[mgj-discuss] Earth's Terminal Energy

[MSRB Admin]

Earth's Terminal Energy (ETE)

Below are preliminary results of a study on Earth's Terminal
Energy (ETE). ETE is the dirty energy profile for human
culture on Earth, energy that is converted and consumed by
humans, responsible for the overall global pollution.

The ETE study is based on a dynamic model:

1. The Earth's Terminal Energy, q[terminal]. This is the
amount of energy that would destroy everything on Earth
(99.9999 percent of all living things). The calculation of
q[terminal] is based on a number of dynamics, including the
surface temperature rises that would result from the release
of such tremendous amount of energy: q[terminal] = 1.86E+22
joules (18.6 zettajoules )

[The above energy is equal to the explosive power of about
300 million Hiroshima bombs.]

2. The "Torching Energy", q[torch]. The critical rate at
which the cumulative harmful effects of energy consumption
would destroy life over a relatively short period (about one
life cycle): q[torch]=9.51 terawatts (9.51E+12 j/s). At this
rate most life forms would become extinct within a period of
about 62 years.

3. In 1980 we exceeded q[torch]. Total energy consumption
for 1980 reached 3.12E+20 joules, resulting in q[torch] of
9.89 terawatts.

4. In 2004 we consumed a staggering 4.59E+20 joules of
energy globally (equal to the explosive power of about 7.3
million Hiroshima bombs, or 20,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding
each day throughout the entire 2004). The q[torch] rose to
14.5 terawatts.

5. At the 2004 rates (q[torch] = 14.5 terawatts), and taking
into account the cumulative harmful effects of energy
consumption, at least, since 1980, we probably have no more
than 18 years left on the life calendar.

Note: Margin of error is (+/-)8 percent.

Prepared by:
MSRB


In Part II
Would it be possible to borrow an extra 50 years to get our
act together?