| CPC E02B 1/00 (2013.01) [E02B 3/02 (2013.01); E02B 9/02 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
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1. An ice cap water collection and storage system, comprising;
a reservoir in the form of a naturally formed or dammed open air lake in the ice free zone near an ice cap, within which water is stored;
a natural catchment area of said reservoir consisting of an ice cap natural catchment area of said reservoir on the surface of the ice cap and an ice free natural catchment area of said reservoir in areas not covered by ice;
a graded terrace network comprised of a plurality of graded terraces, with each said graded terrace comprised of an excavated channel and a ridge constructed on the down slope side of said excavated channel, and constructed of ice on the surface of the ice cap, with each said graded terrace beginning on the ice cap surface at a point outside of said ice cap natural catchment area and terminating on the ice cap surface within said ice cap natural catchment area, and with each said graded terrace both collecting said ice ca water directly from said ice cap surface both within and outside of said natural catchment area, and directing flow upon said ice cap surface of said ice cap water to the terminus of each said graded terrace within said natural catchment area;
a graded terrace construction and maintenance system comprised of mechanical excavators and service vehicles that are used to excavate said graded terrace channels and construct said graded terrace ridges, and to maintain said graded terraces;
said natural catchment area that directs said ice cap water into said reservoir;
and said reservoir that stores said ice cap water.
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