I didn't think that baloon idea of a few threads ago could work, maybe however, I think this idea might, here it is: Wet Africa (WA) The WA program simplified consists of 4 main stages as follows 1) Build unpresidented in scale digging machines (think NASA sized bugget) 2) Bring them to africa and start digging great trences (& hills with the spoil) advoiding as much as possible building through built up areas. 3) connect the large network of trences to the sea 4) the sea flows into Africa Two birds (sea levels rising/poorly errigated African soil) killed with one multi-billion dollar stone. yes or no? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Making fresh water for human use is a good idea, but it won't lower sea levels, since the used water goes back into circulation.
What it is about salt that turns water from a life giving liquid into a posion? Can we modify plants to be able to handle salt?
There are many sea plants, like seaweed, which is nutritious, but yes, it's possible to develop strains of land plants that tolerate a minor amount of salt. Mangrove swamps tolerate salt.
Wouldn't it be easier to stop building near the coast? I think sea level rise is the least of our problems with global warming. It will happen gradually.
Remember too that the average height of land is about 750m above sea level. these trenches would make better drainage ditches than irrigation canals.
Spidergoats last point was the one I missed when thinking this through, sea level rises=people go and live on hills, good point sir, thankyou. Howerever its not just people at risk its property states such as the US or Japan with a lot of big Cities down by the coast could use a sea level lowering plan to save the massive costs of thoses Cities and ports being sunk, like in the movie thedayaftertommorrow. As for who'd pay for it, if there was a 3000ft Digger plodding around africa digging trences and has been built and sponsered by, say Honda, guess what car I'm going to buy, so hopfully businesses would see the marketing potentail of this idea.
I don't think Honda has 300 billion dollars to spare.... LOL! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Not exactly a cost-beneficial idea... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!