Abstract:
A system for affecting a local parameter, the system comprising a sunlight radiation reflecting surface, and a propulsion mechanism, the propulsion mechanism being adapted to move the reflecting surface to a predetermined position being chosen based on the effect of the system on said local parameter at the position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to devices used to control local climatic conditions, such as oceanic parameters, particularly directed to affecting weather patterns.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Hurricanes are a much-studied phenomenon. While there is much which is not understood, the necessary conditions for formation are thought to be well-understood. One of these conditions is that a thunderstorm passes over an area of oceanic water which has been heated to at least 80°-82° F. at a depth of at least 150 feet. The air from the surface of the ocean, which is warm and humid, begins to rapidly rise. As it rises, the water vapor in the air condenses, forming rain droplets and storm clouds, and releasing heat in the form of latent heat of condensation. This latent heat warms cool air above it, causing it to rise. Warm, humid air from the ocean surface replaces the rising air. As this cycle progresses, heat from the ocean surface is drawn into the atmosphere, creating a pattern of circulating wind. Under the proper conditions, such as appropriate amounts of wind shear and pressure gradients, the hurricane may fully develop.  
         [0003]     Articles by Ross N. Hoffman in the February, 2002 issue of the  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , entitled  Controlling the Global Weather , and in the October, 2004 issue of Scientific American, entitled  Controlling Hurricanes , underscore the importance of small changes in temperature, and that the most effective way to limit wind damage caused by hurricane winds would be to make “the greatest modifications to the beginning temperature near the storm&#39;s eye.” Alterations of temperature of as little as 0.5° C. had effects which extended as far as 500-600 miles from the eye.  
         [0004]     There have been previous attempts to prevent the formation of hurricanes. In the early 1960s, in an attempt to create ancillary storms adjacent a hurricane to draw energy therefrom, areas near the hurricane were seeded with silver iodine crystals, with inconclusive results. Since then, weather planes have been flown into hurricanes at up to 40,000 ft., releasing chemicals at different points and time intervals in an attempt to mitigate the power of the storm. Results, of this project were non-conclusive.  
         [0005]     Since the conditions necessary for formation of hurricanes is generally known, their formation and path can be predicted to a certain degree, using information collected by weather satellites and other equipment which gathers meteorological information.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed toward deploying large atmospheric reflecting surfaces above the surface of the earth, either above the ocean or land, in order to have an effect on local temperatures. For example, when over the ocean, an increase of the water temperature due to solar radiation may be prevented in areas which may serve as starting points of tropical storms, thus limiting their strength, or preventing them from forming in the first place.  
         [0007]     There is therefore provided according to one aspect of the present invention a system for affecting local parameters, such as in the ocean, seas, or other places, such as near or on glaciers, icebergs, or at or near the North or South Pole. The system comprises a sunlight radiation reflecting surface, and a propulsion mechanism. The propulsion mechanism is adapted to move the reflecting surface to a predetermined position, such as above a body of water, which is chosen based on the effect the system would have at that position on the local parameter.  
         [0008]     The system may further comprise a flotation mechanism adapted to maintain the reflecting surface at or near a predetermined height.  
         [0009]     The propulsion mechanism may comprise an airborne vehicle, which may be unmanned.  
         [0010]     The propulsion mechanism may comprise motor units, which may be either electrically or jet powered. In the case of electrically-powered motor units, solar panels may be integral with the motor or as part of the reflecting surface in order to provide power to the motor units.  
         [0011]     The flotation mechanism may comprise at least one inflatable structure, such as a balloon, filled with a lighter-than-air gas, such as helium. In such a case, at least a portion of the reflecting surface may be integral with the flotation mechanism.  
         [0012]     In addition, the system may comprise a ground tether, i.e., a restraint, such as a rope or system of ropes, to hold the system substantially in one place.  
         [0013]     A control station may be part of the system and be adapted to receive information, which may be real-time, regarding local parameters, and, based on said information, issue instructions to the propulsion mechanism. The information may be received from a weather satellite or other meteorological equipment. The information may include data concerning local cloud cover, air currents which may affect the local parameters, and intensity of sunlight.  
         [0014]     The control station may be airborne by said system or by another airborne vehicle, or it may be a ground station.  
         [0015]     The parameter may be the local water temperature of the ocean, seas, or other places, such as near or on glaciers, icebergs, or at or near the North or South Pole.  
         [0016]     The system may be adapted to selectively position said reflecting surface to reflect sunlight away from the Earth.  
         [0017]     The system may be adapted to selectively position said reflecting surface to reflect sunlight toward a predetermined location on the Earth. The reflecting surface may attached to said propulsion mechanism, with the propulsion mechanism being adapted to reposition the reflecting surface in order to maintain the location of the reflected sunlight on the predetermined position. The reflecting surfaces may be attached to the propulsion mechanism via cables, which may be, inter alia, any rope made of synthetic or natural fibers, high-strength lines, chains, etc.  
         [0018]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for affecting local parameters of the ocean, seas, or other places, such as near or on glaciers, icebergs, or at or near the North or South Pole, comprising the steps of: 
        (a) providing a one or more reflecting surfaces;     (b) providing a propulsion mechanism adapted to move the one or more reflecting surfaces to one or more predetermined positions;     (c) providing a control station adapted to receive information about local oceanic parameters, to decide locations in need of parametric influence, and to generate a control signal; and     (d) deploying said reflecting surfaces to the vicinity of said locations.        
 
         [0023]     In addition, a flotation mechanism may be provided. The flotation mechanism is adapted to maintain the reflecting surface at or near a predetermined height.  
         [0024]     The parameter may be the local temperature, and the desired influence may be to lower the temperature. This may be accomplished by reflecting the sunlight away, similar to an “umbrella effect”.  
