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Energy-Beaming Space Collector To Also Alter Weather?

Recently we covered California utility company PG&E's ambitious deal with upstart Solaren to beam energy to earth from a space-based solar collector. What we didn't know is Solaren's patent also covers the alteration of weather elements with that very same system. "By heating up the upper and middle levels of an infant hurricane, they say they could disrupt the flows of air that power the enormous storms. Air warmed by tropical waters flows up through a hurricane and is vented through the eye into the upper atmosphere. Theoretically, you could heat up the top of the storm and lower the pressure differential between layers, resulting in a weaker storm. "

6 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. So.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We might be giving a company the power to change our weather? Not sure how I feel about this..

  2. whatcouldpossiblygowrong by Reality+Master+201 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If ever a story deserved that tag, this is it.

  3. Re:Lots o' power by Shivani1141 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Not to mention the fact that we obviously perfectly understand the power and role of a hurricane in terms of global weather patterns...

    Am I the only one concerned what might happen to other weather systems if we suddenly start damping hurricanes? the energy to form a hurricane comes from somewhere, if we're adding more to kill a hurricane, where is this new net total going to express itself?

  4. Prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Didn't Cobra already do this in like 1985?

  5. Re:Lots o' power by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously folks-- does the sound of someone beaming down terajoules from the sky make you just a little bit nervous?

    Yeah, but we'll only need the solar power plant until 2050 when Fusion becomes available ;)

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  6. Butterfly.... by changa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't it be easier to just find that god-damed butterfly that causes all those hurricanes?