Researchers Trying to Harvest Water From Fog Using Nets at Atacama Desert

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Water is the most important Commodity without which no species on Earth could survive and that is the reason why life doesn't exist on any planet except Earth. Although Water is important, it is limited. Researchers are conducting experiments to harvest water from fog for plant life.

Run by Universidad Catolica, the Alto Patache Research Centre are researching on harvesting water from fog. In their studies, they have successfully cultivated plant life after collecting water from fog which has water as a key element. The Mail Online stated that when the experiment was conducted, the water triggered the seeds under dormant mode to become active and it resulted in a plant. Although it was a small experiment, in a long run, it can be used to irrigate an entire desert which will convert it into gardens or farms.

The Atacama Desert is the driest place in the world spanning from Chile to Peru. Weather stations deployed in the desert reported not even traces of rainfall in many years. Usually, as the height of a mountain grows, the wind gets cold in an upward direction which means taller mountains must have glaciers or ice caps. But the Atacama Desert is so arid that even at 22,589 ft, a mountain top shows no signs of glaciers.

CNN contributed information about the experiment according to which researchers have built a large net on the desert which traps fog and separates water from the fog. The net is capable of retrieving 22 Liters per square meter. and will cater towards 13 villages and about 1,300 people.

Dr. Jamila Bargach, who has been a part of the experiments said that before the experiment was kick started, villagers were able to pull out 30 liters of water in 3 hours per day, the change in climate and other natural factors that influence with the water collection. After the nets will be installed near communities at the Atacama Desert, they will be able to get water when needed. It is perhaps a cheaper option when compared to Desalinizing process.
The experiments have proven its caliber through the patches from Chile to Morocco by proving safe and cheap drinking water.