Why can’t we just irrigate deserts with canals?
– The water would evaporate if the canals weren't covered. – It's difficult and expensive to get that much water to move that far, and we would need to have spare water in the first place, which we often don't. – The soil in those areas is often nutrient-scarce from centuries with no water in it,…
The Short Answer
– The water would evaporate if the canals weren't covered. – It's difficult and expensive to get that much water to move that far, and we would need to have spare water in the first place, which we often don't. – The soil in those areas is often nutrient-scarce from centuries with no water in it, and would be difficult to grow things in. – Extensive irrigation can lead to extensive soil degradation, and the land would cease being arable within a few short generations, and then we'd need to build new canals all over again. – While those areas are not suitable for agriculture, they are often home to unique species and ecosystems of non-human organisms, which have been minding their own business and living there for a long time.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Water, often, canals
This explanation focuses on water, often, canals and spans 130 words across 5 sentences. At 83% above the average Nature explanation (71 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “- The water would evaporate if the canals weren't covered.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #58 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 12%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we just irrigate deserts with canals?
– The water would evaporate if the canals weren't covered. – It's difficult and expensive to get that much water to move that far, and we would need to have spare water in the first place, which we often don't. – The soil in those areas is often…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 130 words, ranked #58 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are water, often, canals.
What approach does this answer take to explain we just irrigate deserts with canals?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 130 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.