3 ms·
The problem with "stopping hurricanes" is that even if we figured out a way to interrupt their formation, hurricanes ultimately stem from the temperature gradie
by Analemma_ 4y ago
The problem with "stopping hurricanes" is that even if we figured out a way to interrupt their formation, hurricanes ultimately stem from the temperature gradient between the ocean at low latitudes and at high latitudes - a hurricane carries heat away from the equator, warming the high latitudes and cooling the lower ones. If you somehow interrupt that process, the gradient just gets steeper with even more potential energy available, leading to a bigger, more destructive hurricane later on.
- wumpus 4y agoCan you point out a source that discusses this? I've never heard of it before.
- mlyle 4y agoA lot of the proposed approaches involve deliberately stirring water in ways that disrupt this surface temp gradient. E.g. stirring water vertically, pulling up colder water from below.
- not2b 4y agoBut given the massive amounts of energy hurricanes release, it would seem that a similarly massive amount of energy would be needed to move enough water to have an effect.
- mlyle 4y ago> But given the massive amounts of energy hurricanes release, it would seem that a similarly massive amount of energy ... Cooling-- moving heat from one place to another-- doesn't need to be so energy intensive. And it doesn't necessarily require active energy input. Anything that just improves vertical mixing will cool the surface water. E.g. the Salter Sink is a clever passive tube and valve arrangement that uses wave action to defeat thermoclines that otherwise prevent mixing.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]