How Dams Have Shifted Earth's Poles Over the Past Two Centuries

A new study by the American Geophysical Union reveals that the construction of nearly 7,000 dams from 1835 to 2011 has shifted Earth's poles slightly away from the planet's axis of rotation. This shift has caused a 21-millimeter drop in global sea levels. The study shows that the poles moved about a meter in total over the past two centuries due to the redistribution of mass around the planet's surface caused by dam building.

The researchers found that the poles shifted in two distinct phases. From 1835 to 1954, dams built in North America and Europe caused the North Pole to move 20.5 centimeters toward the 103rd meridian east. Then, from 1954 to 2011, dams in East Africa and Asia shifted the pole 57 centimeters toward the 117th meridian west.

The study highlights the impact of human activities on the planet and how it could help scientists understand the potential movement of the poles in the future, especially with the threat of climate change-induced glacier and ice sheet melting.

Researchers emphasize the need to consider water impoundment when calculating future sea level rise, as dams have played a significant role in altering the distribution of mass around the world. The study underscores the importance of understanding these changes to mitigate the effects of sea level rise.

According to the source: Mirage News.