• poVoq@slrpnk.netOPM
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    1 year ago

    My limited understanding of the process lets me assume that it is an open system on the ocean side and thus there is not really a way to capture the concentrate.

    However I also doubt that this is a real issue. These are rather small units that even in large scale deployments would be spread over a large area that is highly agitated by waves.

    Compared to the total volume of the ocean this concentrate is really insignificant and with other systems it is really more of a mixing problem than that the concentrate is actually harmful at the location it is produced.

    On the other hand, on land salt brines can be very environmentally damaging, so the idea to take them out of the ocean is rather misguided.

    • CJOtheReal@ani.social
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      1 year ago

      Compared to the total volume of the ocean this concentrate is really insignificant and with other systems it is really more of a mixing problem than that the concentrate is actually harmful at the location it is produced.

      Thats what they said about co2 as well…

      On the other hand, on land salt brines can be very environmentally damaging, so the idea to take them out of the ocean is rather misguided.

      Yes i don’t meant for it to be just piled up somewhere, you could put it in old mines, especially salt mines, or at least put in some wear houses where it can’t just go into the ground or get washed away

      • poVoq@slrpnk.netOPM
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        1 year ago

        Thats what they said about co2 as well…

        Main difference being that this is not about mining salt and dumping it in the ocean…

        • CJOtheReal@ani.social
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          1 year ago

          Yes but there is always more salt being added naturally and artificially, if we take out water as well and leave the salt it will make it more salty over the years, shure, not from one year to the next, but over long therm it will be problematic.

          • poVoq@slrpnk.netOPM
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            1 year ago

            The water we take out also flows back into the ocean for the most part and currently a lot of non-salty water is entering the oceans from melting glaciers, so making the oceans too saltly is really the opposite of what is a problem right now.

            • CJOtheReal@ani.social
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              1 year ago

              Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just keep the melting glacier water clean? (or frozen at best)

              And as said, its not a right now but a long therm problem wich we should fix before it even becomes a problem.

              • JacobCoffinWrites@slrpnk.net
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                1 year ago

                That would be ideal but given how we keep slipping our climate goals, I think it’s worthwhile to have contingency plans to provide some societal stability. If you think we’re not devoting enough resources to combatting climate change, just wait till nations are focusing on fighting water wars and puting down riots. Having ways to provide people with clean water where they live (i.e. most, not near glaciers) isn’t just humane, it helps prevent environmental damage. Wars and their incredible destruction aside, we’re currently draining aquifers and rivers dry all over the place.

                Edit: also, if it does become a problem, removing the salt from seawater is easier than removing the water from seawater.