Literally all energy on Earth came from the sun.(except possibly some geothermal, as that energy came from the momentum of our planet forming, which involved fragments from an old supernova)
There are 3 energy sources for earth; solar, accretion/diffusion, and radioactive decay. Accretion/diffusion was an important energy source in the early Earth, but it doesn't release almost any energy anymore. The reason the planet core stays warm is primarily due to radioactive decay now.
also geothermal is about 20% heat from when the earth formed and about 80% continuous decay of radioactive materials. (This means that the planet's core cools down so slowly that it's still hot inside from when it formed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy#Resources
Outside of the seasonal variations, the geothermal gradient of temperatures through the crust is 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) per km of depth in most of the world. The conductive heat flux averages 0.1 MW/km2. These values are much higher near tectonic plate boundaries where the crust is thinner. They may be further augmented by combinations of fluid circulation, either through magma conduits, hot springs, hydrothermal circulation.
That means 0.1 W/m² of heat on the surface of earth comes from the inside of earth, meanwhile the solar irradiation constant is 1361 W/m², while actually only about 200 W/m² reach the surface on average if you account for day-night-cycles (30% efficiency) and weather patterns (clouds reflect light, 50% efficiency). So geothermal makes about 0.05% of the energy that reaches the surface of earth.
geothermal makes 0.03% of the energy on the surface of earth. the rest is mostly sun, with some very small trace amounts from tidal energy (which comes from the moon).
Plus it might have prevented me from reading Ukrainian instead of uranium the first two times while I mused about the inaccessibility of memes these days.
18 Comments
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de · 81 pts · 141d
I love the giant fusion reactor in space that's sending us pure photons every day.
Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca · 50 pts · 141d
If we want to get nitpicky, it also causes evaporation of our water thus driving winds and providing us wind energy!
renegadespork@lemmy.jelliefrontier.net · 23 pts · 141d
Literally all energy on Earth came from the sun.(except possibly some geothermal, as that energy came from the momentum of our planet forming, which involved fragments from an old supernova)
ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 141d
There are 3 energy sources for earth; solar, accretion/diffusion, and radioactive decay. Accretion/diffusion was an important energy source in the early Earth, but it doesn't release almost any energy anymore. The reason the planet core stays warm is primarily due to radioactive decay now.
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 9 pts · 141d
you forgot tidal power (from the moon)
also geothermal is about 20% heat from when the earth formed and about 80% continuous decay of radioactive materials. (This means that the planet's core cools down so slowly that it's still hot inside from when it formed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy#Resources
That means 0.1 W/m² of heat on the surface of earth comes from the inside of earth, meanwhile the solar irradiation constant is 1361 W/m², while actually only about 200 W/m² reach the surface on average if you account for day-night-cycles (30% efficiency) and weather patterns (clouds reflect light, 50% efficiency). So geothermal makes about 0.05% of the energy that reaches the surface of earth.
renegadespork@lemmy.jelliefrontier.net · 4 pts · 141d
Ah, right, I forgot about radioactive decay. Also from said supernova.
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 141d
geothermal makes 0.03% of the energy on the surface of earth. the rest is mostly sun, with some very small trace amounts from tidal energy (which comes from the moon).
muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com · -2 pts · 141d
We don't get energy from the sun we get entropy
Deestan@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 141d
Uranium! Advantage: Gets very hot. Disadvantage: Doesn't stop.
Photonic@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 141d
But also an advantage
NullPointerException@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 141d
“Element of your talents” would’ve been better.
idiomaddict@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 141d
Plus it might have prevented me from reading Ukrainian instead of uranium the first two times while I mused about the inaccessibility of memes these days.
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 141d
Ukrainians being too talented to boil water wouldn't be the LEAST bizarre national stereotype ever 🤔
Goodeye8@piefed.social · 11 pts · 141d
The pinnacle of steampunk power sources, the nuclear reactor.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 140d
I dunno. sunlight reflected into a tower that boils water seems to be a pinnacle of a different steampunk tech tree.
TachyonTele@piefed.social · 9 pts · 141d
Water. Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
chocrates@piefed.world · 2 pts · 141d
YouTube is full of titles like "the end of steam" these days.
ewos1986@norden.social · 2 pts · 141d
@The_Picard_Maneuver oh, mit kochendem Wasser kann man auch sehr gut Angreifer vertreiben. Sie müssen nur nah genug unter die Zinnen kommen.