Today there is a constant debate over energy sources. We have basically exhausted our finite energy sources like gas and coal and are starting to look at clean solutions. The majority of these solutions rely on utilizing nature to create the energy we need. The most popular forms of renewable energy are solar, wind and wave. Yet why are we stopping there? Nature has the power to do so much more. Let’s take a look at the energy that volcanos, earthquakes, and hurricanes produce.
Volcanos
Volcanos are incredible eruptions of molten lava. The sheer force required for them to take place is huge. The most famous volcanic eruption in recent history was the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It released 24 megatons of thermal energy. That is an energy level nearly 2000 times one of the nuclear bombs that were dropped during world war 2. If we could harness this energy it would surely provide enough energy to sustain whole cities.
Earthquake
Earthquakes are measured by the Richter scale, with the scale of a log base to 10. If a 9.0 earthquake was to take place it would be the equivalent of 25,000 nuclear bombs exploding in terms of energy. It would also look like about 99 million explosives so it may be difficult to harness.
Hurricane
Hurricanes are not quite as energy-producing as the Earthquake but are still massive. In its lifetime an earthquake will expend energy equivalent to around 10,000 nuclear bombs. The average hurricane produces energy equal to 200 times the total electrical generating capacity of Earth.
This staggering amount of energy shows that if we could harness these larger natural events our energy needs would be solved in an instant. If it is actually possible, I have no idea, but I hope a scientist somewhere is looking into it.
