Influencing weather patterns by way of altering surface or subsurface ocean water temperatures

Abstract

An apparatus and method for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water is disclosed. In an embodiment for the method of the invention, the method includes positioning a conduit below the surface of the body of water (i.e., underwater) substantially perpendicular to naturally occurring ocean currents, dispensing a substance from the conduit, and upwelling water to the surface. In another embodiment, the method includes positioning an upwelling system underwater, the upwelling system having a plurality of valves controllably releasing an upwelling substance, releasing the upwelling substance from a subset of the plurality of valves to upwell water to the surface. In an embodiment for the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes a conduit, disposed underwater, the conduit releasably containing an upwelling substance and including an input and a plurality of outputs. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an enclosure containing frozen CO 2 and disposed underwater, a water entry valve and a gas release valve mounted on the enclosure, the gas release valve allowing release of gaseous CO 2 into the water after the frozen CO2 has come in contact with water. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus includes an electrolysis cell disposed underwater, a storage vessel coupled to the electrolysis cell, and a gas release valve mounted on the storage vessel, the gas release valve allowing release of electrolysis cell generated gasses into the water. In still another embodiment, the apparatus includes a manifold, disposed underwater, the manifold comprising a plurality of valves each valve coupled to an underwater conduit, and a gas reservoir coupled to the manifold.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water, comprising: 
 positioning a conduit below the surface of the body of water;    positioning the conduit substantially perpendicular to naturally occurring ocean currents;    dispensing a substance from said conduit; and    upwelling water through the action of said substance rising from the conduit to the surface of the body of water; and    altering the temperature of the surface of the body of water by said upwelling water.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the surface of the body of water is decreased.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the surface of the body of water is increased.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensed substance is a gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensed substance is a liquid.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensed substance is a solid.  
     
     
         7 . A method for upwelling water to a sub-area within an operating area of an upwelling system, comprising: 
 positioning said upwelling system below a surface of a body of water, said upwelling system having a valve controllably releasing an upwelling substance;    releasing said upwelling substance from said valve;    upwelling water by said step of releasing; and    altering the temperature of the surface of the body of water by said upwelling water.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said valve releases said upwelling substance beneath a sub-area within an operating area of said upwelling system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling system includes a conduit.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling system includes a weighted CO 2  capsule.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling system includes an electrolysis cell.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the surface of the body of water is decreased.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the surface of the body of water is increased.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling substance is a gas.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling substance is a liquid.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upwelling substance is a solid.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water, comprising: 
 a conduit, disposed below the surface of the body of water, the conduit releasably containing an upwelling substance and including: 
 an input; and  
 a plurality of outputs.  
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the input protrudes above the surface of the body of water.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the input includes an adjustable section, said adjustable section allowing the conduit to be positioned at a selectable depth below the surface of body of water.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the input is coupled to an underwater source of one of a gas and a liquid and a solid.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of outputs comprises a plurality of valves.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the conduit comprises a plurality of conduit sections.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each conduit section is coupled to at least on other conduit section.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the conduit includes at least two inputs, wherein the inputs are at opposite ends of the conduit.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the conduit is a substantially linear conduit.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water, comprising: 
 an enclosure, containing an upwelling substance and disposed below the surface of the body of water;    a water entry valve mounted on said enclosure, said water entry valve allowing a volume of water to enter said enclosure; and    a gas release valve mounted on said enclosure, said gas release valve allowing release of a gaseous state of the upwelling substance into the water, after the upwelling substance has come in contact with water.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the upwelling substance is frozen CO 2 .  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a weight coupled to said enclosure.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water, comprising: 
 an electrolysis cell disposed below the surface of the body of water, said electrolysis cell dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from water in an underwater environment;    a storage vessel coupled to said electrolysis cell, said storage vessel collecting the dissociated hydrogen and oxygen; and    a gas release valve mounted on said storage vessel, said gas release valve allowing release of the dissociated hydrogen and oxygen into the water, the released dissociated hydrogen and oxygen causing an upwelling of water thereby altering the temperature of the surface of the body of water.    
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for altering the temperature of a surface of a body of water, comprising: 
 a manifold, disposed below the surface of the body of water, wherein said manifold comprises a plurality of valves each valve coupled to an underwater conduit; and    a gas reservoir releasably containing a gas, coupled to said manifold, released gas causing an upwelling of water thereby altering the temperature of the surface of the body of water.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the gas reservoir is disposed above the surface of the body of water.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the gas reservoir is disposed below the surface of the body of water.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a source of gas trapped beneath the ocean floor, wherein said source of gas is controllably coupled to said gas reservoir.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein each valve on said manifold is independently operable.