Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: palmer
Just started looking but immediately stumbled over this article and thought it worthy.

Scientific American, Nuclear Fission Confirmed as Source of More than Half of Earth’s Heat

Excerpt: "The new measurements suggest radioactive decay provides more than half of Earth’s total heat, estimated at roughly 44 terawatts based on temperatures found at the bottom of deep boreholes into the planet’s crust. The rest is leftover from Earth’s formation or other causes yet unknown, according to the scientists involved. Some of that heat may have been trapped in Earth’s molten iron core since the planet’s formation, while the nuclear decay happens primarily in the crust and mantle"

35 posted on 02/16/2014 11:22:58 AM PST by Zuben Elgenubi (NOPe to GOPe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies ]


To: Zuben Elgenubi

44 TW for one day is 4x10^18 J. The sun hits us with 10^22 Joules each day (just looked it above).


37 posted on 02/16/2014 11:25:24 AM PST by palmer (don't feed the bears)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies ]

To: Zuben Elgenubi
Here's the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders_of_magnitude_(energy)
38 posted on 02/16/2014 11:27:02 AM PST by palmer (don't feed the bears)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson