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The heat energy coming from within the Earth is known as geothermal energy. Scientists believe that tapping geothermal energy would be a sustainable solution to reduce the effects of global warming and dependence on fossil fuels. This article gives a brief insight into this form of energy and how it works.
The word “geothermal” is derived from the Greek word geo, meaning Earth and thermos, meaning heat. Hence, geothermal energy is the heat energy formed inside the Earth. The generation of this form of energy on the Earth’s crust comes from 80% of radioactive decay of several minerals and 20% from the formation of the planet.
The outer core is made of liquid, whereas the inner core is a solid iron center. The inner core is surrounded by hot melted rock matter known as magma, whereas the outer core is surrounded by a composite layer of rocks and magma of around 1,800 miles called the mantle.
The Earth’s crust, i.e., the continents and the ocean floor, is the outermost and comparatively the most easily accessible layer of the Earth. The crust of the Earth is not one as a whole and consists of mosaic of pieces called plates. The magma reaches the surface of the Earth via these plates where volcanoes are seen.
Sometimes, the hot molten magma heats the underground water when it reaches the crust. This hot water gets trapped in porous rocks, or in cracks of underground rocks, thus creating a geothermal reservoir. The trapped geothermal energy often gets released through natural means in the form of hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers. Yellowstone National Park is one of the best examples exhibiting these features.
The heat energy coming from within the Earth is known as geothermal energy. Scientists believe that tapping geothermal energy would be a sustainable solution to reduce the effects of global warming and dependence on fossil fuels. This article gives a brief insight into this form of energy and how it works. The word “geothermal” is derived from the Greek word geo, meaning Earth and thermos, meaning heat. Hence, geothermal energy is the heat energy formed inside the Earth. The generation of this form of energy on the Earth’s crust comes from 80% of radioactive decay of several minerals and 20% from the formation of the planet.
The Earth’s core is divided into two parts:
(1) Inner core; and (2) Outer core.
The outer core is made of liquid, whereas the inner core is a solid iron center. The inner core is surrounded by hot melted rock matter known as magma, whereas the outer core is surrounded by a composite layer of rocks and magma of around 1,800 miles called the mantle. The Earth’s crust, i.e., the continents and the ocean floor, is the outermost and comparatively the most easily accessible layer of the Earth. The crust of the Earth is not one as a whole and consists of mosaic of pieces called plates.
The magma reaches the surface of the Earth via these plates where volcanoes are seen. Sometimes, the hot molten magma heats the underground water when it reaches the crust. This hot water gets trapped in porous rocks, or in cracks of underground rocks, thus creating a geothermal reservoir. The trapped geothermal energy often gets released through natural means in the form of hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers. Yellowstone National Park is one of the best examples exhibiting these features.