Signs of Drought appear in Western Canada

[photon]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

This sounds very simplistic.

Even if every drop of water used in the world was from desalination, it's nothing compared to the oceans.



World's water usage is:

5,000,000,000 m^3

Volume of oceans is:

130,000,000,000,000,000 m^3

So we use 0.0000000003% or something of the ocean's volume, if desalination was 100% efficient we'd increase the salinity of the ocean by that kind of percentage.

All of the fresh water on earth is desalinated ocean water.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by photon

Even if every drop of water used in the world was from desalination, it's nothing compared to the oceans.



World's water usage is:

5,000,000,000 m^3

Volume of oceans is:

130,000,000,000,000,000 m^3

So we use 0.0000000003% or something of the ocean's volume, if desalination was 100% efficient we'd increase the salinity of the ocean by that kind of percentage.

All of the fresh water on earth is desalinated ocean water.

While I will admit to not being a marine biologist, or even just a run of the mill biologist, dumping a bunch of brine into the ocean sounds like it would change the ecosystem of whatever was in the area where you were dumping it.

I watched some PBS thing on the one that is being built down in San Diego which was pretty neat, but they touched on this issue as well.

I'm sure SeeGeeWhy will come in here momentarily and give me an essay on the thermodynamics of a brine plume into the ocean.

"Dumping it in the ocean" even if it IS salt water seems a little simplistic to me.

[troutman]

Pope Francis: 'Revolution' needed to combat climate change

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/18/world/...cal/index.html

Citing scientific consensus that we are witnessing a "disturbing warming" of the Earth, Francis embraced the view that humans are largely to blame for a dramatic change in the climate. Now, nothing short of "bold cultural revolution" could halt humanity's spiral into self-destruction, the Pope warned.


"The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth," Francis said. "In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish."

The popular pontiff castigated big businesses, energy companies, short-sighted politicians, scurrilous scientists, laissez faire economists, callous Christians and myopic media professionals. Scarcely any area of society escapes his probing pen. It was a surprisingly pessimistic statement from a spiritual leader more known for his hopeful messages of mercy and openness.

[icecube]

Amen. Finally, something the church say's that I actually agree with.

[polak]

Lately it seems like there's more and more call to action on climate change. I think we'll start seeing some real changes soon. Not good for Alberta's economy but needed.

[OMG!WTF!]

Poor farmers can't catch a break...

The story is the reverse in the prairies, where relentless rainstorms in Alberta and Saskatchewan have meant increased risk of rot and disease in what could otherwise be a bumper year.

“Our rain started at the end of June, and pretty much hasn’t stopped since then,” said Daphne Cruise, a Saskatchewan crop specialist.

Cruise says yields are expected to be average to above average,

From a Calgary Sun article. I know this is just weather not climate change. But nice to see rain none the less. Snow looks like it's off to a great start too.

[GGG]

Desalination water is more economical and reliable than war.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by troutman

Pope Francis: 'Revolution' needed to combat climate change

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/18/world/...cal/index.html

Citing scientific consensus that we are witnessing a "disturbing warming" of the Earth, Francis embraced the view that humans are largely to blame for a dramatic change in the climate. Now, nothing short of "bold cultural revolution" could halt humanity's spiral into self-destruction, the Pope warned.


"The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth," Francis said. "In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish."

The popular pontiff castigated big businesses, energy companies, short-sighted politicians, scurrilous scientists, laissez faire economists, callous Christians and myopic media professionals. Scarcely any area of society escapes his probing pen. It was a surprisingly pessimistic statement from a spiritual leader more known for his hopeful messages of mercy and openness.

Not a huge surprise given the saint that he took for his name. The Catholic Church has also preached "Care for Creation" for a long time and has said environmental stewardship is a moral issue.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by troutman

The popular pontiff castigated big businesses, energy companies, short-sighted politicians, scurrilous scientists, laissez faire economists, callous Christians and myopic media professionals. Scarcely any area of society escapes his probing pen.

Rick Bell writes for CNN?