• general_kitten@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    solar panels by design absorb all the light they can (usually <1%) while oceans reflect about 5-10% back into space so solar panels on top of oceans technically would heat the planet. furthermore the prevented evaporation of water is water that is not forming clouds that would reflect a lot more light back into space.

    if we somehow managed to cover the oceans with solar panels it would just from the extra heat absorbed be catastrophic for the climate, even ignoring how the shade would kill most oceanic ecosystems

    • vivadanang@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      if we somehow managed to cover the oceans with solar panels

      lol well yeah, considering this proposition would require the mobilization of every economy for centuries. the engineering alone would be mind boggling.

      • general_kitten@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        i think we would run into problems of there not being enough rare elements needed to build the panels in the first place so technology would need to improve first a ton