Water supply and weather modifications through the use of transported icebergs from the Antarctic

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is engaged in a wide scale program of seawater desalinization. It is also presently considering the use of Antartic icebergs as a source of freshwater and as a weather modifier. Suitable icebergs can be found in a zone North East of the Weddel sea. Means for locating and inspecting them are described. Furthermore, methods for towing such icebergs from the Antartic to the Aden Gulf and from the Aden Gulf to any Saudi Arabian Coast are discussed. The necessary steps for protection against melting in transit are also explained. An outline of the various proposed techniques to obtain fresh water from icebergs is given. The considerable cold mass of icebergs is a powerful tool for micro- climate improvements, specially on hot coastal plains with a high degree of atmospheric humidity. The lowering of the temperature, through fog formation could indeed reduce the costly summer peak demands for water and electricity. Economic projections show that the operating costs of water from icebergs delivered to Saudi Arabia compares favorably with water produced by desalinization. Investments forecasts favor also the iceberg source.