Question

the flow of energy from earth's interior to the surface is about 1e5 watt/km2. this is the energy that gives earth an active surface geology (hot springs, volcanoes, plate tectonics, etc). roughly half of this energy is from radioactive decay, and roughly half is from the thermal energy left from the formation of the earth. estimate the geothermal power available to boise, idaho (in watt).

Answer 1

The estimated geothermal power available to Boise, Idaho is roughly 21.4 MW, calculated by multiplying the city's area with the flow rate of Earth's thermal energy to its surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

The geothermal power available to Boise, Idaho, can be estimated using the provided flow rate of thermal energy from Earth's interior to its surface. With the given flow rate of approximately 1e5 watts per square kilometer, and assuming Boise's area is around 214 km2, we can calculate the total geothermal power available to this region.

To estimate the power, we multiply the area of Boise by the flow rate: 214 km2 × 1e5 watts/km2 = 2.14e7 watts (or 21.4 MW). This energy comes from two main sources: half from the radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium, and half from residual thermal energy dating back to Earth's formation.

While this is an estimation, it provides insight into the potential geothermal energy resources available for sustainable energy production and heating purposes in Boise, Idaho.