What is the source of Earth’s Energy?

1. What is the source of Earth’s Energy?

2. Energy is transferred between Earth’s spheres, but it is not created or destroyed. • Any addition of energy to one sphere must be balanced by an equal subtraction of energy from another sphere. • The movement of energy through Earth’s system forms an energy budget.

3. Trace the flow of energy through Earth’s system.

4. What is the source of Earth’s energy? • When Earth’s energy flow is balanced, global temperatures stay relatively stable over long periods of time. • Sometimes, changes in the system cause Earth’s energy budget to become unbalanced.

5. The Solar Source of the Earth's Energy. Almost all of the energy that drives the various systems (climate systems, ecosystems, hydrologic systems, etc.) found on the Earth originates from the Sun. Solar energy is created at the core of the Sunwhen hydrogen atoms are fused into helium by nuclear fusion.

6. Energy on the earth generally comes from three sources: the sun, primordial heat in the mantle and core, and heat of radioactive decay in the mantle and core. The latter two are often grouped together as “geothermal energy.” Nearly all the energy that is directly important to us comes from the sun. Plants use this energy for photosynthesis, animals gain energy by eating the plants, other animals gain energy by eating the animals, and so it goes.

7. What can disturb Earth’s energy budget? • An increase in greenhouse gases traps more energy in the atmosphere and decreases the amount of energy radiated out to space. • Polar ice and glaciers reflect sunlight. When the ice melts, the exposed water and land absorb and then radiate more energy than the ice did. • In each case, Earth’s atmosphere becomes warmer, which may lead to climate changes.