Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Making snow in the Sierras reminds me of the Ice Stupa in the Himalayas

 Someone in the Ladakh region in Asia thought of the idea at altitude of running water pipes down about 60 feet or more in altitude and then at that altitude when it comes up about 16 feet vertically from the ground out of the pipe from gravity feed it makes snow at that altitude especially in winter up through about April at that altitude.

Likewise, when Ski Lifts make snow because there is enough water available to do this they also are having the same effect really of the Ice Stupa in the Himalayas in Ladakh in that water stays still at altitude in the form of snow much longer than water does which quickly moves down rivulets and rivers and lakes eventually to the oceans of the world. 

So, governments should encourage ski lifts in making snow when the temperatures are low enough around the world because literally they are making sort of ice stupas at altitude and preserving water in a snow or ice form which will help people and farmers in the spring and summer survive. Snow and ice takes a long time to melt once it is in that form because the sun only hits the very top of the snow and then it usually crusts on top and protects the rest of the snow from turning into water too soon.

So, making snow makes sense for farmers and people all over the world if this is done in the mountains. This would really be useful in some ways if the power to make snow all over the world from existing water was solar powered too then put into batteries and then the water made into snow during the nights worldwide.

This is one way to preserve water at altitude so it is there in the Spring and Summer in the northern Hemisphere at the very least. So, the idea is to preserve water for later use in the form of snow or ice above or below ground for later use worldwide.

I suppose it might also be possible to make "Ice Stupas" in all sorts of localities at altitude too to preserve water in snow or ice form too. This wouldn't be very expensive by the way. You just need pipe and a higher water source and cold enough nights in the winter to do this ongoing every winter. You also might need someone to make sure the opening of the pipes doesn't freeze up from water spewing out turning into snow at night too.

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