I was reading in my newspaper this morning about the alarming speed at which global warming is happening. Some drastic measures are being considered as a last resort in a worst case scenario. So, I thought that I would share some thoughts on what could be a technological solution to the problem of rapid warming.
Variations of climate control have been around for a long time. The Greeks used to hang damp cloths in the doorways of their homes to cool the interiors of their dwellings. Before refrigerants were invented, there was in place a system of water cooling for buildings which involved evaporative cooling towers and heat exchange through a building’s duct work.
In a worst case scenario, a planetary system of geoconditioning cooling towers could be put in place that would use evaporative cooling and earth sheltering.
A large stepped pyramid shaped structure could be made of hollow glass box beams. These beams would be stacked pig pen style and earthen material would be placed on top of each level as a heat sink. It is technologically possible to extract water from air by cooling the air below the dew point, and this could be our source of coolant.
Water would be sprayed inside of the structure, and the top of each structure would be left open to allow for ventilation and stratification of the air layers in order to cool the structure. An electric fan would be needed to keep the air moving.
This system of cooling towers might be a good option to consider in a worst case scenario as it would minimally disturb the natural balance of the climate and each could be turned on and off. The small amount of energy needed for the electric fan could be provided by solar power. These towers would be an excellent source of outdoor air conditioning.
Soil filled troughs are incorporated on the tops of each beam segment, and water is to be extracted from the air electronically and then both air and water are to be pumped down into the soil in the troughs through tubes where it is stored. This cool water would condense on the outside of the glass and be used in the evaporative cooling process.
Each glass beam segment is to be manufactured progressively shorter as the sides of the pyramid are stacked up, and notched where the troughs begin. So, these sections are to be prefabricated.
Small electric fans would float on shallow plates inside the pyramid to provide an updraft and these are to be solar powered. Desert flower seeds would find their way into the troughs, and if sufficiently moist, they would bloom.
If placed in desert areas, and appropriately located, there would need to be only a minimum disruption of the soil. Little excavation would be necessary.
It is theoretically possible to make a self-cooling glass by imitating superconductor-semiconductor-superconductor junctions. However, this would involve advanced nanotechnology and is not entirely necessary. Magnetic refrigeration or electronic cooling is needed only for the water extraction process.
Ralph Randolph Sawyer
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