Researchers Propose New Structures To Harvest Untapped Source of Freshwater

An announcement from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign:

An almost limitless supply of fresh water exists in the form of water vapor above Earth's oceans, yet remains untapped, researchers said. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the first to suggest an investment in new infrastructure capable of harvesting oceanic water vapor as a solution to limited supplies of fresh water in various locations around the world.

The study, led by civil and environmental engineering professor and Prairie Research Institute executive director Praveen Kumar, evaluated 14 water-stressed locations across the globe for the feasibility of a hypothetical structure capable of capturing water vapor from above the ocean and condensing it into fresh water — and do so in a manner that will remain feasible in the face of continued climate change. Kumar, graduate student Afeefa Rahman and atmospheric sciences professor Francina Dominguez published their findings in the journal Nature Scientific Reports....

"Eventually, we will need to find a way to increase the supply of fresh water as conservation and recycled water from existing sources, albeit essential, will not be sufficient to meet human needs. We think our newly proposed method can do that at large scales," Kumar said.

The researchers performed atmospheric and economic analyses of the placement of hypothetical offshore structures 210 meters in width and 100 meters in height. Through their analyses, the researchers concluded that capturing moisture over ocean surfaces is feasible for many water-stressed regions worldwide. The estimated water yield of the proposed structures could provide fresh water for large population centers in the subtropics....

"The climate projections show that the oceanic vapor flux will only increase over time, providing even more fresh water supply," graduate student Afeefa Rahman said. "So, the idea we are proposing will be feasible under climate change. This provides a much needed and effective approach for adaptation to climate change, particularly to vulnerable populations living in arid and semi-arid regions of the world." The researchers said one of the more elegant features of this proposed solution is that it works like the natural water cycle. "The difference is that we can guide where the evaporated water from the ocean goes," Dominguez said....

The researchers said this study opens the door for novel infrastructure investments that can effectively address the increasing global scarcity of fresh water.


Thanks to Slashdot reader L.Kynes for submitting the news.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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author: iShareStuff CTI Automated Detection Engine
date: 2026-09-24
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