Hurricane reduction through ocean surface cooling

In summary, the article discusses a project to use barges to cool the ocean and potentially prevent hurricanes. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness and environmental impact of such a project.
  • #1
alchemical
4
0
Old article: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/28/hurricanes.gates.gray/

What do you guys think? Where do you see this project going? The official word is that it's not being publicly funded. But if there was even a 10% chance it would work, I see governments lining up at the possibility to control weather. To save billions of dollars in damage from weather. To use the weather against enemies.
 
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  • #2
That is what the hurricane is for. To cool the ocean.
 
  • #3
alchemical said:
Old article: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/28/hurricanes.gates.gray/

What do you guys think? Where do you see this project going? The official word is that it's not being publicly funded. But if there was even a 10% chance it would work, I see governments lining up at the possibility to control weather. To save billions of dollars in damage from weather. To use the weather against enemies.
I see it going to the same place as the project to build 1000 meter tall walls across the Midwest to stop tornadoes.

This article doesn't explain how these "magic conduits" push warm surface water down and bring colder, deeper water up from the bottom. Plus, to be effective at stopping the damage from a hurricane, the barges would have to be moored 100-200 miles offshore, which is all deep water. Not a place where mooring a vessel is economical.

And then the environmental types would grow concerned that all this colder water near the surface would damage the marine life which normally lives in the warm surface water. When communities wanted to put LNG gasification facilities offshore, that was the objection raised: that the heat extracted from the surrounding water used to gasify the LNG would disrupt the ecosystem, even though the affected area was limited and the temperature was reduced in this zone only a few degrees.
 
  • #4
And the first time a hurricane is forecast for Gator Breath, Florida, they turn this thing on and it ends up hitting Miami, what do you think is going to happen? Even if it was just random and not this thing's fault?
 
  • #5
Vanadium 50 said:
they turn this thing on and it ends up hitting Miami,

Or New Orleans.
 
  • #6
There is no point to continuing this thread.
 

1. What is the concept behind reducing hurricanes through ocean surface cooling?

The idea behind reducing hurricanes through ocean surface cooling is to decrease the temperature of the ocean's surface, which is where hurricanes get their energy from. By cooling the surface, the amount of energy available for hurricanes to form and strengthen is reduced, potentially making them less intense or preventing them from forming altogether.

2. How is ocean surface cooling achieved?

There are a few proposed methods for cooling the ocean's surface, such as using large floating pumps to bring up cold water from the deeper ocean layers or using reflective materials to block sunlight from reaching the surface. However, these methods are still in the experimental stage and have not been proven to be effective on a large scale.

3. Can ocean surface cooling completely eliminate hurricanes?

No, ocean surface cooling cannot completely eliminate hurricanes. While it may reduce the frequency or intensity of hurricanes, it cannot prevent them from forming entirely. Other factors, such as wind patterns and atmospheric conditions, also play a role in the formation and strength of hurricanes.

4. What are the potential drawbacks of ocean surface cooling?

One potential drawback of ocean surface cooling is the potential impact on marine life. Cooling the surface could disrupt the natural balance of the ocean ecosystem and harm marine animals and plants. Additionally, large-scale ocean surface cooling projects could be costly and may not be feasible for all areas prone to hurricanes.

5. How does ocean surface cooling compare to other methods of hurricane prevention?

Ocean surface cooling is just one proposed method for reducing the impact of hurricanes. Other methods, such as building sea walls or using geoengineering techniques, have also been suggested. Each method has its own advantages and drawbacks, and more research is needed to determine the most effective and sustainable approach for hurricane reduction.

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