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Zipingpu Dam May Have Triggered the Sichuan Quake

Posted by kdawson on from the may-get-us-banned-in-china dept.

bfwebster writes "An article in the Telegraph (UK) raises an interesting question: was the massive (7.9) Sichuan earthquake that wracked China last year and left millions homeless caused by ground stresses following the completion of the Zipingpu dam? As the article notes, 'The 511-ft-high Zipingpu dam holds 315 million tonnes of water and lies just 550 yards from the fault line, and three miles from the epicenter, of the Sichuan earthquake. Now scientists in China and the United States believe the weight of water, and the effect of it penetrating into the rock, could have affected the pressure on the fault line underneath, possibly unleashing a chain of ruptures that led to the quake.'" The Sichuan region is earthquake-prone, but has not seen anything as large as the 7.9-magnitude quake for perhaps millions of years. The Chinese government denies any connection between the dam and the earthquake and seems to be actively obstructing the access of scientists who want to investigate. The article concludes, "There is a history of earthquakes triggered by dams, including several caused by the construction of the Hoover Dam in the US, but none of such a magnitude."

5 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. I am sick of it... by Kjuib · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those dam quakes always screwing everything up!

    --
    - Your stupidity got you into this mess, why can't it get you out? -Will Rogers
  2. Prediction by philspear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Chinese officials will conclude that the scientific findings are acurrate and convincing, will acknowledge that the dam did cause the quake, will apologize sincerely, and resign in disgrace. The replacements will then close down the dam, making sure to dismantle it in an ecologically sensible way, doing the least disruption to the surrounding communities as well, and every victim of the quake will be compensated accordingly. You know, much as it would happen here.

    You really have to love government humility and responsibility.

  3. Re:quid pro quo by Jurily · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't worry, I'll find a way.

    Sincerely, Nature

  4. Re:It would have likely occurred anyway by jd · · Score: 5, Funny

    Given the current value of the pound, a few million would barely buy you enough to have an impact on a hydrophobe.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  5. Best name ever! by mmatador22 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hahahaha - Zipping Poo... Best name for a dam ever!