The law of energy conservation about global warming

[the_craterian]

The first law of thermodynamics(the law of energy conservation) states that total energy of an isolated system is constant,

energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but can only be transformed from one form to another.

If we consider the Earth-Sun system an isolated system we can say that  the biomass gets energy from solar energy and that biomass production deducts energy from the environment. So when wood etc... burns or decomposes, it returns energy to the environment.

Now wood production(oil palm trees, wooden furnitures, etc...) contrasts global warming, so greens 

may be in favor to use palm oil for diesel, forestry crops to produce industrial wood combined with the breeding of animals that feed on leaves(goats for example).

It's clear we can really contrast global warming with the law of energy conservation.

What do you think about? 

  

 

 

 

[JustinSchoeman]

31 minutes ago, the_craterian said:

If we consider the Earth-Sun system an isolated system...

It is not an isolated system, so the discussion is meaningless.

About 31% of sunlight is reflected away from Earth and goes into heating the rest of the universe.  A large amount of incident energy is also re-radiated into space as infra-red emissions. The exact percentage which gets reflected/emitted depends significantly on cloud cover and atmospheric composition.

If the Earth-Sun system was indeed isolated, the entire system would be a plasma at a few million degrees.  Instead, it is the delicate balance between incident and reflected/emiited radiation that maintains the Earth in a liveable temperature range.  The tiny amount of chemical energy released by humans is insignificant at this scale.

[the_craterian]

We'd can consider the Earth-Sun system about absorbed energy in order to explain

a part of solar energy is transformed to biomass energy etc... 

[Yami]

The Law of Energy Conservation, also known as the First Law of Thermodynamics, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. This fundamental principle of physics is crucial in understanding various natural and technological processes, including the phenomenon of global warming.

Understanding Energy Conservation

In the context of global warming, the Law of Energy Conservation helps explain how energy is distributed and transformed within Earth's climate system. The Earth receives energy from the sun in the form of solar radiation. Some of this energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it, while the rest is reflected back into space. The absorbed energy is then re-emitted as infrared radiation, which is either absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or escapes into space.

The Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that is directly related to the Law of Energy Conservation. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor, trap some of the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. This trapped energy is then re-radiated in all directions, including back toward the Earth’s surface, leading to an increase in temperature. This process is essential for maintaining a habitable climate on Earth.

However, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to more energy being trapped within the Earth's system, and causing global temperatures to rise—a phenomenon known as global warming.

Energy Imbalance and Global Warming

Global warming is essentially a result of an energy imbalance in the Earth's climate system. According to the Law of Energy Conservation, the amount of energy entering the Earth's system (from the sun) should equal the amount of energy leaving it (as infrared radiation) to maintain a stable climate. However, the increased concentration of greenhouse gases disrupts this balance by trapping more energy, leading to a net gain in energy within the system.

This excess energy manifests as higher global temperatures, which in turn lead to a variety of climate changes, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and shifting weather patterns. The Law of Energy Conservation helps scientists understand how energy flows and accumulates in the Earth’s climate system, providing a framework for predicting the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Mitigating Global Warming

Addressing global warming requires reducing the amount of energy trapped by the Earth's atmosphere. This can be achieved by:

1. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Limiting the release of CO2, CH4, and other greenhouse gases through cleaner energy sources, improved energy efficiency, and reforestation.

2. Enhancing Energy Reflection: Increasing the Earth's albedo (reflectivity) by preserving ice caps, which reflect a significant portion of solar radiation, or through geoengineering techniques.

3. Adapting to Energy Changes: Developing technologies and infrastructure to cope with the changes in energy distribution caused by global warming, such as more efficient cooling systems and resilient agricultural practices.

The Law of Energy Conservation is fundamental to understanding global warming. By recognizing how energy is transformed and retained within the Earth’s climate system, we can better grasp the underlying mechanisms of global warming and the urgent need to address the human activities that disrupt the natural energy balance. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating their effects are essential steps in restoring this balance and combating global warming.

[HendrikBigChief]

Overheating is all fun and games, another issue is the concentration of gases such as co2, historically is has hovered between 180 and 300ppm (for the last 800 years), but has skyrocketed to 420 since 1911. If this level reaches 2000ppm, the air is then toxic to humans. 

Another issue is also the heat energy released by everything we do, my PC takes electricity and turns most of it into heat. And heat was also released from burning coal when the electricity for my pc was generated. 

Edited August 22 by HendrikBigChief

[Coulomb]

2 hours ago, HendrikBigChief said:

If this level reaches 2000ppm, the air is then toxic to humans. 

True, but the planet is completely unliveable well before then.

[TimCam]

Mute topic, as global warming hysteria is all nonsense, and human intervention is irrelevant, as the sun's cycles control temperatures on earth.

What humans can do is poison the earth and atmosphere with many toxic elements been dispersed in the atmosphere and on earth. This is a different discussion though. 

[the_craterian]

5 hours ago, Yami said:

The Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that is directly related to the Law of Energy Conservation. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor, trap some of the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. This trapped energy is then re-radiated in all directions, including back toward the Earth’s surface, leading to an increase in temperature. This process is essential for maintaining a habitable climate on Earth.

However, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to more energy being trapped within the Earth's system, and causing global temperatures to rise—a phenomenon known as global warming.

 

It's only politics. 

Two years ago a winding down Swiss glacier has brought to light an Alpine pass from the times of the ancient Romans (2 thousand years ago) when there weren't greenhouse gases. It's a visible test: Alpine pass from a melted swisse glacier. This planet'd burn if politicians aren't correct about global warming.

Only science can help the planet. This's science for sure: biomass energy comes from solar energy and it takes energy away from the Environment because of the Law of Energy Conservation. It's the correct starting point to help the planet from global warming... 

[Youda]

The problem is complex, but yes, we are making it worse too.

First of all, there's too much of us. No other species on the planet are able to trick the diseases and death as we are. Therefore, natural population regulation mechanisms are not working on us anymore.

And since all the people are trying to improve their personal lives as much as possible, we are consuming more and more resources. Being it water, food, land, oil&gas, coil, metals and rare minerals. The energy of the Sun, stored for millions of the years under the Earth's crust, is being extracted in a very short time, used and the resulting heat & pollution is released into the environment.

For a shame, corporations needs more and more customers, governments need more and more sheeple. Therefore, nobody is going to address the root cause of the issue and propose effective mitigation steps. Since that would hurt a lot, corporations would go bankrupt and governments would start to fall. Instead, the focus is being steered towards simple-to-explain and easy-to-understand initiatives that in fact are just green-washing.

In short, we should stop plundering the resources, stop "burning stuff", stop producing waste and pollution. Everything else is just a band-aid. But this approach is impossible for 90% of the world's population.

In the end, some sort of SHTF will definitely happen. Sooner or later we as people, plus the most of the animal species, will extinct. But the planet will go on and the nature will take everything back. Even some of the animals will survive, be it bugs, worms or just bacteria and the whole cycle of life will start again.

 

[JustinSchoeman]

23 hours ago, the_craterian said:

Only science can help the planet. This's science for sure: biomass energy comes from solar energy and it takes energy away from the Environment because of the Law of Energy Conservation. It's the correct starting point to help the planet from global warming... 

If you want some science, try:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth's_energy_budget

Some basic average power numbers from 2019:

• total geothermal energy: 47 TW
• total human energy production: 18 TW
• total photosynthesis (biomass capture): 140TW

Big numbers.  But what is the total incoming solar power?

173000 TW

Now, the law of conservation of energy says that total power inflow must equal total power outflow, or temperature will keep on rising.

You can do 10x more biomass capture, and it won't even move the dial.

To get rid of that amount of excess energy, the only real option is infra-red radiation into space.  And to optimise that, the only option is to reduce green house gasses (which trap infra-red radiation in the atmosphere).

[TaliaB]

My take on the op's subject!

Saving energy and using cleaner energy sources is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases and help combat climate change.

Edited August 23 by TaliaB

[Bobster.]

11 hours ago, TaliaB said:

My take on the op's subject!

Saving energy and using cleaner energy sources is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases and help combat climate change.

Yes. Which is why although domestic PV systems play a role here (my carbon footprint is certainly reduced) the real game changers are going to be generation into the grid (which makes things like heat pumps and EVs practical) and cleaning up manufacturing and long distance travel. The latter happens because of better energy sources. 

The thing here is that we shouldn't do a Jeremy Clarkson and pull a funny face at EVs because you're going to charge them from the smokiest power station that the BBC could find in the UK. They, and the heat pumps that are being encouraged in the EU and UK, come into play because the input side of the grid will change.

[Bobster.]

Tangential factoid: In the UK now, all newly built houses, and all houses up for sale, must have an energy rating certificate. There is no standard that must be complied to, but they will look at factors like having a solar geyser, having rooftop PV, the age, type and extent of insulation, the seals on your windows etc and award the property an efficiency rating. As I said, there is no mandatory score, but the buyer can view the certificate and that is one of the inputs to the buy/don't buy decision.