Geoengineering/Climate Modification - Rain

[MannyFresh]

I have recently learned that its possible to take a dry land bearing hot weaher (assuming its summer) and transform it a green forest that reduces heat in the specified area and surrounding regions.

 

The problem is obviously 'Water'. Some suggested dumping seawater over the land will drive nearby weather.

 

So that got me thinking.

 

I have learned that the atmosphere moves in a more predicable manner, so is it possible to predict that by dumping mass-scale sea water in Area (A) I would gain rain in Area (B)? (I'm assuming it will still require some conditions)

So to clarify I get a 10 mile (24 square kms) land in one area for the forest/urban project (B), and then dump LOTS sea water in a different region (A). And by calculating to a certain extent that clouds formed in area (A) will eventually pass by and possibly rain at the designated area (B) that is 10 miles, 100 miles or even more miles away. And lets assume that the proposed forest Area (B) is still relatively dry, how much plantation will be required?

Is this possible?

 

The region would be in north africa.

 

And just to clarify my intentions. I am looking to transform a large area (24-square kms) of dry land and transform it into beautiful green hills with lots of grass, trees, bushes, flowers etc... Some suggested that it would take more than a hundred years, and others said it can be done in a few years time depending on water resources.

 

Thank you all

Edited August 31, 2014 by MannyFresh

[Ophiolite]

Dumping sea water, with its dissolved salt content, will contaminate the land and render it unsuitable for most vegetation. Great intentions. More work needed.

[MannyFresh]

Thank you Ophiolite, you are right I see what you mean. So lets not say Seawater because it is salty.

 

But he area proposed for water is further away and not at all adjacent to the forest/urban area. Can I calculate that if put Water in area (A) the clouds produced from evaporation will move on to Area (B) and possibly rain there?

 

thats whats I intend to know, thank you

[Ophiolite]

I suspect that, because of the mixing of the air that is initially saturated with water, with other drier air, that you will not achieve the desired result. i.e. it will not rain.

 

However, a similar approach, where drought resistant vegetation is planted at the edge of the desert , not only halt its advance, but seem to encourage more rainfall. A google search might turn up some information on that.

[MannyFresh]

thank you, the land is suitable for plantation but its not anywhere near perfect condition. Now I take it that dry land must first have a fair amount of 'greenery' to demand rain, or for rain to fall.

 

So lets say the cloud route between water area (A) and designated area forest area (B) is dry, but inside Area (B) lies a fair amount of vegitation, would this substantially increase the chances of rain? or would it require more than just that?

 

MY GOAL (if possible)

 

(clouds)(clouds) >>> (Clouds) heading to Forest/Urban Area >>> (raining clouds) (raining clouds)

 

^^^Evaporation^^^ ``````Rain```````

~~Dumped Water~~ _____________Dry Land________________ ----------Forest Area (Some trees, grass, bushes)--------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I am wondering if this process is possible?

 

If no, then my next question would be what if the designated area was a full blown forest full of trees, grass..etc. will the chances of rain increase then?

 

Also, I am aware that this process is a lot easier said than done, and if proven.

 

Thank you

Edited September 1, 2014 by MannyFresh

[Ophiolite]

This is outside my area of expertise. As a general concept it is not a new one and undoubtedly a lot of research has already been done on it. I recommend you try searches on Googl Scholar until you find something that matches.

 

I applaud you for looking for a solution for this very real problem. Good luck with your further investigations.

 

Try this search in Google Scholar for a start "rainfall "reversing desertification""

 

It will return this: http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&q=rainfall+%22reversing+desertification%22&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=

[fiveworlds]

Dumping sea water, with its dissolved salt content, will contaminate the land and render it unsuitable for most vegetation. Great intentions. More work needed.

 

Think type of plant. Salt marsh plants would survive provided the water wasn't too salty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_marsh

 

Mainly though the problem would be stagnant salt water,

http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9275664/mangrove

 

When you have stagnant salt water the plants can't take air from the water like they usually do so most salt marsh plants would die. However the mangrove plant takes air through its pores above the water.

Edited September 1, 2014 by fiveworlds

[Ophiolite]

fiveworlds, how about using some common sense. We are talking about desert conditions. The volume of sea water required to saturate the underlying ground and produce marsh conditions would be enormous and prohibitive.

[fiveworlds]

fiveworlds, how about using some common sense. We are talking about desert conditions. The volume of sea water required to saturate the underlying ground and produce marsh conditions would be enormous and prohibitive

 

.I just said that certain plants can survive in salt water. I didn't say the desert wouldn't soak up a bit of water,

[Ophiolite]

The OP is looking for a practical solution to the problem. He makes that clear in his posts. Your solution is not practical, for the reason stated. To justify your post you would need to demonstrate that it is technically, biologically, economically and politically practical.Can you do so?

[dimreepr]

The only practical solution at this moment in time is this.

 

I don’t think any meteorologists understand weather well enough to predict what would happen in small scale artificial systems.

[fiveworlds]

What I suggested to Ed before is that you build an aqueduct http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_%28water_supply%29

 

An aqueduct is a watercourse constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term aqueduct is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose

 

 

to bring a large volume of water to the desert which is basically how this works http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_farming

 

In the Salt River Valley, now characterized by Maricopa County, Arizona, a vast canal system that was created and maintined from about 600 AD to 1450 AD. Several hundred miles of canals fed crops of the area surrounding Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler and Mesa, Arizona.

 

The only difference between you and 600AD is you now have modern machines to help out.

Edited September 2, 2014 by fiveworlds

[Anthony Morris]

Regular irrigation in a desert is a short term solution. The Middle-east has numerous patches where plants scarcely grow because of the increase in salt content in the soil due to irrigation.

 

I've always wanted to try "dew collectors" and "wind traps" as in the Dune books. No salt to deal with. Any surface that can get cold enough to condense water in the cool of the night or plausibly during the day (would have to be quite cold, I'm sure) and vertical enough that the condensed water would drop to the ground quickly to be absorbed into the soil. Metal comes to mind and I would make them with multiple branches to maximize surface area and still allow passage for fresh moisture-carrying air. A few might catch the occasional lightning bolt which should pump some nitrogen into the soil as well. Let them sit in the field for a year perhaps and plant with anything that might survive that regime with a little care. Next year move them to the next field and cultivate the old one carefully. Plant trees for fruit and nuts to minimize the need to work the soil and grow some thick ground-covering plants to help hold moisture in the soil. Do not let goats, sheep or pigs in the field.