| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc 12:02 - Nov 21 with 936 views | Keno |
would be it possible to irrigate parts of the world that are currently deserts, such as the Sahara, Gobi and East Essex?
Surely but doing that hunmankind could bring back vast areas of land that could be cultivated
Just musing as were, thoughts are welcome |  |
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| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 12:40 - Nov 21 with 896 views | Clapham_Junction |
In theory yes, but the question is whether doing so is at more environmental cost.
Where will the water come from? It'll either have to be taken from rivers, underground aquifers or the oceans. Taking water from rivers has significant consequences (e.g. the Aral Sea disappearing); using underground aquifers isn't sustainable and can also lead to problems with subsidence. Desalinising water uses energy and involves dumping highly saline solution somewhere - usually back into the sea, which damages the marine ecosystem. Plus there's the energy needed for pumping that water long distances.
Irrigating the Sahara using free electricity from solar is probably the most viable due to its latitude, but there are the issues with the environmental impact of the amount of solar panels required, and what you do with the salt removed from the water.
It is of course possible that it could be done in a way that allows the salt and other minerals to be recovered and used, which would potentially reduce the need to get them from elsewhere. |  | | |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 16:36 - Nov 21 with 838 views | No9 |
A lot has been done in the Sahara e.g Chad. The Emirates has reduced the desert by speading dried sewage then desalinating gulf water and irrigating the areas converted.Essentially Abu Dhabi gold club is built on a pile of sh!t.
It takes political will, the science is already there & proven. |  | | |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 16:46 - Nov 21 with 831 views | GeoffSentence |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 12:40 - Nov 21 by Clapham_Junction |
In theory yes, but the question is whether doing so is at more environmental cost.
Where will the water come from? It'll either have to be taken from rivers, underground aquifers or the oceans. Taking water from rivers has significant consequences (e.g. the Aral Sea disappearing); using underground aquifers isn't sustainable and can also lead to problems with subsidence. Desalinising water uses energy and involves dumping highly saline solution somewhere - usually back into the sea, which damages the marine ecosystem. Plus there's the energy needed for pumping that water long distances.
Irrigating the Sahara using free electricity from solar is probably the most viable due to its latitude, but there are the issues with the environmental impact of the amount of solar panels required, and what you do with the salt removed from the water.
It is of course possible that it could be done in a way that allows the salt and other minerals to be recovered and used, which would potentially reduce the need to get them from elsewhere. |
Or float icebergs to the required place. |  |
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| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 16:54 - Nov 21 with 822 views | XYZ |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 16:46 - Nov 21 by GeoffSentence |
Or float icebergs to the required place. |
solves rising sea levels at the same time | | | |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 17:02 - Nov 21 with 811 views | XYZ |
Cover the berg with some plastic attracting substance, drag to destination, arrive having accumulated an insulating shell of ocean plastic, pipe the melting ice off to desert.
Easy. | | | |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 17:31 - Nov 21 with 780 views | No9 |
| Ok So here's a question - with all the issues over deforestation etc on 16:46 - Nov 21 by GeoffSentence |
Or float icebergs to the required place. |
That was tried, in the 70's I think. | | | |
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