Atmospheric Desalination Buoys: A Concept for Humidity Enhancement, Wildfire Mitigation, and Marine Co-Benefits

Abstract We introduce the Atmospheric Desalination Buoy (ADB), a novel marine-based geoengineering concept that couples passive solar concentration (Fresnel optics), thin-film evaporation with heat recovery, and a solar chimney to inject water vapor into the lower atmosphere while crystallizing salts in situ to achieve zero liquid discharge. When deployed in large clusters, ADBs are projected to elevate near-surface relative humidity, reduce wildfire risk, and provide ancillary benefits for sustainable fisheries and agriculture. This work presents preliminary energy balance assessments, psychrometric analyses, and buoyant plume dispersion models, supported by ecological and techno-economic considerations. Comparative case studies spanning desertic, semi-arid, boreal, and tropical island settings demonstrate broad global applicability. A pilot deployment pathway is outlined, and full derivations of thermodynamic and plume models are provided in the appendices.