Evaporation Prevention Using Molecular Blankets

Makarand writes "According to this article in the New Scientist, a Canadian company is testing a technology to reduce water evaporation from reservoirs by spreading an ultra-thin blanket of organic molecules on the surface to block the escape of water molecules into the air. Trials conducted in India and Morocco showed between 30 and 45 per cent reduction in evaporation using this method. However, the long term ecological effects of reducing evaporation in lakes or reservoirs is not yet clear as evaporation prevention can increase water temperatures and affect the exchange rates of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide."

Comments

Look out above...goatse.cx alert

[yosemite]

From a trolls point of view, that image must never get old!

Re:interesting

[Glonoinha]

DAMN!

Am I the only one to see this from the other side?

Conversation 50 years ago:
Scientist1 : Nice theory, that uranium fusion and plutonium fission, but where could we possibly test it?
Scientist2 : I dunno, somewhere real far away.
S1 : Japan?
S2 : Hmm it could get ugly if it works ...
S1 : Bah, I say we go for it.

Conversation Today :
S1 : Nice theory, spreading a thin layer of carbon tetrachloride over a lake to keep water from evaporating. What could go wrong?
S2 : Umm I dunno, that's a pretty delicate ecosystem you are talking about. Could kill everything in the lake, stop rain from coming down destroying livestock and crops for years.
S1 : I know, India! They don't eat the cows anyways so no worries if we kill their livestock.
S2 : (boggle)
S1 : Bah, I say we go for it.