ice and other similar latitudes are not.

Yes, the magnetic poles move around a fair bit, @Astro14 touched-on this earlier in the thread.

 

[spk2000]

This appears to be that Bullshido evidence when you want to get attention and got nothing

 

[burbguy82]

Yes, the magnetic poles move around a fair bit, @Astro14 touched-on this earlier in the thread.

100% true

one can see this with a mid level quality lensatic compass

 

[Mechanician]

Read the study, which is also linked, don't just read the article. I think it's interesting. All activity has an impact, to some degree. A single volcanic eruption can disrupt weather patterns for huge swaths of the earth for years, I don't think it's implausible that blocking the flow of billions of gallons of water would have an effect. Now, how significant is the effect? That's what the study claims to present, and that's debatable of course, as all studies are, but I don't think it's prudent to just outright dismiss the premise.

There is a line in an old song that bears a lot of truth on many subjects.
"Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest."

 

[OVERKILL]

There is a line in an old song that bears a lot of truth on many subjects.
"Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest."

Simon and Garfunkel.

 

[Creekside]

I just stomped on the ground. Did yall feel it? I made the earth vibrate a little bit.=true
I just lit a torch, bit yall feel the temperature rise?=true also.

Interesting topic.


Oh it is true. Anything we do effects everything we do.

Whether the changes noted really make any difference or not is the base question, IMO. More times than not, it is not the data, it is those who use a skewed interpretation of the data, that muddy waters in these conversations.

The last time I peed in the ocean an iceberg melted faster.

 

[Cujet]

Yes, the magnetic poles move around a fair bit, @Astro14 touched-on this earlier in the thread.

That is the physical North pole. Not magnetic.