         [0025]     Alternatively, the desired influence may be to raise the temperature. This may be accomplished by redirecting the sunlight toward the desired place, wherein the reflecting surface acts as a “floating mirror”.  
         [0026]     The method may further comprise the step of selectively positioning the one or more reflecting surfaces to reflect sunlight away from the location, or the step of selectively positioning the one or more reflecting surfaces to reflect sunlight toward the location.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, an embodiment will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  is perspective view of a system according to the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 1B  is a close-up view of a motor unit of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates how the system may be used; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a modification of the system in use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     As seen in  FIG. 1A , there is provided a system, generally indicated at  10 , for reflecting solar radiation. The system comprises a plurality of panels  12  tethered together so as to form a surface. According to one particular embodiment, at least some of the panels are in the form of inflatable structures, such as balloons, as indicated at  13 , and are filled with a lighter-than-air gas, such as helium, in order to keep the system  10  aloft in the air at a predetermined height. In addition, motor units  14  are provided to guide the system. The inflatable structures  13  may be formed as rectangular or square in shape, at least when viewed from the top, or in any other desirable shape.  
         [0033]     According to one modification, the reflective surfaces are articulated to the inflatable structures.  
         [0034]     The panels  12  may be made from a light material, such as polyethylene/nylon, and covered with a shiny metallic material, e.g., Mylar™. Alternatively, they may be made from or coated with a reflective film, such as Mylar™. In the present example, each panel  12  is approximately 5×5 meters. As shown in  FIG. 1 , thirty two panels, at least some being in the form of inflatable structures and filled with a lighter-than-air gas, are attached to cover a total area of about 800 square meters (approximately 8600 square feet). However, this number may vary at the discretion of a user.  
         [0035]     The motor units  14  are light-weight and are electrically powered. Since the system  10  is meant to be used in areas of high sunlight radiation, the motor units  14  may comprise solar panels (not shown) for powering them. The solar panels may be mounted on the motor units  14 , as indicated at  22  in  FIG. 1B , or they may replace some of the panels  12  of the array  10  or be portions of some of the panels.  
         [0036]     The system  10  is towed by an airborne vehicle  16 , which may be a UAV which is remotely controlled. Alternatively, the system  10  may be towed to a general desired vicinity by a manned plane, which then releases it. Once the system  10  has been towed to the desired vicinity, the airborne vehicle  16  ensures that it stays there, and returns the system  10  there if it is blown off course. The vehicle pulls the system over a predetermined area of water, and may be controlled to return to the same point or area several times. These points and/or area are determined using information provided by data gathering means, such as weather satellites and/or other equipment which gathers meteorological information.  
         [0037]     It will be appreciated that a number of systems will need to be deployed in order to reflect a sufficient amount of light to have a noticeable impact on the development of the hurricane. This number is dependent on the size of the panels, and can be determined using data, such as the intensity of the sunlight, local water temperature, and amount of cloud cover, which is provided by the data gathering means. Typically, the effective reflective area of all of the systems will be very large in order to accomplish the intended effect.  
         [0038]     It will further be appreciated that a central control computer or computers may be provided. This central computer or computers controls the systems based on continuously updated data from satellites or other meteorological equipment, or if this is not available, from extrapolated data.  
         [0039]     Besides preventing hurricanes, the systems  10  can be deployed in other areas in which excess heat creates environmental damage, such as to slow the melting of permafrost, polar icecaps, and icebergs.  
         [0040]     It is expected that the money which is saved due to hurricane prevention can be put toward construction and deployment of the systems.  
         [0041]     In use, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a weather satellite  18  gathers information concerning a part of the ocean. The information may include data concerning local cloud cover, air currents which may affect the local parameters, and/or intensity of sunlight. The information is sent to a processing center  20 , which comprises one or more computers adapted to process the data. Concurrently, the locations of the systems  10  are tracked by the computer. The computer determines critical points or areas which are most in need of coverage by the system. These critical points or areas may be locations of elevated temperatures which lie in the path of an approaching thunderstorm. Alternatively, they may be areas which are frequently visited by thunderstorms, and may be cooled as a preventative measure. In this way, when a thunderstorm does approach, much less cooling is necessary. The computer issues command to the system  10 , usually by controlling the vehicle  16 , to direct it to those areas. As the areas are cooled, the weather satellites continuously monitor the situation, and new critical points or areas may be determined. The computer then decides whether to redirect systems  10  to the new critical points or areas.  
         [0042]     In the event that a hurricane cannot be totally prevented by using the system as described above, it will be appreciated that the severity of the storm can be mitigated by lower temperatures of the ocean surface.  
         [0043]     It will be appreciated that the system  10  as described above can be used to influence local parameters besides those occurring in or near oceans. For example, they may be deployed over cities or other populated areas in order to provide shade, thereby cooling the local ambient temperature. They may be tethered at specific locations, and/or provided with motor units, or another similar propulsion mechanism, in order to selectively move them to different locations, as needed.  
         [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a modification of the system, generally indicated at  110 , may be used to heat a predetermined area  200 . The system comprises a flexible panel  112  tethered by cables  120  to a propulsion mechanism  116 , such as an airborne vehicle. The propulsion mechanism  116  is adapted to keep the reflecting surface in a position such that it focuses sunlight onto the area  200 , thereby heating it more that it would otherwise be. In addition, it may alter the lengths of the cables  120  in order to maintain the focus of the reflected sunlight on the area. Although only two cables are shown in  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated any appropriate number of cables may be utilized in order to ensure that the propulsion mechanism is able to maintain an appropriate shape of the reflecting surface.  
         [0045]     Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention mutatis mutandis. For example, if a large region requires cooling, a large device may be deployed there.