Feb
Drought is becoming an increasing threat, affecting all ecosystems, agriculture, and many other industries. Lack of rainfall, drying rivers, and declining groundwater levels are just some of its consequences. Finding effective solutions has become an urgent necessity today.
How does rain actually form?
In simple terms, water evaporates from the Earth’s surface and then condenses, forming clouds. So why not support this process? An interesting concept is the evaporation of seawater, followed by the release of the resulting water vapor into the atmosphere – essentially mimicking the natural hydrological cycle.
How can this be achieved? A promising solution is mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) technology, which is already widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. A single MVR device has an efficiency of up to 100,000 liters per hour while consuming approximately 700 kWh. This would be a way to use existing technology in a completely new manner.
More water vapor in the atmosphere – what comes next?
Another phase of the hydrological cycle that we can utilize is the transport of water vapor by the wind. During the day, winds generally blow from the sea toward the land. The movement of air masses over continents is also predictable and mainly depends on differences in atmospheric pressure. Importantly, these parameters are constantly monitored for weather forecasting. Skillfully leveraging these conditions creates an opportunity for nearly cost-free distribution of water vapor over desired areas.
The only requirement would be to determine the optimal locations for MVR devices and the most favorable times for their operation. Cloud seeding could further enhance control over the process. This technique involves dispersing condensation nuclei (e.g., salt) in the atmosphere, facilitating cloud formation and precipitation over targeted areas. These techniques are already used worldwide, with the main limitation being the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Artificially increasing air humidity would significantly enhance this technology and resolve the controversy of “water theft” from other regions.
Potential Benefits?
Stimulating precipitation could address multiple issues, not just drought. For instance, rain helps capture airborne particles, improving air quality.
Water itself plays a crucial role in photosynthesis and CO₂ sequestration by soil and vegetation. This solution could become a valuable tool for agriculture and large-scale reforestation.
An unexpected byproduct of the evaporation process would be large quantities of salt. This could be used for cloud seeding or restoring the balance of polar ecosystems, where melting glaciers have reduced water salinity, destabilizing local ocean currents. Encouraging precipitation could also aid in rebuilding glacial ecosystems by covering them with layers of snow.
The list of theoretical benefits is extensive and even includes lowering sea levels.
Challenges?
Any interference with the natural hydrological cycle requires a thorough risk assessment. However, this concept appears safer than many currently proposed geoengineering solutions for environmental protection. Its key advantage lies in its full reliance on natural atmospheric processes.
