Chile To Freeze Water Into Artificial Glaciers In The Face Of Climate Change
Image via ID 34555533 © Anky10 | Dreamstime.com
One of the disastrous effects of climate change is the fact that we may be losing glaciers. There have been some pretty creative ways of trying to keep them as intact as possible despite the heat, like tucking them in with a blanket that keeps them cool rather than warm.
Another new method is being pioneered by a team of conservationists in Chile, who are trying to protect the glaciers by taking advantage of winter rains in the Southern Hemisphere. To mitigate the possible loss of natural glaciers, they’re setting out to DIY some new ones.
The Nilus project, inspired by one that has its origins in India, is currently under development in the Cajon del Maipo, which is a mountain range southeast of Santiago, the country’s capital.
Here, artificial glaciers called “stupas” are being used to store and freeze rainwater thanks to extremely low nighttime temperatures.
“Nilus seeks to help resolve the huge water crisis that we are facing both in Chile and the world,” project director Enrique Gellona states to Reuters. “We are looking for a solution that actually allows us to protect water for a longer time in the mountain range, and then deliver it to communities downstream.”
Currently, the prototype for this project is located in Parque Arenas—the highest part of the Cajon. Next year, the goal is to have stored about 100 million liters (26.4 million gallons) of water across 50 stupas.
This would be enough to supply water for a community of around 100,000 for three months, according to Gellona.
Glaciers in South America, particularly the Andes, have been noted to be retreating for the last few years as a result of climate change, which could have irreversible effects on the climate in a vicious cycle. Protecting the glaciers, regardless of how, is a crucial step forward in breaking this cycle.
[via Reuters, cover image via ID 34555533 © Anky10 | Dreamstime.com]
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