September 1, 2009

Geothermal

G is for geothermal activity.
Guys and girls gather in groups to view geothermal pools in Yellowstone National Park. In the park's geyser basins, tourists can see hot springs, mud pots, fumeroles, and geysers.
The various geyser basins are located where rainwater and snowmelt can easily percolate into the ground, get indirectly superheated by the underlying Yellowstone hotspot, and then easily erupt at the surface as geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. Thus flat-bottomed valleys between ancient lava flows and glacial moraines are where most of the large geothermal areas are located. Smaller geothermal areas can be found where fault lines reach the surface, in places along the circular fracture zone around the caldera and at the base of slopes that collect excess groundwater. Because of the high elevation of the Yellowstone Plateau, the average boiling temperature at Yellowstone's geyser basins is 199 °F (93 °C). When properly confined and close to the surface it can periodically release some of the built-up pressure in eruptions of hot water and steam that can reach up to 390 feet (120 m) into the air. (Wikipedia)If you've ever seen a geyser in action, you may guess that a ghostly gremlin is under the ground guiding the grave gyrations of geologic energy. The gossamer steam changes to grand glorious eruption, sometimes gradually, sometimes gracefully, often beginning with a gurgle and ending in a gush.
What great power lies within the earth! It gives this old girl gooseflesh to contemplate.
Perhaps understanding and channeling these glorious geologic forces is one way to "go green".
Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation. Geothermal wells release greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than those of conventional fossil fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed in place of fossil fuels. (Wikipedia)
For more of Denise Nesbitt's ABC meme, click here.

34 comments:

  1. your post was just GRAND today. Thanks for the idea for a post (making a grandkid book). I'll work on it :)

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  2. I agree with kaye, your post is great. :)

    I love Yellowstone. Haven't been there for many years but would love to go back. It's a place of endless interest.

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  3. What a fun place to visit. My husband works at a Hot Springs where they are harnassing the heat with a geothermal generator to produce electricity. He's supposed to be travelling with the machine sometime this year to demonstrate to the oil rigs (they produce a lot of hot water they waste).

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  4. I love Yellowstone and love the geysers! It is a wonderful place and I have such great memories of the trips our family made there when the kids were growing up. Your shots are terrific as always!

    Have a great G word day!

    Sylvia

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  5. Wow, Janie this is amazing. Might be a way to "go green" Thanks for visiting my blog

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  6. Gravitating to greatness with this green idea, a great gift from the ground.

    Gneiss job! LOL

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  7. Well done on the letter G. We live just down the road from Yellowstone. Have visited often yet it is different every time. Interesting thought to harness the geothermal of the park. Have a feeling a lot of people would get steamed ;).

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  8. Oh, Yellowstone. Another two trips before winter on my agenda. We are considering taking 30 teachers into the park to study the effects of the 1988 fires. Could be very interesting.

    Great photos.

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  9. We've enjoyed our many visits to Yellowstone. The geysers are so fascinating. Your pics here, & in previous posts are spectacular. TY for sharing.

    Have a beautiful week. TTFN ~ Marydon

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  10. Gee... And what great pics, Janie. I have never been to Yellowstone, but plant to go there on our next cross country trip. It looks awesome. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. I've always wanted to go to Yellowstone and see that in person, Janie... It's totally awesome ---and POWERFUL...

    Great "G" word.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  12. What fun to visit Yellowstone vicariously this morning through your wonderful photographs. It's been many years since I've witnessed this Geothermal activity first hand. Thanks for sharing ;--)
    Hugs and blessings,

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  13. I love these shots of Yellowstone...and your G words are Great...

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  14. I love this. I wish we had them here...for the energy!!!!

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  15. Great photos - honestly, do they smell as bad as the one's in Iceland do?

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  16. Hi Janie

    the Rotorua area in the centre of New Zealand's North Island has gurgling mudpools and hideous smells...and they do harness the geothermal power there...

    Happy days

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  17. Love the pictures of the most fascinating place. Such a perfect choice for G.

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  18. Our planet earth is fascinating isn't it!! Great photos. I haven't seen a geyser yet.I imagine it is very impresionableto see. Yellowstone is on my list though.

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  19. What a grand 'G' post. The pictures are wonderful and the possibilities of geothermal power is exciting. I only wish I could get to Yellowstone to see this geothermal power in action.

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  20. Fantastic post Janie, beautiful shots!

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  21. You have a publishable "A,B,C" book in you, I go "goo-goo" over these great reads! Sorry for the "non-g" words. :(

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  22. great images and alliteration as usual!

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  23. Several years ago we were at iceland and saw the geyser in action. We have not been to Yellowstone yet. It was amazing the whole country of Iceland is heated by the hot spring. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. WOW! i visited a resort at the foot of a volcano last year, and i saw some steam and mud coming out of the soil and under the rocks. but your geothermal pools are simply amazing!

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  25. From pictures to info, everything is just interesting. How much nature can endow to the benefit of men which I hope men in return will use it to their full potential without causing further harm to nature.

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  26. Well we certainly don't get those rpund my parts. Always wonders just how hot it gets by those things. Woulnd't do much for my hair either, but gorgeous views.

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  27. Great post! Thanks for spreading the geothermal gospel. Our planet can help take care of our needs naturally if we remain vigilant and open our minds to new possibilities.

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  28. Certainly, going green MUST be the way to go.
    I've been to 30 states but there's a great swath in the western US I've never seen, and that unfortunately includes Yellowstone. well, some day.

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  29. One of my favorite places in the world. Loved the geysers and the trout fishing. Maybe next year....

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  30. Great photographs of Yellowstone and the geysers. I loved every minute I spent in Yellowstone in 2000. I just must get back there.
    I also enjoyed your text today....
    Happy G!
    Sherry

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  31. Ooh, good one!

    I was watching a TV programme on Yellowstone the other day, how the whole thing is basically a dormant volcano. Yikes! I'd still like to see it someday though!

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  32. Very impressive photos, Janie! There must be an immense powerful vulcano deep down under the Yellowstone Park. I heard about it while watching National Geographic.
    Thanks for this post.

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  33. Very cool shots! Thank you for visiting My Muskoka !

    My daughter is a hydrogeologist. I must pass the post on to her!

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