What if you cover Sahara with solar panels? Sahara is one of the most exposed places on earth. Therefore, the idea is that if we can collect all that energy, we can empower the world. In reality, we will harvest far more energy than was previously needed. According to Forbes, solar panels covering an area of about 335 km2 are actually enough to power the world, covering only 1.2% of Sahara. Other than power generation, this can have some implications. First, the bright colors of Saharan sand reflect the sun's rays and return heat to the air. Covering this ensures that more sunlight is absorbed and the soil temperature rises. The warm air then rises to higher altitudes, condenses as clouds, and then falls as rain, completely transforming the desert as we know it. The planet operates with a set of balanced systems, which can completely ruin the Apple Cart. For example, the Amazon rainforest relies on mineral-rich sand blown from Sahara for nutrients. Without these, the Amazon would not receive enough nutrients to survive and its decline could accelerate. Moreover, the increase in heat in the desert will not end here. Because it is transported via meteorological systems around the world, it rains less in the Amazon and makes the weather in regions such as North America and Asia unstable. It is not necessary to cover 1% of Sahara with solar panels. You don't even need 2%, which is the amount that causes this effect. Instead, a series of small 1.2% solar farms should be sufficient to generate enough power without such extreme environmental impact.
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