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U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

scientificamerican.com

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Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#81

Post by Florin_Andrei »

johnloeber wrote: post #33
Florin_Andrei wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still like Gregory Benford's space umbrella. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_sunshade The guy is not a dilettante, he's professor of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine. It would give us basically unlimited control over solar input (depending on how big you make it). It would be a massive project that would require global cooperation, which is again good - especially in the current geo-political... um... "climate…

The issue with large-effect, untested ideas like this one is that while it might seem like an appropriate solution for this specific problem, it might carry enormous side-effects that we aren't really aware of yet (and that may be difficult to reverse).

Actually, in terms of side-effects, I think this is preferable to most other solutions. You can turn this one on/off very quickly (or shoot it down for a more permanent off setting if the control mechanisms get stuck).

That's not so easily doable with dumping iron into oceans, etc.

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#83

Post by brianbarker »

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #81
johnloeber wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue with large-effect, untested ideas like this one is that while it might seem like an appropriate solution for this specific problem, it might carry enormous side-effects that we aren't really aware of yet (and that may be difficult to reverse).

Actually, in terms of side-effects, I think this is preferable to most other solutions. You can turn this one on/off very quickly (or shoot it down for a more permanent off setting if the control mechanisms get stuck). That's not so easily doable with dumping iron into oceans, etc.

I was coming to add this exact thought! A solution like the umbrella could be activated and easily deactivated at will, since it's a physical object that could change positions.

The other solutions, such as putting chemicals into the sky or sea, cannot be reversed. Better hope they work correctly the first time!

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#84

Post by brianbarker »

code_duck wrote: post #51
Retric wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US produces several times more food than we need. A single acre can easily produce enough food for a small family and we have 408 million acres under cultivation. Corn is something of a super star at 8,250 lb. of corn per acre. However, we end up feeding most of this to animals which drastically reduces overall efficiency. So, sure we are going to spend a lot of effort maximizing food production. But a 50% drop i…

One area the U.S. could definitely focus on is reducing food waste. Restaurants throw away a lot of food that was perfectly good 4 days prior. The habits of people here regarding food waste is significant, too - I have a friend who will go to Taco John late at night, get six tacos, three potato things, 10 packets of sauce, eat two tacos and a potato thing and leave the rest to waste in his kitchen counter. He sees it…

Late night runs to a place called Taco John? Sounds like a post-alcohol food run. Maybe start there with the food waste issue :).

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#85

Post by jessaustin »

SCAQTony wrote: post #26

I think the most easiest solution to this problem with the existing technology we have is to start building water collection reservoirs in the surrounding mountains of California and the Colorado rockies too. Then Desalination plants in and around the Gulf of Mexico and pipelines to move water where needed. This is an opportunity to employ both blue & white collar workers as well as tech professionals as well and sho…

This type of project requires a great deal of energy. Theoretically, increased utilization of our current energy sources might make these problems worse.

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#86

Post by Florin_Andrei »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #63
korethr wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be really cool if such a device could also be used for harvesting solar power. Getting the power back down to earth would be tricky, though.

Getting that much power down to the surface might cause global warming...

It's not more power than that received by the shade, which is reaching the Earth already. Sure, albedo, blah blah blah.

But there are quite a few interesting things we could do with a lot of power right there, in space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocheworld#Forward.27s_Light-Sa...

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#87

Post by sologoub »

jessaustin wrote: post #85
SCAQTony wrote: post #26

I think the most easiest solution to this problem with the existing technology we have is to start building water collection reservoirs in the surrounding mountains of California and the Colorado rockies too. Then Desalination plants in and around the Gulf of Mexico and pipelines to move water where needed. This is an opportunity to employ both blue & white collar workers as well as tech professionals as well and sho…

This type of project requires a great deal of energy. Theoretically, increased utilization of our current energy sources might make these problems worse.

We don't need to pipe water far, smaller plants can be setup around communities that need the water. Much of the energy can be generated from solar.

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#88

Post by barney54 »

bhayden wrote: post #65
Florin_Andrei wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still like Gregory Benford's space umbrella. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_sunshade The guy is not a dilettante, he's professor of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine. It would give us basically unlimited control over solar input (depending on how big you make it). It would be a massive project that would require global cooperation, which is again good - especially in the current geo-political... um... "climate…

I'm confused as to why he says it would require global effort but only cost $20 billion? That's barely a drop in the budget for the US.

$20 billion is s drop in the bucket. The developed countries have pledged $100 billion by 2020 for climate mitigation. Why not spend it on this?

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#89

Post by asciimo »

qeorge wrote: post #16
ChuckMcM wrote: post #6

I am greatly encouraged by operations such as this one: http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2014/0227/upsta... which is pushing aquaponics. A lot less net water use and plenty of food.

MMM has an excellent guest post on how to get started with aquaponics here: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/10/20/aquaponics/ The author is selling his "Zero To Hero" design plans for a shockingly reasonable $10 here: http://www.frostyfish.com/shop/aquaponics-plans-2/zero-hero-... And if you want to buy a 4x8 kit, he also has that for about $400: http://www.coldweatheraquaponics.com/shop/aeration-2/zero-he... I'v…

People tend to overlook the necessity of feeding the fish. So your resource chain goes fish food -> fish -> waste (nitrites) -> plants -> human food. Applying nitrites directly to the plants would be more efficient.

Re: U.S. Droughts Predicted to Be the Worst in 1,000 Years

#90

Post by psc »

rd108 wrote: post #75
cryptoz wrote: post #2

Optimizing crop outputs for higher-than-average temperatures and minimal rain is very important. Agricultural innovation over the next 10-20 years is going to be fast-paced; it'll have to be, to keep up with local climate changes. I work in weather prediction and hope to improve weather forecasts for agribusiness. But what if our forecast ends up just being "Hot; no rain.". What will happen, where will the water come…

The best way to cheaply remove CO2 is to plant more trees. The simplest solution is still the best: it requires no new technology, can scale itself when the trees reproduce and is eminently accessible to all sorts of people, all around the globe. As an added benefit, some trees can even give fruit... which are delicious.

Interestingly, planting trees can be bad in some cases: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/opinion/to-save-the-planet...

Quote from the article: "Climate scientists have calculated the effect of increasing forest cover on surface temperature. Their conclusion is that planting trees in the tropics would lead to cooling, but in colder regions, it would cause warming."

But yes, in general we should definitely plant trees. They're also great at undoing desertification: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_greening

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