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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? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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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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