4 Matching Annotations
  1. Last 7 days
  2. Jul 2024
    1. An examplein the energy domain demonstrates theabsurdity of indefinite growth in the physicalrealm.

      for - absurdity of indefinite economic growth - energy projection example of recent energy trends

      -absurdity of indefinite economic growth - energy projections - Energy growth has typically been 2–3% per year since early 1900's. - This is approximately equivalent to 10x each century - Present-day energy output is 18 TW and extrapolates to - - approx.100 TW in 2100, - approx. 1,000 TW in 2200, etc. - In 400 years, from today, we would exceed the total solar power incident on Earth - In 1300 years from today, we would exceed the entire output of the Sun in all directions - In 2400 years from today, we would exceed the energy output of all 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy - This last jump is made impossible by the fact that even light cannot cross the galaxy in fewer than 100,000 years. - Hence, physics puts a hard limit on how long our energy growth enterprise could possibly continue

    2. Another way to frame physicallimitations to growth is in terms of wasteheat, which is the end product of nearlyall energetic utilization on Earth.

      for - absurdity of indefinite economic growth - waste heat projection example of recent waste heat trends

      absurdity of indefinite economic growth - waste heat projection example of recent waste heat trends - At present, the waste heat term is about four orders of magnitude smaller than the solar term. - But at a growth factor of ten per century, they would reach parity in roughly 400 years. - Indeed, the surface temperature of Earth would reach the boiling point of water (373 K) in just over 400 years under this relentless prescription.

  3. Jul 2020