Green Options » reservoirs

Robot Fish to Better Monitor Water Quality

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:32:10 +0000

An ecologist and an engineer at Michigan State University are working together to create robot fish that can better monitor various factors in aquatic environments.

Combining the brilliance of nature with some top-notch engineering, these two scientists are on to something and getting the funding for it.

The researchers are breaking ground with this and looking to raise water monitoring to another level.

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World’s Lakes: Sentinels of Climate Change

Michael Ricciardi — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:21:50 +0000

View of Blüemlisalp and Oeschinen lake, Bernese Alps

As climate scientists scour the Earth’s surface looking for indications of climate change impacts, freshwater lakes and reservoirs are becoming the sentinels of choice for many investigations. Although they make up a small percentage of the planet’s surface area, such bodies of water–small to large–are providing clues to past climate fluctuations, as their sediments and “catchments” (the total chemical and biological material that results from the presence of the body of water) often record ancient climate shifts and impacts and offer indicators of current climate change.

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50% Chance Colorado River Reservoirs Will Run Dry by 2057 — Under Current Scenario

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:56:04 +0000

A new study finds that there is a 50-50 chance all of the Colorado River reservoirs — in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona — will run completely dry by the year 2057 if currents trends and practices continue.

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Searaser Device Uses Waves to Pump Sea Water Uphill, Could Be Huge Boost for Hydro Power

Andrew Williams — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:54:05 +0000

A UK engineer has invented a device that harnesses wave power to pump sea water uphill, from where it can flow downhill to create hydroelectricity, raising hopes of a cheap, abundant source of renewable energy.

In trials, the device, called the Searaser, has pumped water more than 160ft above sea level, using little more than the natural motion of the waves. There are now plans for a much larger version, capable of pumping to a height of more than 650ft.

Inventor Alvin Smith reckons that each full-size device would be able to pump enough water to supply electricity to 470 homes. He also calculates that a fleet of 43,000 could generate enough power for a staggering 20 million households.

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