Geologist by training here and it’s been many years but as I recall, subsurface geothermal systems can be quite complex, especially in regional systems like Yellowstone, Iceland, New Zealand etc.
The hope, as I understand it, revolving around geothermal in the United States is tapping into much larger areas, namely the basin and range region, where subsurface temperatures are much higher than other areas. In this area, while there are many natural hot springs, they are remote and less commercial so disruption would have less impact. The benifits could also be fantastic since there is a huge area that has potential. (Most of Nevada and Western Utah). The biggest challenge is the complexity of underground faulting throughout the region. We can understand the general structure (hence the name “Basin and Range”), but the details are a challenge. At each macro fault you have lots of microfaulting and if you are attempting to scale up an energy production facility over an area you risk disrupting the system with each fracked well.
If we can very accurately map the subsurface, it’ll go a long way towards making this energy source much more viable. (We’ve had years to get better at microfracking so getting an accurate map of what’s down there is most important)
Thank you for the simplified explanation and for giving me the mental Image of Rudy Giuliani as a minion. (I can even hear him babbling in minionease…)
In the same week large swaths of the US were under extreme heat warnings, Joe Biden’s Justice Department filed its most recent motion to dismiss a landmark climate case by arguing that nothing in the Constitution guarantees the right to a secure climate.
I was going to say, that it’s not an environmental document and climate science was barely a thing when it was written. (meteorology was but not climate science as we know it).
If it’s anything like Google Home and even Google Maps recently, it’ll be another push away from the Google-Sphere for me.
Google home just keeps getting worse and Google maps has had incorrect street names in my entire region for over a year and despite multiple attempts to get them to correct them, they continue to be wrong.
There’s a Vast Source of Clean Energy Beneath Our Feet. And a Race to Tap It. (www.nytimes.com)
ELI5: RICO
I keep seeing references to RICO in the Trump Georgia stuff. What is it and how is it relevant to that case?
What is the biggest lesson that employment has taught you? (lemmy.ml)
Joe Biden’s DOJ Is Claiming “There Is No Constitutional Right to a Stable Climate” (jacobin.com)
In the same week large swaths of the US were under extreme heat warnings, Joe Biden’s Justice Department filed its most recent motion to dismiss a landmark climate case by arguing that nothing in the Constitution guarantees the right to a secure climate.
What are your favorite lemmy communities?
Is there any community or communities you like the most?
Google is looking to 'supercharge' Assistant with AI | Engadget (www.engadget.com)
The company is already working on new technology for mobile devices..
Third Teen Worker Killed In Industrial Accident As States Try To Loosen Child Labor Laws (www.huffpost.com)
What's going on with Google's search engine?
It all of a sudden became TERRIBLE and now I can’t find anything? When did this happen? Why did this happen?