This idea links well into proposals for pumping seawater onto the arctic ice pack. Energy to drive the pumps could come from the heat exchangers, but the actual effect could be far more widespread as it would result in radiative/evaporative cooling of sea water and further an ice-albedo feedback due to more resilient ice. However, wind turbines are likely to be simpler and more efficient, and thus deliver better cooling by dumping more cool water onto the bitterly cold ice.
A 2009/5/3 dsw_s <[email protected]> > > Just a brainstormy late-night idea -- > > The air above the arctic and southern oceans is colder than the water, > especially during the long winter night. It is possible in principle > (although probably not practical) to extract energy from this > temperature difference, by putting a heat exchanger in the air and > another in the water, and running a heat engine on the heat flux from > water to air. If it did turn out to be feasible, it would be an > energy source that cools the planet -- directly by putting heat where > it will be radiated to space sooner, indirectly by increasing sea ice > coverage, and maybe indirectly again by increasing upward heat > transport through the atmosphere. > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
