However, these ponds also attracts birds and other airborne animals, all of which present a risk for collision with the aircraft. The excess rainwater throughout the airport is directed to this basin, preventing flooding of the runways and downstream erosion. Airports generally endorse having a drainage pond or a retention basin, which is basically a small artificial lake with some vegetation and a permanent pool of water. These balls are also used to prevent bird aircraft strike hazards (BASH). In addition to lowering evaporation, they also prevent the growth of algae and reduce UV radiation byproducts from contaminating the water. Although they are available in multiple colors, black shade balls are the most preferred ones, as they reduce the evaporation of water by a measurable amount. What Is The Purpose Of Shade Balls?Īmongst their various environmental uses, the most important is slowing down the evaporation of water. The cost of these plastic spheres is about 36 cents each, yet they are expected to save $250 million for the Los Angele Department of Water. Carbon black is added to these balls to protect them from the ultraviolet radiations of the sun, rendering them a dark black color. Each ball is about 4 inches in diameter and weighs about 240 to 260 grams. The shade balls are made from high-density polyethene (or polyethylene), the same material used for making bottles and packets of milk. About 96 million of these little balls were added to the Las Virgenes reservoir near Los Angeles in 2015 and have caught the eye of several environmental enthusiasts since then.Īt first, I thought it was a one-time gimmick for some world record or a scene for some movie, but to my astonishment, these plastic balls are now as much a part of the reservoir as the water in it! So, what are these spherical items and why have they been added to the water? Let’s take a closer look.Ī single shade ball (Photo Credit : Richard Thomas/Wikimedia Commons) I recently came across one such piece of information that left me simply amazed- Shade balls. These things provide us with knowledge that can be useful in our everyday lives. While surfing the internet every day, we come across a lot of weird but exciting stuff. Water crisis had hit the world hard and as a result, people have come up with some unique solutions for it. Why Were The Balls Used In Los Angeles?.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |