Why don’t we simply desalinate/clean ocean water for situations like droughts?
It's very expensive currently, and you have the problem of brine left over. The process is not perfect so you don't end up with pure water on one side and salt on the other, you get about half salt-free water and the other half is doubly-salty water, or brine. Disposing of brine is a problem.
The Short Answer
It's very expensive currently, and you have the problem of brine left over. The process is not perfect so you don't end up with pure water on one side and salt on the other, you get about half salt-free water and the other half is doubly-salty water, or brine. Disposing of brine is a problem. It is usually put back into the ocean but it needs to be done slowly or it sinks to the bottom and raises the salinity at the ocean floor to dangerous levels for the creatures that live there.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Brine, water, problem
This explanation focuses on brine, water, problem and spans 93 words across 4 sentences. At 31% 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: “It's very expensive currently, and you have the problem of brine left over.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 4 connected points.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #141 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 29%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we simply desalinate/clean ocean water for situations like droughts?
It's very expensive currently, and you have the problem of brine left over. The process is not perfect so you don't end up with pure water on one side and salt on the other, you get about half salt-free water and the other half is doubly-salty…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is an above-average answer at 93 words, ranked #141 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are brine, water, problem.
What approach does this answer take to explain we simply desalinate/clean ocean water for situations like d?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 93 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.