Why aren’t we exploring/ spending as much money terraforming on earth?

Question

Considering 26% of our land surface is infertile desert and approx 2 Billion humans live without basics like running water or proper sanitation, I was wondering why here aren’t more steps taken to colonize inhospitable places on earth? I’m not opposed to space exploration but it just seems a logical first step. Long way around terraforming, why have we got things backwards?

Answer 1

infertile desert is that way because there isn't enough water.

you can do whatever you want.

it's not going to rain any more.

Answer 2

Money!!!

Most of the wealth is contained in the USA and they will not spend unless they get a lot back in return. They are for short term gains rather than long term commitments.

Answer 3

Politics, limits on the knowledge of our environment, and logistics.

There used to be a program in America's passed to control the weather. Despite this seeming to be impossible it actually had some major success. By releasing particles of silver into clouds they were able to make it rain on demand. However, this program lost funding due to its futility in American society. By causing it to rain in one state one could say you are stopping those clouds from raining in another. This can also be applied to countries.

We don't know enough about our environment to start to such invasive operations as super-terraforming (I just made that term up, but I like it). We don't even know what we are doing to the environment by mistake, aka Global Warming. I believe some deserts are formed due to mountains in between that area and a water source suck the moisture out of the air because the air is pushed up to colder temperature by the incline (cold air doesn't hold as much moisture as warm). So, in theory digging up a couple mountains in the Rockys might get more moisture to deserts in South West America... but then again it might just turn half of America into tornado alley. We just don't know enough to do such things.

Like I said before, getting rid of mountains could be a way to super-terraform. However, there is a reason nearly impossible tasks are compared to "moving mountains". Such projects would cost billions of dollars. Very few governments would be able to rake up enough money to even consider it besides maybe America, the EU, and China.

Speaking of which, super-terraforming is taking place already. The Gobi Desert in China is expanding and wiping out millions of acres of vital agricultural lands, even consuming entire towns. The Chinese government, not bounded to the same political morals as American government, has picked up on weather controlling. They also have program that supports planting many trees at the edges of the Gobi Desert to hold the ground together so as to prevent huge sand dunes.

Hope this helps =)

Answer 4

Because we're all a bunch of freaking idiots (and in the case of people from Hemet, drug addicts to boot).  I've been asking myself the same question since they launched the rovers.  The only conclusion I can come up with is that the people making the decisions of where our money goes are complete tools.  I guess I could use the word "illogical" if you want me to sugar-coat it, but I would prefer idiot.  Anyone can be illogical, but it takes a true idiot to spend billions on space exploration when the Earth is suffering.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, the countries that own the deserts don't seem to be interested in paying for improvements ... don't say they can't afford it - go look at Saudi Arabia (mostly desert) and ask what the are doing with all the Oil money (squandering it) ..

PS My back yard could do with some 'terraforming' ... would you like to pay for it?  - or come round with a spade & do it for me ? ... no ???? then maybe you are starting to understand the basics ...

Answer 6

It seems we are developing the deserts here. I was in Hemet CA last year. They dammed up the ends of a valley between two mountains and made a reservoir. The pump water in and out as needed to provide water for the area. once you have the water, people develop.

Please don't underestimate the need for space exploration. The earth and sun will not be here forever. Likely we will need the technology to divert an asteroid (search near earth orbit asteroids). I would hate to be the generation that skimped on the space program and cause all our descendants to become extinct. We will likely have another ice age in 12,000 years. It might be a little crowed then.

We will need to find new planets and make them hospitable if we are to survive. Interstellar travel will be a major undertaking.

Many things have come from the space program that have improved life.