Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Water Now More Awesome Than Previously Thought

Posted by samzenpus on from the it's-like-you-can't-live-without-it dept.

Dan writes "Wired has a great article about a guy who thinks we can provide unlimited energy , accelerate crop growth, desalinize and purify drinking water, obtain health benefits and provide air conditioning, all by pumping up water from the depths of the ocean."

5 of 708 comments (clear)

  1. And in what new ways will this foobar the world? by podperson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Let's wait and see.

  2. Great by future+assassin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So now we suck up all the cold water and heat up the ocean even more.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  3. Re:This is fantastic! by alienw · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You are wrong on both counts. The temperature difference matters a hell of a lot more than specific heat. You would be lucky if this setup doesn't require energy input, much less produce useful output. Considering that your efficiency will be in the less than 1% neighborhood, you would be much better off going with photovoltaics. Running 6-ft diameter pipes 2000 feet into the ocean is expensive.

    As far as climactic change: bullshit.
    You won't change the temperature of the ocean by even 0.1 degrees this way. All you are doing is mixing the water.

  4. Re:More Efficient Coastal Farming by Eliminate5 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I would prefer the good people of Canada stop raping Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls.

  5. risky by cahiha · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Warming deep ocean water may have all sorts of consequences, like changes in ocean currents, releases of nutrients and toxins, and harm to unique ecologies. Doing this on a massive scale seems in advisable.

    I also fail to see the point. We just don't need more energy, we need to be more energy efficient and halt population growth.