Hothouse earth

Book · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7269582

Wilcox, H A

If mankind chooses to meet energy demands with the remaining fossil fuel resources and with increased nuclear power production, a thermal pollution catastrophe may result. Global energy consumption at a level comparable to that of industrialized nations will produce increases in waste heat of serious proportions. As the atmosphere heats up, polar ice caps will melt, and the oceans will rise to inundate coastal cities and arable land. The disruptions from migrations inland and competition for food may not be manageable. Immediate development of solar energy technology to produce solar energy cells, windmills, and ocean turbines combined with open-ocean farming are steps that can be taken to avoid a thermal catastrophe. Ocean farms can be used to capture the sun's energy for fuel and food without increasing global temperatures or changing the composition of the atmosphere. To accomplish such a major change in fuel and food production will require important changes in lifestyle, a stable population, and new levels of international cooperation. (151 references) (DCK)

• Research Organization: U.S. Dept. of Defense, Navy's Ocean Farm Project
• OSTI ID: 7269582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AVAILABILITY
BEHAVIOR
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD
FUELS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POLLUTION
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOCIOLOGY
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMAL POLLUTION
WIND POWER