Overview

Since the Arab oil embargo of 1974, it has been clear that the days of almost limitless quantities of low-cost energy have passed. In addition, ever­ worsening pollution due to fossil fuel consumption, for instance oil and chemical spills, strip mining, sulphur emission and accumulation of solid wastes, has, among other things, led to an increase of as much as 10% in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere in this century. This has induced a warming trend through the 'greenhouse effect' which prevents infrared radiation from leaving it. Many people think the average planetary temperatures may rise by 4°C or so by 2050. This is probably true since Antarctic ice cores evidence indicates that, over the last 160000 years, ice ages coincided with reduced levels of carbon dioxide and warmer interglacial episodes with increased levels of the gas in the atmosphere. Consequently, such an elevation of temperature over such a relatively short span of time would have catastrophic results in terms of rising sea level and associated flooding of vast tracts of low-lying lands. Reducing the burning of fossil fuels makes sense on both economic and environmental grounds. One of the most attractive alternatives is geothermal resources, especially in developing countries, for instance in El Salvador where geothermal energy provides about a fifth of total installed electrical power already. In fact, by the middle 1980s, at least 121 geothermal power plants were operating worldwide, most being of the dry steam type.

Full Product Details

Author:   R. Bowen
Publisher:   Springer
Imprint:   Springer
Edition:   2nd ed. 1989. Softcover reprint of the original 2nd ed. 1989
Dimensions:   Width: 14.30cm , Height: 2.60cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.636kg
ISBN:  

9789401069878

ISBN 10:   9401069875
Pages:   486
Publication Date:   14 December 2011
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

1 The Origins of Earth Heat.- 1.1 Beginnings.- 1.2 Developments.- 1.3 Inferences.- 2 Geothermal Systems and Models.- 2.1 Geo thermal Systems.- 2.2 Classification.- 2.3 Heat Transfer.- 2.4 Ideal Models.- 2.5 East Mesa Anomaly, Imperial Valley, California, USA: A Conceptual Model.- 2.6 Pre-production Models of Hydrothermal Systems.- 3 Geothermal Exploration.- 3.1 Objective.- 3.2 Methods.- 4 Geothermal Resource Assessment.- 4.1 General Considerations.- 4.2 Methods.- 4.3 Resupply of Heat.- 4.4 Nomenclature.- 4.5 Global Geothermal Resources.- 5 Exploitation of Geothermal Fields.- 5.1 Background.- 5.2 General Model.- 5.3 Re-injection.- 5.4 Artificial Stimulation.- 5.5 Hot Dry Rock.- 5.6 Future Prospects for Geothermal Aquifers in the UK.- 5.7 European Experience.- 5.8 Equipment Necessary for Exploitation.- 6 Environmental Impact.- 6.1 Reflections on Consequences.- 6.2 Air and Water Quality.- 6.3 Water from Geothermal Resources.- 6.4 Geological Hazards.- 6.5 Plant and Animal Life.- 6.6 Environmental Issues.- 7 Uses of Geothermal Energy.- 7.1 World Energy.- 7.2 Non-electrical Uses of Geothermal Energy.- 7.3 Geothermal Prognosis.- Appendixes.- 1. Geothermal Miscellanea.- 2. Companies of Geothermal Interest.- 3. Organizations of Geothermal Interest.- 4. World Geothermal Localities.- Author Index.

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Full of interesting and useful information. (Geological Magazine)

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