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Q: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount? ( No Answer,   4 Comments )
Question  
Subject: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount?
Category: Science > Earth Sciences
Asked by: bigegg-ga
List Price: $11.00
Posted: 07 Jan 2006 05:02 PST
Expires: 06 Feb 2006 05:02 PST
Question ID: 430297
The amount of the natural resources on the earth will not increase.
And the traditional not circulating resource will be exhausted.
Such as petroleum , coal...etc.
The human race should try to develop and find new resources earlier.
How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an
appropriate amount and recycle them?
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount?
From: qed100-ga on 07 Jan 2006 06:33 PST
 
Well, to answer this meaningfully, you'll need to define your terms.
What sized population do you propose to support? What variety of
species will be in this population? What personal liberties will they
be afforded? ("Freedom" can be quite expensive.) For how long a time
should they be supported before being resigned to extinction?
Subject: Re: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount?
From: irlandes-ga on 07 Jan 2006 16:12 PST
 
Actually, nearly 25 years ago, a major science magazine presented a
theory that natural gas is produced naturally and internally by the
planet itself. I have not heard much in recent years, and do not know
if it has been discredited.

Also, the sun is sending energy in steady amounts to the planet day
and night (not really since it arrives only on the day side of the
planet, but it does hit the planet all the time.

And, we have not yet begun to tap into wind energy.

Trees are replaceable in extremely large quantities.

As fossil fuel goes up in price, other systems of energy will become
more practical.

I have read many articles since I finished high school in 1960 that we
are using less energy to achieve the same tasks as compared to the
past.

I refer primarily to energy because much of our physical materials,
such as metals, can be reused in most cases, especially if its value
rises to the cost of recycling it.

Likewise, the entire planet is availble for use if the price is
sufficient.  The planet is roughly 8,000 miles in diameter.
Subject: Re: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount?
From: qed100-ga on 07 Jan 2006 21:25 PST
 
Hello irlandes,

   You said earlier:
"And, we have not yet begun to tap into wind energy."

   Keep in mind that only some minor fraction of wind energy is, even
in principle, available for our use. Wind energy is already spoken
for, so to speak. It's already playing a role in Earth's dynamic
system. If too much is diverted from what it's already doing, then
there can be unexpected consequences. Same goes for any source
connected to solar energy, including solar itself. Only a negligible
portion of such energy can be domesticated.

"Trees are replaceable in extremely large quantities."

   In principle, yes. But they only grow at some finite rate. Given
the fixed land surface area of Earth, only so many can be in the
process of growing at any time, so their availability as material &
burnable fuel can, potentially, be exceeded by the demand. And at any
rate, they cannot safely be burned as fuel beyond a certain rate. Too
many trees burning *can* release CO2 way too fast. So only a
negligible rate of burning is affordable.

"As fossil fuel goes up in price, other systems of energy will become
more practical."

   This isn't necessarily true. The historical cheapness of oil has
been due to  its abundance. As it becomes scarce, it'll become more
expensive in the market. But increases in oil prices don't mean that
other sources of energy suddenly become more abundant.

"I have read many articles since I finished high school in 1960 that we
are using less energy to achieve the same tasks as compared to the
past."

   Sure. Energy efficiency of many tasks has been made greater. But by
no means can it be made zero. To do things always requires energy. And
since energy is always in finite supply, eventually, given enough
time, it will run out.

"I refer primarily to energy because much of our physical materials,
such as metals, can be reused in most cases, especially if its value
rises to the cost of recycling it."

   Yes, but recycling assumes energy. Upon energy all else depends.
Without energy there is no recycling.
Subject: Re: How to develop the natural resources of the earth in an appropriate amount?
From: shadycaliber-ga on 12 Feb 2006 23:08 PST
 
We move on to another earth somewhere in the cosmos looking to be
depleted by us.  Welcome to the virus of the human race; on a more
optimistic note:

Using ethanol made from plants for our transportation; oil subsitute. 
Cold Fusion looks promising without the excess radioactive materials
uranium produces.  This would be nice for a large project, a large
earthly supply and demand chart.  How long would it take the earth to
replenish its supply of natural resources? say a billion years,
natrually.

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