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Luckily, Sahara also happens to be a somewhat decent place for production of solar energy. The question is, in other words, not if we can, but rather if we want

by ahje 7y ago

Luckily, Sahara also happens to be a somewhat decent place for production of solar energy. The question is, in other words, not if we can, but rather if we want to throw all those resources at such a project. I suspect the most difficult task will be to stabilize the region enough for large infrastructure projects to be viable.

pier25 7y ago
Ok, you have electricity, and then what? How do you get constant massive quantities of nutrients, water, and other farming supplies? This would require lots of energy. Don't forget that you'd need greenhouses that can withstand pretty extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Manufacturing and transporting those also requires lots of energy. Finally, people would have to live there, no? I could be wrong, but I don't think a small city in the desert, far away from everything and under extreme weather/temps, would be very sustainable.
- Retric 7y ago
  You don’t need greenhouses, deserts get extreme temperatures because of the minimal water. As Egypt demonstrates when you irrigate land the temperature swings stop being an issue. Essentially as you irrigate near deserts you cause local climate change via huge amounts of water evaporation and thermal mass. The more land under irrigation the stronger the effect becomes.
  - pier25 7y ago
    Sounds interesting. Do you have any links about that?
    - Retric 7y ago
      I don't have a great summery on hand. High desert regions typically have the greatest diurnal-temperature variations, while low-lying humid areas typically have the least. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_temperature_variation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_temperature_variation Soil temperatures under cotton in Egypt: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/soil-temperatures-under-cotton-in-egypt/07DFCE2559BB77C34B4D3291240E9B7E https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultu... (4) The main effect of irrigation on soil temperatures is to reduce the amplitude of the daily temperature wave, no sudden change of temperature in the root zone taking place.

by ahje 7y ago

pier25 7y ago

Ok, you have electricity, and then what? How do you get constant massive quantities of nutrients, water, and other farming supplies? This would require lots of energy. Don't forget that you'd need greenhouses that can withstand pretty extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Manufacturing and transporting those also requires lots of energy. Finally, people would have to live there, no? I could be wrong, but I don't think a small city in the desert, far away from everything and under extreme weather/temps, would be very sustainable.

Retric 7y ago
You don’t need greenhouses, deserts get extreme temperatures because of the minimal water. As Egypt demonstrates when you irrigate land the temperature swings stop being an issue. Essentially as you irrigate near deserts you cause local climate change via huge amounts of water evaporation and thermal mass. The more land under irrigation the stronger the effect becomes.
- pier25 7y ago
  Sounds interesting. Do you have any links about that?
  - Retric 7y ago
    I don't have a great summery on hand. High desert regions typically have the greatest diurnal-temperature variations, while low-lying humid areas typically have the least. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_temperature_variation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_temperature_variation Soil temperatures under cotton in Egypt: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/soil-temperatures-under-cotton-in-egypt/07DFCE2559BB77C34B4D3291240E9B7E https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultu... (4) The main effect of irrigation on soil temperatures is to reduce the amplitude of the daily temperature wave, no sudden change of temperature in the root zone taking place.