Answer:
The average rate at which geothermal and solar energy reach Earth's surface are significantly different.
Geothermal energy is generated from the heat of the Earth's core, and it is estimated that the total power output of geothermal energy is around 44 TW (terawatts). However, only a small fraction of this power, about 3.3%, is estimated to reach the Earth's surface. This means that the average rate at which geothermal energy reaches the Earth's surface is around 1.45 TW.
On the other hand, solar energy is generated from the radiation of the sun, and the total power output of the sun is estimated to be around 386,000 TW. While some of this energy is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and reflected back into space, the remaining energy is estimated to be around 174 PW (petawatts). This means that the average rate at which solar energy reaches the Earth's surface is around 174,000 TW.
As a policy maker in pursuit of solving world energy problems, solar energy would be the more viable option, due to its significantly higher rate of energy reaching the Earth's surface. Additionally, solar energy is a renewable resource that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, making it an environmentally friendly option. Geothermal energy, while also renewable and clean, may not be as easily accessible in all areas and may require significant investment in infrastructure for harnessing its energy.
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