ABSTRACT
A more promising approach to evaporation reduction is the development and application of methods which reduce the energy available for evaporation. These methods decrease evaporation either by reducing the solar energy entering the water or by reducing the transport of water vapor above the surface. A large increase in reflectance created by floating reflective materials on the water can significantly reduce the evaporation rate. It is therefore desirable to make the surface of the reflecting material as light-colored as possible. Cooley observed that water lost by evaporation from open surfaces may equal or exceed that used beneficially, and that conserving water contained in existing facilities is, in some situations, the most economical means of providing adequate water supplies. Various energy-reducing methods for evaporation reduction can be classified as: changing the color of the water; using wind barriers; shading the water surface; and using floating covers.
