this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
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Yay, now we can use electrolysis on sea water to recombine and create fresh water easier!
Why is the solution to our problems always to tap into yet another finite resource? Can we not just stop buying shit we don't need? Is it that hard to stop growing crops where they don't belong? How about we stop paving over all our watersheds? Why's the solution have to be "just start sucking it out of the ocean?"
Bro, what do you think happens to the water after it’s used?
It isn't instantly converted back to water. Even if it were, it doesn't instantly go back into the ocean. This over simplification of "hydrogen means free energy" is dangerous and is reminiscent of the early days of nuclear and fossil fuels. Don't flame me for wanting to consider all the possible negative effects. Neglecting potential downsides is why our planet is in such a terrible state now.
Has anyone considered the effects of increasing the salt concentration of the ocean? And don't tell me "the ocean is big, we couldn't possibly have an effect" because that's what climate deniers have been saying the about the atmosphere for decades. Our fresh water supplies were massive at one point too and look what we did to them. Our water needs are growing and will continue to grow. We need to consider and account for all potential side effects.
The increased salt concentration won't be a problem because the melting glaciers will offset it.