Imagine an extremely dry area where annual average rainfall may be less than 1 mm per year. Located in North Chile, this region is the Atacama Desert.
In a place extending 1,000 kilometers along the pacific coast, drought due to a series of factors is permanent: the prevention of moisture from Andes, the effect of Humboldt’s cold ocean trend, and the power of a subtropical anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti -anti.
In this environment, a team of researchers, considered a terrestrial analog of the planet of Mars, evaluated the potential of collecting fog water in Alto Hospicio, a municipality that has become a rapidly growing and industrial center in recent years. The high population density (about 140,000 inhabitants lives in place) has made it very complex to drinking water.
Recently published in Frontiers magazine in Environmental Science, “represents a remarkable change in the perception of fog water use, From a small -scale rural solution to a practical water source for cities“In a statement and the first author of the article, Virginia Carter Gambinii, Professor of Mayor University in Santiago.
How is the fog collection to produce drinking water?
The fog, known as “fog”, is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by the suspension of small water droplets in the atmosphere near the world surface and reduces visibility to less than 1 km. A fog form that causes the water vapor to condens the water vapor in small droplets when the hot air cools down near the surface.
The most common configuration of mistan collectors contains an extended polypropylene network between the two poles. As the fog approaches, this surface captures water droplets flowing into the storage tanks with a rail. The system is passive and does not depend on any external energy.
At the Alto Hospital, the main water source comes from the layers of underground rocks containing porous areas with water -filled porous areas in the last glacial age. Alternatively, Researchers decided to use a local fog, Camanccaca. The coastal phenomenon occurs in the Atacama Desert in winter and spring and is responsible for surviving several species in the middle of the desert.
Does the Mist Collection produce enough drinking water for a city?
Researchers, who analyzed an area of 100 kilometers around the high Darülaceze, estimated that 0.2 to 5 liters of fog water per square meter could be collected every day. However, authors are more effective in higher altitude areas outside the urban region of the city.
At the summit of the collection season, in August and September 2024, this capture potential reached 10 liters per square meter per day. Co -Outhor Nathalie Verbrugghe, from Brussels Free University “, showing the potential in Alto Hospiio, one of the most stamped cities in Chile and the fast urbanization, This study forms the basis of a wider adoption in other urban areas with water scarcity.“.
Although the water collected through these networks is not yet enough to meet the total demand of the city of Chile, it may be to alleviate alternative water stress and to irrigate fields and gardens. Currently, Alto Hospicio needs about 300,000 liters of water a week. In order to collect this amount only with fog collection networks, it is necessary to install approximately 17 thousand square meters of these structures.
Fog collection to reduce the effects of climate change
Based on the 17,000 square meter knitting structure envisaged by researchers, it will be possible to produce sufficient water for urban slums to meet the weekly water demand (300,000 liters). It will be possible to produce irrigation resources for community gardens with 110 square meters.
This extension of 110 square meters of Mist collectors will meet approximately 100 thousand liters of water per year, according to authors. In this account, even fog juice used to irrigate fog water in hydroponic systems can be included and 15 to 20 kg green vegetable estimated production per month.
For future research, researchers will have to evaluate the feasibility of the Mist collection in larger urban centers. Expectation for Carter is to encourage those responsible for the elaboration of public policies to take into account the Mist collection in their national water management strategies. “This can improve urban flexibility to climate change and rapid urbanization while improving access to drinking water.”
Did you like the story about this new alternative water capture form in extreme environments? During the times of climate change, studies on drinking water scarcity reduction studies should be shared in order to address future challenges. What would you do if the world ends?
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
