Systems for decreasing local temperature using high albedo materials

Abstract

A system comprises a plurality of albedo-increasing materials distributed on a surface of a man-made structure and having an albedo that is greater than an albedo of the surface of the man-made structure, wherein the albedo of the albedo-increasing materials is at least 0.15. The plurality of albedo-increasing materials are positioned and sized to increase an evaporation rate at the surface for a given temperature and decrease a temperature characterizing the man-made structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 680,975 titled “SYSTEMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATION WITH CLIMATE CONTROL MATERIALS AND COVERINGS”, filed on Jul. 12, 2010, which is a national stage application of PCT / US08 / 11689 (WO 2009 / 048627) filed Oct. 9, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 998,404, filed Oct. 9, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 044,463, filed Apr. 11, 2008, all of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if set for the in full in this application for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention is directed to systems, materials, and methods of environmental modification with climate control materials and coverings. The invention may include materials which may cause a localized change in albedo and evaporation rate. In addition, the invention may be reversible and may include different materials, designs, deployments, and s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This invention is about a system and process for modifying the environment by controlling two factors that affect the climate: the absorption and reflection of solar energy, and the rate and amount of water evaporation. It may also have added buoyancy or features to aid in its effectiveness, and may be designed to minimize ecological harm. The invention may enhance ice nucleation, provide habitats, and intentionally create open pore-like areas to enhance cooling through evaporative heat transfer. Different methods to manufacture or assemble the climate control materials are also provided, which may save costs or be efficient in producing them.

Problems solved by technology

These proposals and others like them are likely an important part of the long-term solution to reducing a man-made increase in CO2, but they could take decades to implement widely, and there are substantial technological, sociological, political and economic hurdles to be overcome before widespread adoption is likely to occur.

Some difficulties with the methods listed above include their cost, irreversibility (for instance, if the solution overcorrects), the massive public works nature of the solutions, unintended weapons potential, and possible severe secondary problems (such as acid rain or health effects from added atmospheric sulfur compounds).

Some negative effects of these proposals may include uncontrolled change in oceanic evaporation rate and change to the local ecosystem, ecological effects (such as a change in the plankton species selection), and unintended reverses of the solutions (such as sudden release of CO2 from sequestration schemes).

Images