(May 15, 2008) As China reels following Monday’s earthquake, scientists are just beginning to figure out the complex mechanics that triggered a temblor of such destructive force and widespread reach.
Chinese dams compromised by earthquake; authorities on alert
(May 14, 2008) In the wake of China’s massive earthquake, and amidst the desperate recovery effort, Chinese authorities have still more to worry about as damage to existing dams becomes evident.
China’s deadly earthquake: Was the Three Gorges reservoir a trigger?
(May 14, 2008) The world’s earthquake experts have identified tectonic plate movements as the cause of this week’s earthquake in southwestern China. But the question now is did the filling of the massive Three Gorges reservoir, which reaches the southeastern part of the Sichuan Basin, trigger seismic activity in what has always been an earthquake-prone region?
China says troops rush to plug dangerous cracks in dam
(May 13, 2008) The Zipingpu dam has been left with dangerous cracks as a result of Monday’s deadly earthquake, AP reports.
Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China
(May 13, 2008) Earthquake forecasting remains a “hard nut” to crack, a Chinese expert told reporters here on Tuesday.
Disaster set off by colliding land masses
(May 13, 2008) The earthquake in the Sichuan Province of China on Monday was a result of a continuing collision between India and Asia.
How Dams Fail
(May 1, 2008) There are different types of dams classified by the material and design used in construction. These differences influence how and why dams fail. A dam can be classified by its material, indicating whether it is earthen or concrete. Dam components can also include iron, steel or timber or a combination of any of the above.
FACT SHEET: Measuring Earthquakes
(May 1, 2008) The Richter scale provides an objective way of measuring and comparing the size of earthquakes using a mathematical device.
China’s Three Gorges dam: An environmental catastrophe?
(April 8, 2008) Fan Xiao, a geologist at the Bureau of Geological Exploration and Exploitation of Mineral Resources in Sichuan province, is quoted saying recent landslides in the Three Gorges area are directly linked to filling the reservoir. Water first seeps into the loose soil at the base of the area’s rocky cliffs, destabilizing the land and making it prone to slides.
Fragile Three Gorges: Caijing magazine reports
(February 20, 2008) Chief engineer of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Disaster Control Headquarters says the number of landslides and collapses in the dam’s reservoir area have nearly doubled between 2001 and 2003, reports Caijing magazine.
Possible earthquake and bank stability due to the reservoir
The possible earthquake issue due to Three Gorges reservoir has been emphasized by the government for a long time, and extensive researches have been made on the issue involved in the rock, geologic structure, osmosis, etc. A 300~800 m deep-hole earth stress observation is carried out at dam and reservoir site and the earthquake intensive observation is made on some fracture zones around the dam. According to the researches, the geologic structure is stable, and has no geological background for a
Geographical overview of the Three Gorges dam and reservoir, China—geologic hazards and environmental impacts
(2008) The Three Gorges dam and reservoir are an ongoing project that will involve a continuous process of construction, maintenance, monitoring, evaluation, and modification. Some of the history, construction characteristics, hydropower statistics, environmental and population impacts, monitoring, and current and potential hazards of the massive dam project are presented in this Microsoft PowerPoint® format.
Earthquake Reports
(May 31, 2007) Read here about the effect of earthquakes on dams… and vice versa.
China’s big dams: Are they safe?
(January 29, 2007) It goes without saying that flood control is one of the most important functions a dam project can fulfill. However, it is unrealistic to build a dam expecting it to achieve a permanent solution to a flood problem.
Seismologists: further destructive earthquakes in China city unlikely
(October 30, 2006) Seismologists in central China’s Hubei province have ruled out the possibility of a stronger quake jolting Suizhou city, which was hit Friday by an earthquake measuring 4.7 degrees on the Richter scale.
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