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Human-Made Dams Have Shifted Earth’s Poles | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Human-Made Dams Have Shifted Earth’s Poles

Posted 29 Jul 2025

2 min read

A recent study revealed that dam construction has shifted Earth’s rotational axis by over 1 meter since 1835 i.e., they have driven True Polar Wander (TPW). 

What Is True Polar Wander (TPW)?

  • Definition: TPW, or planetary reorientation, is the rotation of the solid Earth (crust and mantle) about the liquid outer core. 
    • It helps the Earth maintain rotational balance due to mass redistribution. 
  • Natural Factors driving TPW: Traditionally, TPW has been linked to natural processes such as glacial melting, Ice sheet melt, tectonic plate shifts, and ocean swell. 

How Dams Are Driving TPW?

  • Reservoirs trap large volumes of water that would otherwise remain in oceans.
    • This redistributes Earth’s mass inland, causing shifts in the planet’s rotation.
  • The study also revealed that the shift was not smooth—it varied depending on the size and location of dams built over time.

Effects of Shifting Poles

  • Navigation Problems: Shifting poles can affect satellites and space telescopes, which depend on Earth’s rotation for accurate positioning.
  • Longer Days: The days on Earth are growing slightly longer, and this change is accelerating.
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  • Human-Made Dams Have Shifted Earth’s Poles
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